Following significant growth in the use of Mobile Plant equipment in the UK, Bureau Veritas is warning firms to be vigilant when it comes to achieving compliance. It comes as the UK Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP) rental market increased by 4% year-on-year, with demand outstripping the rest of Europe
Rope and Sling Specialists (RSS) will test 24 jibs and runway beams, in addition to related hoists, during three site visits at the Wheelabrator Parc Adfer facility in Flintshire, North Wales this month (April), ahead of commencement of waste-to-energy operations later in the year. A major challenge separated the project
Drax, the UK-based power plant, has become the first in the world to capture carbon dioxide from the burning of wood fuel. It has started a demonstration of a new technology that will capture 1 t/day of CO2 from a 100% biomass feedstock. The £400 000 project brings the prospect of
Konecranes investigates the hoisting gears of the critical overhead cranes at the Palm paper factory, with Oil Analysis and Crane Reliability Study (CRS) Churning out corrugated base paper: The paper machine 6 (PM6) at the Palm paper factory in Wörth am Rhein, Germany, annually produces some 650,000 tons of the
Kubota has announced the launch of the KX037-4, a new and improved zero tail swing mini-excavator for 2019. The new KX037-4 replaces another model in Kubota’s construction range, the KX101-3a4, and boasts a wealth of new features to improve everyday efficiency, ease of use and compliance with construction industry regulations.
One of the most extraordinary planning applications London has ever seen has been submitted. Lord Norman Foster, Architect of The Gherkin (London) wants to revamp the city. As his original build has become increasingly crowded by a dense thicket of towers and slabs, leading it to be overshadowed by newer
Since we experienced the economic recession, work and productivity within the construction industry had slowly increased. Thought, as productivity increases, so does the competition; more construction companies compete for work so firms need to make sure that they are acquiring the right equipment for the right job at a competitive
Paul Casebourne, a leading expert in materials handling, has warned of the impact of Brexit on the industry. He runs the Materials Handling Hub and believes that the industry has been forgotten as one of the potential casualties of the UK leaving Europe. He claims the industry is already suffering
Chester-based AH Plant Hire has upgraded its 14-year old Andover Trailers plant body with a 32-tonne 8×2 rear steer Scania G450. The new acquisition joins two other Andover-built plant bodies in service with the company, mounted to a 2010 17-tonne 4×2 Mercedes-Benz Atego and the original 2004 26-tonne 6×2 Scania.
New construction equipment is costly and, at times, completely unnecessary. The used equipment market can be a gold mine at times, full of well-maintained and cared-for gems waiting to be put to good use in your business. But finding these gems is a time-consuming process. It pays to be diligent
Following significant growth in the use of Mobile Plant equipment in the UK, Bureau Veritas is warning firms to be vigilant when it comes to achieving compliance. It comes as the UK Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP) rental market increased by 4% year-on-year, with demand outstripping the rest of Europe by two to one[1]. Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998*, users of work equipment have a responsibility to ensure that the plant or asset is safe to use. Regulations state that regular inspections must be carried out by a competent person and documented. In some cases there are additional regulations to consider, such as the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998*, which covers all work equipment for lifting and lowering loads. According to Bureau Veritas, the rise of MEWP use and potential confusion around responsibility for the equipment could pose a compliance risk. Shaezar Karim, Director for the Statutory Inspection division for Bureau Veritas UK, explains: “The growth in MEWPs has led to inevitable compliance challenges, stemming from contractors hiring assets and being able to transport them around the UK. “Meeting statutory obligations for mobile plant and equipment can be a logistical nightmare – and that’s if users are even aware of their obligations. Many mistakenly believe it is the sole duty of the hire company to undertake PUWER and LOLER inspections but it is the user who must ensure that thorough examinations and inspections are carried out in line with the regulations. “Organisations that face difficulties in overcoming the logistical challenges of mobile equipment inspections and therefore meeting their obligations, are at risk of costly fines, so it’s critical they ensure that the location of an asset does not affect their compliance.” Bureau Veritas has a dedicated Mobile Plant Unit to deliver on-hire inspections; helping clients meet the logistical challenges of meeting statutory obligations for Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP), lifting and crane equipment when hired out to contractors. The unit enables Bureau Veritas industry-recognised specialists to meet the demands of clients across a wide range of sectors, including construction, insurance, aerospace, automotive and facilities management. For further details about Bureau Veritas and services for Mobile Plant, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk
Rope and Sling Specialists (RSS) will test 24 jibs and runway beams, in addition to related hoists, during three site visits at the Wheelabrator Parc Adfer facility in Flintshire, North Wales this month (April), ahead of commencement of waste-to-energy operations later in the year. A major challenge separated the project from other similar testing works. Eventually, post-recycled waste will be treated to create energy and recyclables, providing clean, sustainable energy for more than 30,000 local homes. Operations and associated activities will rely on a variety of overhead lifting equipment, including the aforementioned beams, the final six of which were still being installed at the time of going to press. RSS received a scope of work to proof load test the beams from Lyon, France-based Lab SA, which constructed the building where the majority of them are installed. The remaining three beams are on a nearby stack and residue silo respectively. RSS, a lifting and rigging equipment specialists, will complete the works over two three-day visits, the first of which has been completed, and an additional two-day visit. The main stack beam was 26m high, the same height as the cantilevered beam that protruded from the top of the filter bag house; the residue silo stood 3m taller. Other heights of lift varied between 3m and 10m. RSS delivered all required test weights for the initial visit but will hire a larger beam to complete testing on two of the beams, likely to be completed on 16 April. Gary Coleman, site engineer at RSS, said: “We need to complete the tests in line with the stringent requirements of the site. The beams within the penthouse area of the building were required for installing filler bags and a separate contractor required certification of the hoists and beams so they could use them. The contract included the inspection of chain blocks and trolleys as they were installed. Remedial works will be handled as required.” Coleman also pointed to the project’s biggest challenge: “The client specifically stated that no pulling of the steel structure is allowed anywhere on site. This meant we had to adopt a more complex testing method from start to finish, adding time, cost, and manual handling. We were recommended for the project following our success at a previous waste recovery project, but the two turned out to be very different.” He added: “We carried out testing by using live loads (or weights). We transported weights in our vans to site—a 625kg [weight] and a little basket tare weight [weighing 34kg]. We also bolted a 5t SWL [safe working load] bracket into the concrete floor, held in place with four M12 x 120mm through bolts. Once we had completed testing, we used a grinder to cut off flush to the floor and hammered the remainder below floor level to ensure no trip hazard remained.” Contact for editorial enquiries: Steve Hutin, steve@rssgroup.co.uk
Drax, the UK-based power plant, has become the first in the world to capture carbon dioxide from the burning of wood fuel. It has started a demonstration of a new technology that will capture 1 t/day of CO2 from a 100% biomass feedstock. The £400 000 project brings the prospect of a carbon-negative power plant closer to reality, according to Drax. It is the first of several planned bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS) projects planned at the site. “Proving that this innovative carbon capture technology works is an exciting development and another important milestone in our BECCS project. Climate change affects us all so this is of real significance – not just for us at Drax, but also for the UK and the rest of the world,” said Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO. “The successful deployment of BECCS requires us to identify ways in which the carbon dioxide we’re now capturing can be stored or used in other processes and we’re working with the government and other businesses on that. We’re focused on working together to make the progress required for us to tackle climate change and enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future,” Will added. The demonstration started by Drax uses a solvent-based technology developed by UK-based C-Capture. The system started being commissioned by engineers in November 2018. The data that is obtained about the CO2 capture process will continue to be analysed throughout the pilot to fully understand the potential of the technology and how it could be scaled up at Drax. Identifying and developing ways to store and use the carbon dioxide being captured is part of it. “Working at this scale is really where the engineering gets interesting. The challenge now is to get all the information we need to design and build a capture plant 10 000 times bigger,” concluded Caspar Schoolderman, Director of Engineering at C-Capture.
Konecranes investigates the hoisting gears of the critical overhead cranes at the Palm paper factory, with Oil Analysis and Crane Reliability Study (CRS) Churning out corrugated base paper: The paper machine 6 (PM6) at the Palm paper factory in Wörth am Rhein, Germany, annually produces some 650,000 tons of the versatile packaging raw material with surface weights of up to 160 g/m2. In order to safely transport these huge paper rolls day and night, the double-girder bridge cranes inside the factory must always function flawlessly. For this reason, Konecranes has closely analyzed the gear oil of the cranes and used the endoscope to look deep inside the gears. Paper remains one of the most important resources for the economy: According to the association of German paper factories, the paper industry sold approximately 23 million tons of paper, cardboard and paperboard in 2017 – up 1.4 percent from 2016. The packaging industry is especially hungry for paper. Sales in this sector increased by 3.4 percent last year alone. This is the area of operation for the paper machine 6 (PM6) at the Palm paper factory in Wörth am Rhein. The 650,000 tons of corrugated base paper it produces each year is handled at various stages by eleven double girder overhead cranes, all playing their own crucial role in the paper production on PM6. In order to safely transport these large paper rolls day and night, the hoisting gears of the eleven cranes inside the factory must always be in top operating condition. For this reason, Palm has asked Konecranes to look at eight of its most critical cranes. Following the results of the oil analysis and subsequent endoscopic investigation, the maintenance experts identified a significant risk to future production and replaced one of the hoisting gears completely. Record paper machine produces around the clock At the Palm paper factory, located in Aalen in Baden-Württemberg, everything circles around recovered paper. Nine paper machines in five factories annually produce approximately 2.2 million tons of newsprint and corrugated base paper. The paper production continues around the clock. Correspondingly high are the demands from the eleven double-girder bridge cranes that have been in use in the factory in Wörth am Rhein since the start of production in 2002. Collectively, they handle and store the completed paper rolls that weigh many tons. “The cranes are in use day and night,” says Sven Bohrer, electrical engineer at the Palm paper factory. “If one should break one day, the production would have to stop, or at least greatly slow down, until the problem is solved. This would cost us time and money.” For this reason, Konecranes has closely investigated the gear oil of the hoisting gears of eight of the eleven double-girder bridge cranes at Palm. Because you can look deep inside the oil, the wear metals and waste substances it contains make it possible to draw conclusions about the state of the entire gear. Nico Zamzow, Vice President Industrial Service EMEA Central at Konecranes, comments on the method: “The oil analysis protects the crane. Any damage can be identified and treated early with its help. Moreover, system operators are able to optimize the maintenance and servicing of the cranes thanks to the detailed analysis report, and thus significantly increase their lifespan.” For the oil analysis at Palm, Konecranes experts took samples from the hoisting gears of the eight double-girder bridge cranes. “The samples are analyzed by our laboratory, which specializes in industrial drive train analysis. Here, the lab staff compares the current state of the oil with the samples taken in 2016 and against the OEM design limits,” says Nico Zamzow. “This way, we also use trend analysis to provide the best possible picture of any change within the condition of the gearbox.” The result for Palm: Seven of the eight cranes were found to be “healthy”, as in the gear oil contained few to no foreign elements or waste substances indicating contamination or wear. However, the gear oil of the automated number 5 crane, used in the roll warehouse, was found to have a noticeable increase in its wear partial count, triggering the lab to issue a “Caution” notification on the analysis report. Nico Zamzow: “Iron particles in the oil can be an indication of increased wear and a deeper look may be required for this particular hoist”. Crane Reliability Study has the solution If the reason for the wear is not clearly identified and removed, the gear may be permanently damaged. “If the gear is jammed while there is a roll on the hook, it becomes very difficult to recover it and repair the crane,” explains Nico Zamzow. In order to determine whether there is already damage, the Konecranes experts used the Crane Reliability Study (CRS). The modular analysis allows them to check safety-relevant components, such as the hoisting gear as well as the steel structure, the motors, and the electrical equipment of the crane. In addition, the maintenance experts pose questions to crane drivers and technicians. The analysis result flows into a detailed report for crane owners – with concrete recommendations for action. In the case of Palm, Konecranes used a high-definition video endoscope to investigate the hoisting gear. “Just like in medicine, we use the endoscope to reach inaccessible places without having to dismantle the entire gear,” says Nico Zamzow. “For the CRS, we use a special, oil-resistant model that was developed for industrial use and can be fitted with different lenses.” Following the endoscopic investigation, the Konecranes service experts are certain: The hoisting gear must be replaced. In addition, the cable drum, the cable drum support, the slip-ring unit, the cylinder coupling, and the motor coupling must be renewed. “Thanks to discovering the wear early on, there was no risk to safety and we were able to replace the old gear with a new one without affecting production,” explains Nico Zamzow. “The benefits of Oil analysis as a predictive maintenance tool for identifying problems early on is proven to minimize
Kubota has announced the launch of the KX037-4, a new and improved zero tail swing mini-excavator for 2019. The new KX037-4 replaces another model in Kubota’s construction range, the KX101-3a4, and boasts a wealth of new features to improve everyday efficiency, ease of use and compliance with construction industry regulations. The 3.7-tonne machine will be available from Kubota dealers in the UK and mainland Europe from January 2019. Numerous safety features come as standard on the KX037-4, including four top frame tie-down points for safe transportation of the machine on other vehicles. The new model also features Kubota’s engine safe start system plus a hydraulic lockout on the left-hand console, and optional safety valves for the boom, arm and dozer. A fuel tank buzzer alerts operators to prevent fuel waste and minimise financial cost to operators and harm to the environment. The machine also features easy access for daily maintenance and safety checks, with large opening panels covering the engine and side of the vehicle. The KX037-4 is protected by Kubota’s highly-regarded anti-theft system, which is fitted as standard. The updated excavator also features numerous improvements to comfort for operators, including a larger and more spacious cab with improved foot space, and a new door configuration which is approximately 40% wider than that of the previous KX101-3a4, offering improved access. The cab also features a weight-adjustable full suspension seat as standard, and air conditioning as an optional extra. An easy-to-read LCD panel in the cab enables effortless monitoring of the machine’s status at all times. The KX037-4 is powered by a Stage V-ready 17.8 kW Kubota engine delivering power, economy and low emissions. The excavator also has auto-shift and auto-idle features as standard, which offer both smoother operation when dozing and turning and reduced fuel consumption with lower noise levels and emissions. “Offering powerful digging force, market-leading versatility, and smooth, simple and comfortable operation, the KX037-4 is a mid-weight compact excavator which does not compromise on performance. As well as Kubota’s traditional reliability and ease of servicing, the new features of this model are designed to aid compliance with environmental and construction industry standards making this the ideal excavator for multiple applications,” commented Glen Hampson, Business Development Manager, Construction Division, Kubota UK. The KX037-4 also offers proportional controlled Aux 1, with 11% greater flow than the previous model, with proportional Aux 2 available as an option. In addition, large capacity variable displacement pumps enable smooth, synchronised operation of the boom, arm and bucket, returning exceptional productivity.
One of the most extraordinary planning applications London has ever seen has been submitted. Lord Norman Foster, Architect of The Gherkin (London) wants to revamp the city. As his original build has become increasingly crowded by a dense thicket of towers and slabs, leading it to be overshadowed by newer projects. Proposed to sit beside his beloved Gherkin, he has brought forth the notion of The Tulip. A high rise observation tower that will stand at 1000 ft tall (305.3m), the tallest structure and the second highest building in the city. It also reflects his original Gerkin design – remarkably closely. If plans go ahead The Tulip will be 5 meters shorter than the Shard, situated across the Thames river, and will illustrate a 12 storey glass bubble-like shape, erected on top of a long concrete stem. The Tulip will consist of rides in transparent pods, bars, restaurants, a viewing area, a miniature park, and an educational zone. Such an architectural extravaganza is borderline unheard of in the United Kingdom, and now the City of London’s planning department will look at Foster and Partner’s application to see if it can go ahead in the future of the city. If successful, the building is thought to be completed by 2025. The Tulip is a parody of architectural hubris. As the pod at the top of The Tulip stands as a miniature Gherkin pushed to the very heights of the sky, meaning Foster does not want to see his building being overshadowed, and will literally reach to the skies to ensure that doesn’t happen. His original icon is now starved of natural light and tourist attention. So his new proposal takes the same concept and pushes it to the very limit of high rise application. The great glass head of The Tulip will be encased by three protruding vertical spoon-like designs that will skim the walls of the lunging atriums – similar to the form of Astana’s Death Star expo pavilion. A transparent slide will allow visitors to `whoosh` between the floors of the egg-like capsule and users can take advantage of the glass spheres, that will take them on an 8-minute long journey in an elliptical loop across the seven storey’s of The Tulip’s flower. A new high rise building is unusual for London – and it is especially unusual for it to be so fanciful. That being said, big changes to the City’s skyline could soon be implemented. With a 2017 survey discussing new London Architecture demonstrating 510 buildings of 20 or more storey’s to be in the pipeline. High rise builds have also been proposed in cities further scattered around the United Kingdom, inclusive of Bristol, Manchester and Norwich. Standing at over 300 meters, The Tulip would be in guidelines to gain classification as Supertall. London currently remains joint 56th in the Global list of cities with completed buildings of more than 150 meters. With 18 in place – London is tied with Seattle, US. Hong Kong showcases 353 Supertall buildings, followed by New York with 269. No other city in the UK scores higher than 180th, and in the entirety of the world there are only three builds that reach the Urban Habitat’s 600-meter Megatall category: Burj Khalifa (Dubai), Shanghai Tower (China), & Makkah Royal Clock Tower (Saudi Arabia) The City of London Corporation will deliver its verdict on the fate of The Tulip, quite fittingly, in Spring 2019. If plans are able to go ahead it could be the very first step in developing a new, unique, skyline for London, as the City decides whether to take to new heights or remain grounded.
Since we experienced the economic recession, work and productivity within the construction industry had slowly increased. Thought, as productivity increases, so does the competition; more construction companies compete for work so firms need to make sure that they are acquiring the right equipment for the right job at a competitive price. With more firms soaking up the market, demand and prices for equipment also start to increase – increasing contractor operating costs. Hiring construction equipment If a company is working on short-term, or one-off project, it is usually better to hire equipment for the amount of time, that’s required. The reason for this is that it benefits the firm’s cash flow, as they are not making a significant one-off payment. Also, the firm does not have to absorb long-term repair, operating, and storage costs for the equipment being hired. Although, from 2012 to 2015 the price in rental costs of cherry pickers, forklifts and earthmoving machines, was set at 5.5% and between 2015/18 this is set to grow by 1.9% at 7.4%. This suggests that renting equipment isn’t getting any cheaper anytime soon. However, construction firms can make a saving when renting when the equipment is specifically utilised for a required job. Hiring the wrong equipment, or equipment that does not fit for the purpose, can be costly for a construction as it wastes time and money when working to deadlines. This is why construction firms are now more and more reliant on third-party services that can help assist them in getting the right equipment that will aid the performance of a job in the most cost effective and efficient manner. For example, Reconomy – specialists in servicing recycling solutions for the construction industry – can help firms with caged tipper and site equipment hire that allows them to rent based on the client’s specific on-the-job requirements, so that the equipment is rented at a cost-efficient price for the right job. Planning a project-specific ethos Rentals for specific projects are desirable for a lot of reasons, as the can save the firm time and money when working on a job that may not be repeated. Whilst being tailored to the requirements of the job, they can provide the highest amount of utilisation possible, based on each machine that is rented if it is used properly. Additionally, if a company has more than one job going on at the same from, then they don’t have to incur the same logistical cost as those who purchase their own equipment and move it from site to site. This makes project planning less time-consuming – as those foreseeing the completion of a job can account for the specific nature of the equipment needed, as the nature of each job changes. However, the annualised price growth of buying equipment from 2012 – 2015 to 2015 – 2018 had dropped by 0.5% from 10.1% to 9.6%, this is still 2.2% more than the projected forecasts of annual rising rental costs. What this suggests, is that construction firms will need to establish whether the equipment they purchase will be able to perform all the necessary jobs on-site through the course of the machine’s lifetime. If it can’t perform a specific task, or a container isn’t fit for the job, then the firm could waste capital on purchasing tasks. It is more than likely that when it comes to more project-specific construction – firms will be more willing to rent a machine that benefits the bespoke nature of a job, rather than purchasing a machine that is less specific in its job-scope and specification. Sources: http://www.tcsconstruction.ca/advantages-of-renting-construction-equipment/ https://www.ibisworld.com/media/2015/07/27/renting-vs-buying-factors-to-consider-when-sourcing-equipment-and-machinery
Paul Casebourne, a leading expert in materials handling, has warned of the impact of Brexit on the industry. He runs the Materials Handling Hub and believes that the industry has been forgotten as one of the potential casualties of the UK leaving Europe. He claims the industry is already suffering as a result of the uncertainty about the country’s relationship with the EU. The materials handling industry currently accounts for some of the biggest imports and exports in the UK, with machinery and vehicles accounting for a combined worth of £55 billions. “The UK currently benefits from the free movement of goods within the EU. This means imports from other EU member states have no import duties, taxes or customs clearance,” he said. “More to the point the harmonisation of engineering standards requires representations if we are to keep up with international projects. We currently have EU rights to be included in tenders within the EU, I have heard of no plans to make up ground in this respect. Forty years of work in the balance and not a word of comfort from the political structure,” Paul continued. The expert also expressed his concern on the situation in the UK around export and import duties. “Following Brexit, the UK will be back to custom clearing its EU imports as well as paying taxes and import duties on them and it’s possible that some goods will require an import license after Brexit,” he said. Although many industries have expressed their concern about what Brexit means now nobody seems to have looked at the impact this will have on the materials handling industry. Mr Casebourne, who has worked in the industry for more than 40 years and supplies equipment to a range of industries and also creates bespoke solutions, added that “we’ve already seen a number of big projects put on hold and people are reluctant to invest in new equipment.” “The whole situation really is intolerable at the moment while we are neither in or out. The UK has launched itself headlong into a 20-year project with no plan B, in fact without any plans at all whilst still handcuffed to the EU, powerless to put the plans in place that we need to get on with investing in our future,” he concluded.
Chester-based AH Plant Hire has upgraded its 14-year old Andover Trailers plant body with a 32-tonne 8×2 rear steer Scania G450. The new acquisition joins two other Andover-built plant bodies in service with the company, mounted to a 2010 17-tonne 4×2 Mercedes-Benz Atego and the original 2004 26-tonne 6×2 Scania. “We’ve looked after our original Scania and both the truck and body have been brilliant. We calculated that the vehicle has been loaded and unloaded close to 120,000 times, and it’s still going strong – if that isn’t a testament to the build quality and longevity of Andover’s products, I don’t know what is,” said Andrew Heaton, Director at AH Plant Hire. The new body boasts Andover’s trademark low-profile deck, which sees the cross members transect the body runners, as well as a double crank beavertail connected to a pair of 2.8m long hydraulic power toe, and knife edged ramps. The ramps go alongside a hydraulic winch to aid loading and unloading and 10 pairs of lashing points on the deck for maximum load security and flexibility. The combination of the double crank beavertail and longer ramp length creates a shallower load angle, helping to improve safety when loading and unloading. AH Plant has also decided to include additional lighting under the bed and inside the toolboxes, helping to make operation at night as safe as possible. “The ability to develop a plant body to our specific requirements is what makes Andover stand out from its competitors – that and the fantastic level of customer service we have received from them since day one. It sealed our decision to remain loyal to Andover with this latest order,” said Andrew Heaton. The new vehicle will be on the road six days a week, clocking up close to 75,000 km a year and expected to remain in service for around six years.
New construction equipment is costly and, at times, completely unnecessary. The used equipment market can be a gold mine at times, full of well-maintained and cared-for gems waiting to be put to good use in your business. But finding these gems is a time-consuming process. It pays to be diligent in your search. The more you inspect and probe before you part with your cash, the more likely your purchase will be a good one and you won’t regret your decision. So, where to start looking for used construction equipment? One of the best places to pick up quality used construction equipment is at auction. www.EquifyAuctions.com is one such auction with an extensive inventory of used equipment. Before you dive right in, here at five tips to finding the best used construction equipment for your business. Get the Exact Specifications Before you even start looking at inventories, make sure you have the precise specifications. So many business owners start looking, even getting as far as negotiating a price before they realise that the equipment they need comes in several sizes or has a number of different attachments. Go into the search informed with the precise requirements and specifications so that you don’t waste any time. Inspect the Machine’s History The dents and scuffs on a machine tell its personal story, but you might want a bit more information before you hand over the cheddar and take the machine home. First, you need to ensure the equipment isn’t stolen. The best way to do this is by writing down the equipment’s serial number and checking it with the police or through the National Equipment Register. Also, check the name on the title and ensure everything adds up. If the name on the title is a financial institution or bank, I would recommend proceeding with caution. This likely means that the equipment has not been paid for in full. If the previous seller doesn’t complete the payments, the machine may be seized by the financial institution, causing you all sorts of headaches later on. Check the Fluid Levels This might sound strange, because after all, you can top up the engine oil, coolant and hydraulic fluid once you get it to your site, but checking the equipment’s fluid level can offer an insight into its maintenance history. If the fluids are low or exceptionally dirty, it could be an indicator that the equipment has not been well looked after. If the previous owners have not maintained a rigorous upkeep schedule, there may be underlying mechanical problems lurking beneath the surface. Check the Operating Hours You should be able to check the machine’s operating hours. You don’t want to buy equipment that was worked ragged by its previous owner (even if you do, you might be able to get the seller to accept a lower price after seeing the equipment’s operating hours). Run the Engine If the equipment has an engine, it is best to test it. Pay extra close attention to how the machine runs when the engine is cold. This will tell you a lot about its maintenance. A poorly-maintained machine will sound a little off or produce a smoke that is exceptionally black or white in colour.