Project savings. Local expertise. Added value from day one. Our standard of service is anything but standard. Extra Innovation At Aggreko we don’t just manufacture our own temporary power systems, we ensure they all effortlessly work and talk with each other. We don’t simply react to issues, we use intelligent
Chepstow Construction Equipment has been a Kubota Construction dealer since 2013 and covers South Wales as well as a large part of the West Country, areas that are both steeped in National Hunt Racing history. Both of CCE’s depots (Chepstow and Tiverton) conveniently have race courses located nearby, and the company has a long-running association with the Chepstow Racecourse and has sponsored the Silver Trophy Handicap
Hiab, part of Cargotec, is launching a new crane for the waste collection market. The HIAB S-HiPro 230W will debut at this year’s ReinigingsDemoDagen (RDD) trade show taking place on 5 and 6 June in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Intended for use with underground refuse containers, Hiab has engineered the HIAB
For all operations, controlled bolting is highly important. It ensures that the tightening and loosening of bolts are done in a controlled manner. If you rush through this process, then you could risk complications further down the line. If you correctly use a controlled bolting technique, then it can help
Industrial plant personnel will need the help of industrial dust collectors to ensure that employees and the working environment is safe for general working conditions and to meet policies set by the regulating bodies. These devices can be quite pricey thus it makes it a prime concern for most businesses
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.
Project savings. Local expertise. Added value from day one. Our standard of service is anything but standard. Extra Innovation At Aggreko we don’t just manufacture our own temporary power systems, we ensure they all effortlessly work and talk with each other. We don’t simply react to issues, we use intelligent telemetry systems to proactively prevent problems from happening. And to help our customers dial up or down their power requirements we offer smart facilities such as load sharing. However, our innovation doesn’t end there: Only rental company to manufacture own equipment Onboard control systems to adapt load to suit demand Remote Operations Centre offering 24/7 monitoring The only brand to offer a natural gas rental solution Extra Reliability When it comes to ensuring reliability, you’ll find no one is more testing than Aggreko. That’s because we double-check every little detail and conduct rigorous performance and function tests before returning it to the field. Then there’s our thorough testing in the hottest and coldest environments on earth to ensure adverse weather never has an adverse impact on your temporary power supply. Other examples of our industry-leading reliability include: Aggreko Remote Monitoring for optimised efficiency Tailored testing for each and every unique setting Comprehensive pre-delivery inspection Extra Efficiency At Aggreko we understand that efficiency is king on every project and every site. It’s why we take pride in providing temporary power solutions that deliver industry-leading cost, fuel and operational efficiency, as well as the flexibility to adjust your power levels on demand. Furthermore, as we manufacture our own equipment you can be confident every system works and talks effortlessly with each other. Here are just a few ways we further boost efficiency: Intelligent onboard control systems Optimised fuel consumption via load on demand Latest emission technology for Clean Air Zone compatibility Latest renewable, hybrid and battery technologies Extra Expertise With Aggreko you don’t simply get a product. You get an industry-leading design package, a comprehensive plan, not to mention the support of our skilled electrical and mechanical engineers. Furthermore, our engineers are not just specialists in installing and running equipment – they’re experts in designing project-specific solutions. So, don’t be afraid to put them to the test. 170 in-house sales and service specialists Purpose-built equipment for the rental market Technology Centre of Excellence Continuous Professional Development courses Extra Reassurance We believe temporary power systems should come with the same peace of mind as permanent systems. So, whether you require reliable cabin power, high voltage prime power or a load testing service, you’ll always find our temporary solutions consistently dependable. In fact, we’re the only power generation company in the UK that has full ISO 45001 accreditation across all our products. Other examples of the extra reassurance we provide include: Extensive in-house training World’s first rental company to achieve CEMARS ISO 45001, 9001, 14001 and 25001 accredited 89% of customers use us again Tell us what you need We’ll help you find what’s right for you. Call us on 0330 311 4487 MAIN URL – www.aggreko.com/extra OTHER URL – www.aggreko.com
Chepstow Construction Equipment has been a Kubota Construction dealer since 2013 and covers South Wales as well as a large part of the West Country, areas that are both steeped in National Hunt Racing history. Both of CCE’s depots (Chepstow and Tiverton) conveniently have race courses located nearby, and the company has a long-running association with the Chepstow Racecourse and has sponsored the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle for the past two years. CCE has 25 years’ experience in the plant industry and supply a range of Kubota machines, including the market-leading mini excavators, tracked dumpers and RTVs, to a variety of different customers such as plant hire firms, contractors and builders. Since becoming a Kubota dealer, CCE has supported Chepstow Racecourse and used the superb facilities for charity events and hospitality functions for suppliers, customers and employees. Most recently, the firm supplied a Reggae-style U48-4GL machine for its Caribbean-themed race night which is currently being raffled. CCE’s goal is to develop strong working relationships with construction and plant hire across the area it serves, and be the leading provider of compact construction equipment and mini excavators in particular. Therefore, Kubota has been the perfect partner with which to do so, and both companies have shared values of putting customers at the forefront of everything they do. The reliability of the Kubota product has helped to save customers a considerable amount of potential downtime and lost productivity on sites, as well as time in administrating machine problems and breakdowns. But they also save the CCE team huge amounts of time, both in terms of engineering and administration work on breakdown and warranty claims. Instead, this time can be much better spent on providing customers with a swifter reaction time to an issue, or to provide advice or training, for instance. As a result, CCE’s market share has grown by some margin over the last five years with three times the amount of Kubota machines being sold now than in 2012, and the company has been able to expand its service area into Devon to better serve customers in the West Country. Customer retention is above 90%, even during a very volatile and competitive period for the market. There are many likenesses between the thoroughbreds that race on the tracks at Chepstow and the Kubota mini excavators that are sold by CCE – both are top of their class. Hard working, reliable and with an impeccable pedigree but perhaps not quite as fast (!), Kubota’s mini excavators work just as well in soft ground as well as on good to firm, and always deliver a winning result.
Hiab, part of Cargotec, is launching a new crane for the waste collection market. The HIAB S-HiPro 230W will debut at this year’s ReinigingsDemoDagen (RDD) trade show taking place on 5 and 6 June in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Intended for use with underground refuse containers, Hiab has engineered the HIAB S-HiPro 230W to make it easier for operators to efficiently and safely perform their work in increasingly crowded and chaotic urban centres. “As more cities around the world turn to underground containers as an aesthetically pleasant and convenient solution for managing waste, we at Hiab have been listening to customers about the challenges of handling and emptying these containers. Working in traffic on congested streets, they need equipment that allows them to collect the waste quickly, without damaging the truck or posing a risk to operators and the surrounding area. In an industry with high employee turnover, they also need technology that offers simple and intuitive control for beginning operators,” says Hans Ohlsson, Director, Medium Range, HIAB Loader Cranes. Hiab designed the HIAB S-HiPro 230W with exactly these customer demands in mind, resulting in a waste collection crane that ensures stronger, simpler and safer performance. Compared to earlier generations, the new crane provides up to 30% greater lifting capacity in the positions that are most crucial for this specific application. At the same time, Hiab engineers have managed to reduce the dead weight of the crane by around 150 kg. The HIAB S-HiPro 230W comes equipped with Hiab’s advanced HiPro remote control system, which makes it easy to steer the crane with complete precision for novice operators. It also has Hiab’s unique Semi-Automatic Motion system. It simplifies crane operation which in turn increases the level of safety that the crane can offer. “With a crane that practically controls itself, operators can instead concentrate on making sure that they, the truck and the surrounding areas are safe and protected,” adds Hans Ohlsson. “We know that the main focus of fleets working in urban waste collection is to get each job done quickly and without trouble so they can carry on to the next one. As a stronger, simpler and safer crane, we believe the HIAB S-HiPro 230W will make it easier than ever to do just that. This is why we are launching it with the promise that this is a crane that will keep you moving!” Hans Ohlsson concludes. To get a first glimpse of the possibilities of the new HIAB S-HiPro 230W, attendees at RDD are welcome to visit the Hiab stand.
For all operations, controlled bolting is highly important. It ensures that the tightening and loosening of bolts are done in a controlled manner. If you rush through this process, then you could risk complications further down the line. If you correctly use a controlled bolting technique, then it can help you meet tighter deadlines and also has a number of benefits and advantages. Together, with Bolt Torque specialists, HTL Group, we cover the advantages of controlled bolting techniques: Improves SafetyFirst of all priority in any equipment, is safety. The controlled bolting equipment in this scenario can take away any unsafe actions of manual uncontrolled tightening. This is because the equipment requires highly-skilled and trained operators who follow specific procedures. Reduces timeBecause controlled bolting has an automated set-up, there’s no heavy loading and manual effort required. This means that fatigue won’t set in, which in turn would lower productivity levels. Not only is the manual labour a lot more strenuous on workers, it’s also a lot more time consuming for a human to do this task. Consistency When dealing with joints which have gaskets, consistency is crucial. This is because an even and consistent compression is required so there’s no damage and so that the gasket can work effectively. Human error is one of most common cause of error in engineering. This in itself would mean the task could take a lot longer. But, controlled bolting eliminates this risk. With this bolting technique, you can feel assured that you will be correctly operating every time. This is possible thanks to skilled operators using calibrated and tested equipment and follow specific procedures. Accurate calculations can also be provided by controlled bolting, which can help give the operator the required tool setting so that usability is easier. It’s essential to bare in mind before you undergo any tightening procedures, that give the equipment a full inspection. It’s also imperative to check the lubrication of any nuts and bolts and to make sure they’re flush against the flange. Be sure to check for uneven bolt tensioning as this can result in bolts being overloaded or too loose, a gasket leakage, and less than 100% tensioning. Even though controlled bolting is more consistent, time-effective and safe, you must ensure that you’re correctly trained in the method used. Sources https://www.hiretorque.co.uk/advantages-of-controlled-bolting-techniques/
Industrial plant personnel will need the help of industrial dust collectors to ensure that employees and the working environment is safe for general working conditions and to meet policies set by the regulating bodies. These devices can be quite pricey thus it makes it a prime concern for most businesses to take care of them to avoid any unnecessary part replacements. This article will present some tips to make sure that the industrial dust collector is operating at top safety performance level. Use deflagration Protection There are times wherein a dust collector handles dust that may combust. In cases such as this the industrial dust collector must be equipped with deflagration protection. A common, inexpensive and passive method is by use of venting. When predetermined pressures are reached inside the collector, an explosion vent opens which will then allow the extra pressure and fireball from the deflagration to exit to an area that will not disrupt operations nor will damage any devices. There exists flameless vent which consists of a casing that will include a panel of a mesh that can withstand high temperatures while also absorbing heat and flame. The way it will be used is by installing it over a standard explosion vent. Whenever a combustion happens, the vent will open while lowering the pressure and direct the fireball into the casing mentioned earlier. There will also be mesh layers whose job is to absorb the heat and flame while and then allowing a bigger portion of the pressure wave to pass easily towards a safe zone outside the working environment. The mechanism will allow venting in the conventional sense to be completed indoors. Otherwise, it may be able to endanger staff or add unpredictable secondary explosions. It is worth noting however that there are indeed other protection devices that currently exist in the market. Ultimately, the best recourse may be to work with your industrial dust collector expert or representative to search the best that fit your requirements. Study capabilities of your collector It is vital for plant staff to be able to understanding the levels of pressure that the industrial dust collector is capable of. Other important decisions that should be pondered upon are the specification and selection of vent sizing. By comparing these venting vessel sturdiness and matching it to the deflagration strength and vent burst pressure you will be able to effectively protect your industrial dust collectors from deflagration. Check the ductwork Fire protection agencies around the world will often have the same opinion. They will require that should be protection for all the ductwork and the safety processes upstream of the industrial dust collector. Configure the ducting in such a way that it will be equipped with a flow-activated isolation valve that will then function as a protection of downstream work areas and processes. It will be protected from the propagation of flames and the excess pressure ported from inlet duct when deflagration occurs in a dust industrial dust collector. During the occurrence of such deflagration, the pressure wave will shut the valve off which will then prevent any passage of fires, flames, and smoke up to areas far upstream from the valve. In this case, the valve will then latch shut and can only be manually opened. If the mechanism is activated, there will be components in the valve which can be damaged and only with a thorough inspection can suffice before returning the valve back into service. The hoppers should not be used to collect dust A rookie mistake that can be often done by most that are starting out in manufacturing is the use of hoppers as a means to store dust. It should be understood that the hopper’s sole purpose is for funnelling process dust towards the storage bins. The dust that would soon fill up the hopper will surely create a potential fire or deflagration risk. Another point to remember is that the dust in the hopper can also deflate the industrial dust collector’s performance by obstructing the system and preventing the pulse-cleaning from completing the task it was intended to. The self-dumping hoppers can be an easy dust disposal mechanism all the while protecting against unwanted dust leaks among the collector and hoppers. Pulse-cleaning controls is an option The industrial dust collector’s system for cleaning is designed to work in hand in hand with filter design. There are some cleaning controls that can provide an easy way to keep filters clean without the added hassle of having to maintain it on a daily basis. The continuous cleaning option can be used for the porous kind of dusts, that may included silica and other minerals, high dust loading applications like thermal spray or plasma cutting, or some of the lighter ones such as paper fines and fumed silica. There are also on-demand cleaning which are recommended for almost all of the dust types. There is a setting monitor that causes a difference in pressure from the clean-air section all the way to the dirty-air filter section of the collector. This will allow the operator to set a small range of pressures to be used and pause the cleaning of the cartridge. This setting can also use the smallest amount of pressurized air and can afford you the optimum filter cleaning efficiency and will allow the filter to last longer than usual. When all else fails, you can opt for down time cleaning which can allow for pulsing at timed intervals at the end of each operational sting. This can also be done after completing a batch process or after an disruption in the system that may diminish the performance of the filters. After the period, the unit can now be turned off completely. This is a vital capability because cleaning cartridges beyond what is necessary, especially during operation can not only cause higher emissions but can also shorten the life of the cartridges and force you to spend more on energy simply because of overusing of the
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.