Despite five years of market woes and struggles, it is expected that the market for on-site machinery such as bulldozers, diggers and dump trucks is expected to see a resurgence next year, signalling a potential change in the fortune for the manufacturers of such products. The predictions come from Off-Highway
Liebherr is a leader. The industry knows that. That’s why the company accounts for such a high amount of new mobile crane purchases (to the tune of 40%) in the UK. Yet, not everyone has enjoyed the chance to work with Liebherr and Crowland Cranes of Peterborough is one of
Spring is looming which often triggers the nation to get rid of all the unwanted belongings collected over the last 12 months. Whether it’s in homes, businesses, schools or factories, the better weather is known to create an urge for clearance. However, depending on how serious the clear out is,
Hire firm Hewden has placed an order for 50 JCB skid steer and compact tracked loaders in a deal worth £2.5m. The order, placed through dealer Gunn JCB, is for the JCB 155 and 205T tracked models, as well as a wide range of attachments, including augers, pallet forks, shovels,
Civil engineering contractor FM Conway has invested £1.5m in the purchase of 38 JCB machines. The new arrivals include excavators ranging from one to 22 tonnes and several JCB 3CX backhoe loaders. The machines, supplied by dealer Greenshields JCB, will be working on highways and public realm projects across London.
Hogan Concrete has taken delivery of the UK’s first concrete-mixer based on a DAF 8×2 rear-steer chassis. The new Euro-6 DAF CF 400 FAX eight-wheeler is fitted with an 8m3 capacity Cifa SL8 body. Hogan, which also has DAF LF 7.5 tonne and XF tractor units in its fleet,
Natural Stone Surfaces, one of the UK’s leading stone manufacturers, has selected Street Crane for the supply and installation of new materials handling equipment to help boost productivity at its manufacturing facility. A variety of Street’s workstation lifting systems have been installed at the plant to safely and efficiently move
In busy warehouse environments it is easy for the number of hours to increase on forklift trucks, with some vehicles in near-constant use 24/7, rolling on from one shift to the next. Transporting such a high volume of goods, both indoors and out, inevitably leads to considerable wear and tear,
Generators are extremely important for any business and are included in most systems to top up battery storage or to meet electricity requirements, and are vital for emergency procedures should you face a power cut. Below we have explained why having backup power on your site is important. Types of
LiHD – REVOLUTIONARY BATTERY PACK TECHNOLOGY, OPENING UP NEW WORLDS. 1985 – today: Optimisation of battery pack endurance (longer run time = more Ah) What started in the 80s with nickel-cadmium battery packs was revolutionised almost 20 years later with the introduction of the innovative lithium ion technology. Henceforth,
Despite five years of market woes and struggles, it is expected that the market for on-site machinery such as bulldozers, diggers and dump trucks is expected to see a resurgence next year, signalling a potential change in the fortune for the manufacturers of such products. The predictions come from Off-Highway Research, a leading consultancy operating within the construction sector. Over the most recent years, the industry has been somewhat devastated by uncertain economic climate, with a marked decline in demand noted as far back as 2012. Most notably, China’s slowed growth has also played a core role in the slowing of the industry’s own success also, with the construction and mining industries maintaining an inevitable tie to the success of China’s core industries. Additionally, reportedly low levels of growth and interest in much of the global construction market also hindered the success of the sector, with meaningful rises in demand only being seen in areas such as India. The primary factor to which Off-Highway attributes the predicted growth can be seen as the increased need for organisations to replace much of their aged construction plant and procure new, modern machinery to support the modern demands of the sector. In accordance with this, Off-Highway expects a 5% increase in sales for next year, which will see the industry gain some ground once more, despite having reportedly downsized by almost 25% since 2011. Of course as the global construction market pulls itself out of the recessionary period, so too is the plant and equipment sector also expected to see a resurgence; not just yet, however. With Companies now reportedly far more cautious and lacking confidence in the present, marginally more optimistic market conditions, progress is expected to be slow. Yet, despite this, the predictions made for next year do indeed highlight a long-awaited potential for growth.
Liebherr is a leader. The industry knows that. That’s why the company accounts for such a high amount of new mobile crane purchases (to the tune of 40%) in the UK. Yet, not everyone has enjoyed the chance to work with Liebherr and Crowland Cranes of Peterborough is one of those companies. Serving the UK with used crane sales and service requirements for over three and a half decades, Crowland has historically steered clear of brand new cranes. That is until now. Over the past decade, Crowland has experienced successful growth and sees its latest investment as a way to continue that progress. It approached Liebherr with its requirements – as managing director Peter Issitt says, Crowland required a “versatile” crane that enabled it to offer customers something “a little different” – and was recommended the compact LTC 1050-3.1 mobile crane. The LTC 1050-3.1 is definitely “a little different”. Liebherr calls it “unusual” with its all-terrain three-axle chassis but sporting only one cab. The vehicle can travel on the UK’s roads thanks to its front position which is then raised thanks to a hydraulic arm for its core operations. Flexible in nature, the cab can be raised when lifting while offering a 20 degree tilt for ease-of-operation. Liebherr attests that it can work as a traditional 50-tonne crane for all terrains or as either a city crane with its unique compactness or industrial crane with its impressive turning circle of 6.1 metres. This – in its full specification profile – has now been added to the Crowland fleet at its Norwich depot. This means Crowland’s customers have access to a far-reaching two-fold swing-away fly jib with integrated assembly jib, extending the crane’s reach to an impressive 36 metres Crowland’s managing director said the company has developed a strong bond with Liebherr and that the whole experienced of buying from them was a positive one. He is eager to see the relationship continue in the future with additional Liebherr units added to the fleet over time.
Spring is looming which often triggers the nation to get rid of all the unwanted belongings collected over the last 12 months. Whether it’s in homes, businesses, schools or factories, the better weather is known to create an urge for clearance. However, depending on how serious the clear out is, it may need for more than a dustbin. Skips are the ideal solution when it comes to de-cluttering your property but there are still some frequently asked questions upon acquiring this service. Here is a run down of some of the most common questions asked when acquiring skip services. How Do I Choose the Right Skip Size? This is kind of like asking ‘How do I find the right car?’ it’s down to the needs and what it’s being use for. If it’s a clear out of fewer items but of larger size, such as furniture, a larger skip will be required, but if it’s paperwork and general waste, then a smaller size may suffice. Many companies have a size guide and will provide advice depending on the needs of their customers, but it’s always helpful to know what type of clear out is going to be underway. Where Can I Put a Skip? There are some general rules regarding the placement of a skip including; Not blocking an emergency exit Not blocking public entrances Accessible for collection Public land placement requires a permit from the Local Authority Convenient place for filling It comes down to common sense but there ensuring that a skip doesn’t cause inconvenience for others, or damage to public property is of the highest importance. What Can Be Put in a Skip? To ensure there is no cross contamination of hazardous chemicals and the maximum amount of waste can be recycled, it’s important to know what can be put in a skip and what needs separate disposal. This guide created by A&A Skip Hire is a great example of understanding what waste is acceptable for your skip. What Happens to My Waste? A responsible skip hire company will aim to recycle as much of the contents of a skip as possible to help meet the Government standards of reducing the content’s in landfill – including garden waste, wood, plastics and metals. The HSE have a really useful guide on general waste disposal which can be applied to skips; you can read their guide here. The rest of the waste will be disposed in the most environmentally sound way as possible, making it even more crucial that items that shouldn’t be included aren’t. So, apart of pricing and sizing, everything to know about hiring a skip is right here. Look out for the above when choosing a company can ensure that all of your waste is in appropriate hands.
Hire firm Hewden has placed an order for 50 JCB skid steer and compact tracked loaders in a deal worth £2.5m. The order, placed through dealer Gunn JCB, is for the JCB 155 and 205T tracked models, as well as a wide range of attachments, including augers, pallet forks, shovels, trencher, waste grapple, patch planner, sweeper collector, brush cutter, landscape power rake and breakers. A key factor in the purchasing decision, Hewden said, was the Power Boom design of JCB’s skid steer range. This enables operators to enter the cab of the machine through a large side door rather than climbing over potentially dangerous attachments at the front. Hewden CEO Adrian Murphy said: “This is the latest in a significant round of investments for Hewden. We believe in having the latest and newest technology to meet our clients’ exacting demands. We were impressed with JCB’s design of its skid steer and compact tracked loader range and the health and safety benefits it offers. Having a side-door entry point is just common sense and sets the standard for the industry. Beyond that is the versatility of the equipment: it enables our hire customers to deploy the equipment in a range of challenging environments. This, together with our recent investment in our crane and lifting fleet, shows we are at the forefront of providing the latest innovative machinery for customers.” Pictured below are, left to right: Gunn JCB director John Dolphin, Hewden product manager Alex Gadd, Hewden marketing director Kumar Bhamidipati, and JCB UK & Ireland sales director Dan Thompstone.
Civil engineering contractor FM Conway has invested £1.5m in the purchase of 38 JCB machines. The new arrivals include excavators ranging from one to 22 tonnes and several JCB 3CX backhoe loaders. The machines, supplied by dealer Greenshields JCB, will be working on highways and public realm projects across London. FM Conway plant manager John Tobin said: “We chose JCB because of the close working relationship that has developed over many years and the strong support network from our dealer Greenshields JCB. They understand that downtime equals money to our business, and always react quickly. “A key feature of the JCB models is that they do not rely on the diesel particulate filter associated with other machines. We also benefit from the JCB LiveLink system which we use to monitor fuel consumption and idling times on the JCB JS excavators. LiveLink also provides an important security tool for us, as well as helping with maintenance. “We work with many boroughs across London carrying out vital highways and public realm works and these new machines will help us continue to provide these important services. The larger machines especially will prove very popular with our civil engineering division and with the teams at our recycling facilities.”
Hogan Concrete has taken delivery of the UK’s first concrete-mixer based on a DAF 8×2 rear-steer chassis. The new Euro-6 DAF CF 400 FAX eight-wheeler is fitted with an 8m3 capacity Cifa SL8 body. Hogan, which also has DAF LF 7.5 tonne and XF tractor units in its fleet, said that it selected the 32-tonne GVW 8×2 rear-steer chassis to provide additional payload benefits while retaining the handling and manoeuvrability characteristics generally associated with a 6×4 chassis. “DAF’s FAX rear-steer eight-wheeler is well-proven in the agricultural sector,” said managing director Kevin Hogan, “and I was confident that the chassis’ attributes would translate well into our line of work. “DAF’s standard CF 8×4 Construction model is a tough, durable truck, but it would not have been a suitable replacement for the 6×4 CF. The FAX 8×2 provides us with significantly more carrying capacity while retaining the manoeuvrability of a 6×4,” he said. “It’s critical for us to have a vehicle that can handle on-and-off-road operations, make light work of tight site access and one which enables our dispatch team to provide the service our customers require.” The CF 400 FAX is powered by a 10.8-litre, 400bhp Paccar MX-11 engine. Cifa’s 8m3 drum capacity SL8 Truckmixer body has an EKOS drum closing gate and pneumatically operated SL45 telescopic chutes – rather than a folding mechanism – resulting in less handling for the operator and so faster dispensing. The Italian-made body was supplied and fitted by Cifa’s UK agent, Spanners Mixer Hire in Market Deeping. “We’re a mixed fleet,” added Kevin Hogan, “but, over the years, the DAF marque has out-performed its competitors in all areas – product quality, reliability and aftersales, and that’s no mean feat considering the tough work our vehicles endure. “We use Holyhead Trucks in Mona, Anglesey for regular servicing and maintenance while the main DAF dealer, North West Trucks in Liverpool, supplies our vehicles – both are superb. The collaboration between DAF and Spanners, the Cifa agent, has been first-class, and has ensured the acquisition of a truck to our exacting specification.”
Natural Stone Surfaces, one of the UK’s leading stone manufacturers, has selected Street Crane for the supply and installation of new materials handling equipment to help boost productivity at its manufacturing facility. A variety of Street’s workstation lifting systems have been installed at the plant to safely and efficiently move large natural stone slabs at 10 separate workstations for polishing, cleaning and sealing. The systems include a multi-hoist light crane system and two jib cranes. All hoists have been fitted with vacuum lifting pads for gentle handling of the polished stone products. The light crane system is supported on a freestanding gantry system that is fixed to the existing floor. Each light crane beam has a span of six metres and 500 kg safe working load. Mathew Milner, director at Natural Stone Surfaces, said: “We’ve expanded rapidly over the last year, doubling our manufacturing space to help meet a growing demand for our products across the UK and in Europe. In line with this expansion, we approached Street Crane to develop a solution that would improve our production processes. “The new system has removed the need for forklifts and manual lifting, which has enhanced the health and safety of our operations, maximised space and enabled us to work faster and more efficiently. As a result, we anticipate that we will be able to boost productivity by 50 per cent over the next 12 months.” Chris Lindley-Smith, sales director at Street Crane added: “Our light crane system is tailor-made for each application and has a modular, flexible design so can be installed easily and quickly. “At Natural Stone Surfaces, it took just seven days to install ensuring minimal downtime and resulting in a cost-effective, durable solution that is making its workstations more efficient and improving the operating environment for staff. “ Based in High Peak, Derbyshire, Natural Stone Surfaces has a 70-strong workforce at its 25,000 sq ft manufacturing facility. The business supplies bespoke granite, marble, quartz, slate, limestone, travertine and semi-precious stone work surfaces to kitchen studios and interior designers throughout the UK and Europe.
In busy warehouse environments it is easy for the number of hours to increase on forklift trucks, with some vehicles in near-constant use 24/7, rolling on from one shift to the next. Transporting such a high volume of goods, both indoors and out, inevitably leads to considerable wear and tear, so it’s essential to keep an eye on maintenance and protect your fleet against long-term damage. Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, it’s a legal requirement to ensure that all plant machinery remains in a good state of repair, but another reason to take maintenance seriously is to minimise downtime, so here’s some advice from the experts at Linde Aftersales on how to keep your forklift trucks in tip-top shape. Check your checklist Forklift operators should conduct a thorough assessment of vehicles at the start of every shift, safeguarding against problems going unnoticed and unreported. Manufacturers will supply documentation detailing what to look out for, covering everything from fuel and oil levels to the lifting mechanism and safety features. It’s fundamental that staff actually complete these daily checks rather than simply paying lip service to them, in order to protect against unnecessary damage and potential accidents. A clear structure should be in place for problems to be flagged and resolved. Replace tired tyres Following your manufacturer’s recommended guidelines for tyre safety will ensure sufficient grip for movement, friction for braking and overall comfort. Naturally, the wheels are the only part of the vehicle in constant contact with the ground, leaving them vulnerable to damage, so it’s important to monitor their condition. Solid forklift tyres should have a wear indicator, known as a ‘60J line’, and once the depth reaches this point it only has 100 hours of use remaining. It’s crucial that you replace tyres in time, as instability will jeopardise both safety and productivity. Tyres should only be fitted and repaired by trained professionals. Don’t drag Whilst forks should be lowered when travelling, they should still be clear of the ground; making them drag along the floor is an all-too-frequent cause of damage that is easily avoided. Dragging also results in extra fuel consumption – an unnecessary cost. The weight of loads should be evenly centred, and forks should be lifted to a safe height. Prevention is better than cure Driving over sawdust, pallet wrap or loose packaging can potentially lead to issues with air filters and blocked radiators, as well as causing damage to shaft bearings, so all debris should be regularly cleared from the warehouse floor. Potholes should be immediately tended to, as they can cause damage to the chassis and tyres, and drivers should avoid wearing tool belts, as sharp objects can create holes in the leather seating, which will only deteriorate over time. Book your Thorough Examination Whilst daily checks will help to guarantee optimal performance, it’s a legal requirement to pass a Thorough Examination of forklift machinery every year, much in the same way that cars have to complete their MOT. Failing to keep up with regular inspections will put the lifespan of your equipment and the safety of staff at risk, so it’s crucial to ensure that your forklift trucks are kept in good working order.
Generators are extremely important for any business and are included in most systems to top up battery storage or to meet electricity requirements, and are vital for emergency procedures should you face a power cut. Below we have explained why having backup power on your site is important. Types of generators There are two types of generators, petrol generators and diesel generators. Petrol generators are designed to provide unmatched economical performance while delivering a reliable power output. It doesn’t matter what industry you work in, whether it’s for heavy duty industrial work, or for areas where disruption is kept to a minimum, these petrol generators will provide the level of output you require. Diesel generators are available in a fantastic range of power outputs and offer up to 10kVA of power in both single phase and three-phase. With these you don’t need to worry about noise, you can choose from silent and super-silent units. Why should I invest in a generator? Imagine you are at work, going about your usual day-to-day activities, assisting visitors in the building, and all of a sudden the power goes down – your company would look highly unprofessional to your visitors. Not only this but having a generator also ensures that all workers are able to continue with their day-to-day tasks, meaning you and your staff do not suffer a financial loss. If you are travelling to various remote locations for work, then a lot of the time you have to supply the power yourself. In these cases portable generators come in handy, and even if a company does allow you to use their electricity, you and your company appear more professional if you have your own source of electricity. Having back up power in health care industries is especially important, this is because life support machines and other compulsory tools are crucial in sustaining human life. If you want to invest in generators but aren’t sure where to begin then contact a professional who will be happy to advise you of the best type of generator for your business. Pramac Generators are the leading generator suppliers and on hand to assist with your requirements.
LiHD – REVOLUTIONARY BATTERY PACK TECHNOLOGY, OPENING UP NEW WORLDS. 1985 – today: Optimisation of battery pack endurance (longer run time = more Ah) What started in the 80s with nickel-cadmium battery packs was revolutionised almost 20 years later with the introduction of the innovative lithium ion technology. Henceforth, we have continued to perfect this technology in terms of run time, so that users on site can drill, drive in screws, cut and grind, all for a longer time. Just one year after the world premiere of the 4.0 Ah battery pack, Metabo managed to set a new standard in terms of endurance with the 5.2 Ah generation. New from May 2015: LiHD – Quantum leap in performance for completely new applications Now we are starting a technological revolution with the innovative Metabo LiHD battery packs: Not only could the run time be increased by up to 87%, but with up to 67% more power. For the first time we enter new dimensions which could not even be imagined for battery packs until now. Now, applications previously reserved for only mains-powered machines, become possible. 30 years of Metabo battery pack competence