Leading specialist plant hire firm Land & Water Plant has made the commitment, alongside the rest of the Land & Water Group, to become Carbon Net Zero by 2030. In order to do this, the firm is expanding its fleet to offer more specialist hybrid and fuel-efficient solutions that fulfil
The UK’s leading supplier of powered access for working at height, Nationwide Platforms, has recently announced a huge investment to add to its fleet of specialist vehicles for 2023. This significant investment follows a previous overhaul of 8% of the fleet in 2021 and looks set to ensure the supplier
Leading surface preparation specialist, National Flooring Equipment , will exhibit its entire range of products on its stand S11327 at World of Concrete (WOC) from January 17 to 19, 2023, in Las Vegas. The show will bring together more than 60,000 professionals from all sectors of the construction industry to
Norderney is one of the most popular islands on the German North Sea coast with tourists. To keep it that way, it is necessary to carry out regular maintenance measures to preserve the island’s stability in the long term. The company, Tell Bau GmbH from Norden, using a new Doosan
Trans-Tomaco is a family company based in Castellón in Spain, founded in 1950 by professionals from the world of transport, logistics management and earthmoving. Since then, the business has fulfilled all of its clients’ material transport needs. Its vehicle fleet is three years old on average and is diversified in
GAP GROUP PURCHASE ALL DXB INTEGRATE FLEETED 200mm WASTEWATER PUMPSETS AS DEMAND FOR STAGE V PUMPSETS INCREASES DRAMTICALLY IN AMP7 AND BEYOND. With demand for Stage V pumpsets outstripping the supply chains of all European pump manufacturers, GAP Group (GAP) and DXB Integrate Limited (DXBi) have agreed for GAP to
Finning, sole dealer of Cat® machines and equipment in the UK & Ireland, is urging its customers to sign up to the new Cat Productivity platform, a cloud-based system designed to gather and analyse a vast range of machine data that will boost machine performance and productivity. Customers will be able to
Together Exyn and Trimble Demonstrate a Groundbreaking Solution to Increase Efficiency and Safety Across Complex GNSS-Denied Construction Environments Trimble and Exyn Technologies, a pioneer in multi-platform robotic autonomy for complex, GPS-denied environments, announced today a strategic collaboration to explore the use of autonomous construction surveying technology. The solution will integrate
Willemsen Infra BV, a civil engineering company from Utrecht in the Netherlands, purchased a new Bobcat E10e electric mini-excavator earlier in 2022. It is now one of the many electric vehicles and machines that WiIlemsen Infra uses on its projects. According to Justin Willemsen, Director at Willemsen Infra, the company’s
Performance boosting feature wins another Archie for Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks at this year’s Awards for Excellence When the Awards jury met to select the winners for this year’s Archies – the UKMHA’s Awards for Excellence – one particular feature intrigued them. It was AutoBoost on the Mitsubishi EDiA XL 4-5
Leading specialist plant hire firm Land & Water Plant has made the commitment, alongside the rest of the Land & Water Group, to become Carbon Net Zero by 2030. In order to do this, the firm is expanding its fleet to offer more specialist hybrid and fuel-efficient solutions that fulfil its client’s needs. The firm is thrilled to have recently taken delivery of the first Hitachi ZX130-7 super long reach excavator in the UK. Land & Water Plant Hire is already home to the largest range of long reach excavators and the most comprehensive fleet of amphibious plant and road transportable marine equipment in the UK. The Hitachi ZX130-7 model is ideal for dredging rivers and lakes, as well as bank maintenance. It is exceptionally durable and stable, and does not compromise on user-friendly operation. The environmental benefits of the Hitachi ZX130- 7 include: Dan Jackson, Strategic Account Manager at Land & Water Plant Hire, said: “We strive to ensure we have the very best offering for our customer’s needs. Increasing our offerings with more fuel-efficient machines like the Hitachi ZX130-7 helps us meet our own environmental targets as well as our clients. We will continue to adapt along with the market and requirements whether it be additional hybrid, fully electric or hydrogen in the near future. “As part of our company’s drive towards a net zero future, we are committed to ensuring that our clients have access to sustainable solutions. Innovation is one of our key values at Land & Water and we are extremely proud to be bringing new environmentally conscious technology to the UK.” The construction and civil engineering industry makes up almost 40% of the world’s CO2 emissions. The Land & Water Group is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and becoming Carbon Net Zero by 2030, making it one of the industry’s key pioneers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK’s leading supplier of powered access for working at height, Nationwide Platforms, has recently announced a huge investment to add to its fleet of specialist vehicles for 2023. This significant investment follows a previous overhaul of 8% of the fleet in 2021 and looks set to ensure the supplier sustains its place at the top of the powered access industry. This continued investment will ensure that Nationwide Platforms’ fleet serves the needs of its customers, delivering highly effective machines that are safe and reliable. Among the new machines are models supplied by the Finland-based Bronto Skylift, such as the Bronto T38 and the Bronto T56 with extended reach. Two more Bronto S35EM machines have also been ordered. Eight of these machines were ordered by Nationwide Platforms earlier in 2022, making them the first UK company to invest in the Bronto Skylift S35EM fitted on a Scania Chassis. Designed to provide a city-safe option for truck-mounted lifts, this cutting-edge machinery will make inner city work safer and more efficient. In addition, the purchase of over 20 3.5 tonne truck-mounted platforms between 21-26m will substantially contribute towards the ongoing diversification of Nationwide Platform’s fleet. After the investment the company will have over 220 3.5 tonne trucks. These new machines will allow Nationwide Platforms to cover the self-operated market, so that companies need not hire a licensed operator alongside the machine. “We’re looking to secure a more balanced split of both articulated and straight stick trucks with this investment. By diversifying our range in this way, we can cater to a much larger proportion of the powered access requirements in the industry, and make our clients that much happier in the process,” says Glenn Hall, Head of Sales at Nationwide Platforms. “During an economically turbulent time, many businesses are having to reconsider their investments and even pull out of the market. However, Nationwide Platforms is dedicated to meeting customer demand and providing long-term security no matter the circumstances. With this impressive investment, we will continue to supply multiple sectors with the best in cutting-edge machinery through-out 2023.” For more information on Nationwide Platforms please visit: https://www.nationwideplatforms.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading surface preparation specialist, National Flooring Equipment , will exhibit its entire range of products on its stand S11327 at World of Concrete (WOC) from January 17 to 19, 2023, in Las Vegas. The show will bring together more than 60,000 professionals from all sectors of the construction industry to share knowledge and experience the latest surface and floor preparation equipment on the market. When preparing any floor or surface, every job is different and will require the right combination of tools to complete. NFE designs and manufactures all the machines a surface preparation contractor needs, and will bring its full range to the latest WOC exhibition in Las Vegas. Visitors to the show will have the chance to see all the US-designed and manufactured tools that National Flooring Equipment has to offer including scrapers, grinders, polishers, shot blasters and floor scarifiers. Highlights will include the best-selling 5000 Ride-on Scraper, a high-speed, compact, and durable machine that’s equipped with hydraulic steering to make even the tightest of manoeuvres simple. Also on display will be National Flooring Equipment’s new walk-behind scraper, the Rogue. This latest addition to the company’s catalogue is a game-changer. Fully electric with precision steering, the Rogue is capable of covering up to 150 ft per minute and has a fully adjustable blade angle at the touch of a button. “World of Concrete 2023 will be a great opportunity for us to connect with our customers and show them our full range of surface and floor preparation tools” explained Jake Sinna, president of National Flooring Equipment. “Not only that, we get to share our expertise and advice, and provide specialist training in the form of tutorials and videos, so our customers can get the most out of their machines. Learning how to properly use and maintain our equipment is just as important as owning it in the first place.” Attendees will have the chance to put their surface preparation questions to experts at National Flooring Equipment and learn key skills from training videos and tutorials, which will be available to watch on a screen at the stand. To explore all National Flooring Equipment has to offer, and discover how its product range can help you meet your surface preparation needs, visit www.nationalequipmentdirect.com. You can register for WOC 2023 at www.worldofconcrete.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Norderney is one of the most popular islands on the German North Sea coast with tourists. To keep it that way, it is necessary to carry out regular maintenance measures to preserve the island’s stability in the long term. The company, Tell Bau GmbH from Norden, using a new Doosan DX255NLC excavator, has just completed a project to implement one of the measures used to protect the island. Flexible Deployment Options The project, which lasted about four months, was commissioned by the NLWKN (Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation agency). It called for the reinforcement of the revetment in the east of the island. A revetment is a passive structure which protects against erosion caused by wave action, storm surge and currents. The project required the old revetment to be dismantled and a new revetment made of hydraulic rubble stone in full grouting to be constructed. At the same time, the asphalt revetment had to be renewed. The Doosan DX255NLC was used flexibly in various areas. Its tasks included both demolition and earthworks. The Doosan excavator was also used to drive sheet piles into the ground along the full length of the construction section using a Movax SG50V pile driver. In addition, utilising the on-board TopCon 3D system, the excavator produced the dyke shapes required for installation and profiling of the revetment. Dipl. Ing. Andrej Achrameev, Project Manager at Tell Bau, commented: “Due to the diversity of the project, the excavator had to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility in various applications. It fully met this requirement.” Versatile Machine The Doosan DX255NLC has an operating weight of around 25 tonne. It is equipped with the 192 kW six-cylinder DL06 engine from Doosan. With its maximum digging depth of 6.81 m, it can be used extremely flexibly in civil engineering work. The DX255NLC at Tell Bau is fitted with a TopCon 3D control system and can be equipped with a Movax SG50P pile driver and a PowerTilt. Thomas Gembler, Managing Director of Tell Bau, summarises the performance of the new machine: “Of course, we cannot conclusively evaluate the Doosan DX255NLC at this point, but the price-performance ratio is very good and so far the reliability is also impeccable.” The special feature of this NLC (Narrow Long Crawler) excavator is its transport width of 3 m. This allows the excavator to be transported with a permanent excess width exemption in Germany. Reliable Dealer Tell Bau purchased the machine from Doosan dealer, Werner Seemann, which has roots going back to 1966. Werner Seemann now has branches in East Frisia, Bremen and Osnabrück. Since 1999, the two sons of the company founder, Werner and Jens Seemann, have also been active in the company. Continuity and sustainable processes are central components of the company’s philosophy: “Instead of quick profits, we focus on reliability and partnership,” says Werner Seemann Senior. In addition to the construction machinery business, the company also offers services in the areas of vehicle construction and handling technology. Tell Bau GmbH The construction company, Tell Bau GmbH in Norden, has a remarkable history. Started as a small construction company in 1946 in Norden, this group of companies now has around 350 employees. In addition to the headquarters in Norden, Tell Bau GmbH has branches in three other locations: in Berlin, on Norderney and in Sellin on the island of Rügen. The original paving company has been expanded to include road construction, civil engineering, asphalt construction, structural engineering and sports facility construction. In the field of building construction, the company is mainly active in the commercial sector. In addition to residential construction, the company undertakes projects in the fields of structural and civil engineering, sewage treatment plants and large industrial buildings. Research centres, production and administration buildings as well as consumer markets are constructed on a turnkey basis for well-known clients. For four decades, Tell Bau has also been building and supplying synthetic surfaces and artificial turf systems for both ball sports and light athletic use. For more information on Doosan construction machinery, please visit www.eu.doosanequipment.com Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Trans-Tomaco is a family company based in Castellón in Spain, founded in 1950 by professionals from the world of transport, logistics management and earthmoving. Since then, the business has fulfilled all of its clients’ material transport needs. Its vehicle fleet is three years old on average and is diversified in order to meet the demand of operators with modern and state-of-the-art loader equipment. Moving Three Thousand Tonne of Raw Material Daily The latest addition to the fleet at Trans-Tomaco is the purchase of a new Doosan DL380-7 wheel loader to move raw materials used in the manufacture of porcelain stoneware flooring in the Castellón area. The ceramic sector in Spain is of vital importance at a national level, but above all in terms of exports. Spain is the benchmark in the industry and one of the main European and world exporting countries in this market, with 90% of production being concentrated in the province of Castellón. Raw materials for the industry arrive at the ports of Castellón and Valencia, or come from mines in various Spanish towns, and are transported by truck to the ceramics plant. Using the new Doosan DL380-7 loader, these materials are collected and fed into hoppers, so that the ceramic atomizer has a continuous supply for the manufacture of tiles. The dependability of the wheel loader is paramount, because production cannot be stopped once the ovens are switched on, as the process is continuous. Great Load Capacity, Speed and Lower Fuel Consumption “We need to stack a large amount of material, mainly white clay, to feed the hoppers quickly and reliably. We are talking about a movement of at least three thousand tonne of material per day, in two shifts,” comments Raúl Martínez Paula, the machine operator in charge. “The Doosan DL380-7 wheel loader provides us with a large loading capacity and it is faster and guarantees a better performance with lower fuel consumption. We now have a 4.3 m3 shovel that improves the effectiveness of the work considerably. With this greater load capacity we have made gains in efficiency.” The DL380-7 is part of the new generation DL-7 wheel loader family, which offers maximum capacities from 2.8 to 6.4 m3. In addition, the Z-bar lift arm provides high breakout forces and lifting capacities, especially for heavier materials, and a large dumping angle to efficiently unload materials. “We highly value the speed of movement, the power and the low fuel consumption – everything goes well together. This machine is very easy to operate, manoeuvres perfectly both indoors and outdoors, and performs and runs very well,” adds Raúl Martínez Paula. The Doosan DL380-7 wheel loader features a Stage V engine that primarily uses Selective Catalytic Reduction, plus a longer lasting Diesel Particulate Filter, with a fully automatic regeneration process designed to manage itself, without operator intervention. Eliminating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) from the engine leads to much lower fuel consumption and fewer particulates in the exhaust. With no EGR needed and a new selection of power modes available – SAT2, Standard or Power – the new generation Situation Awareness Technology (SAT2) power management system automatically scans the machine’s activity and adjusts the engine’s output according to real time analysis of the boom pressure, pump pressure and output shaft. New Cab with Excellent Finish Raúl Martínez Paula added: “Previously we owned another Doosan loader, a DL300 and we were satisfied with its performance so we weren’t considering changing brands. Compared with the old machine, the new loader is more modern, sleaker and very comfortable. It is larger, the cab is very spacious, comfortable and has a better finish. It has an 8-inch touch screen that is easy to read and use, with all the functions integrated in one place. Visibility from the operator’s station is unbeatable.” Inside the cab, the DL380-7 wheel loader offers enhanced operating comfort, an enhanced steering system and advanced electronic controls. Using the new Doosan Smart Key system on the control panel in the cab, the operator can start the machine using a keyless device, helping to prevent machine theft. The Smart Key system provides remote door control, door lock and unlock, door release, searching and other functions. The control panel also includes two USB sockets. The new cab has a Grammer Actimo XXL seat with fully adjustable horizontal and vertical suspension settings, a pneumatic lumbar function and seat heating as standard. The new EMCV (Electric Main Control Valve) joystick fully integrated in the armrest is another standard feature in the cab, providing the operator with smoother and precise controllability of the lift arm and attachments on the wheel loader. Raúl Martínez Paula continued: “It is also worth noting the breakout force of this loader, as well as its high traction that facilitates the penetration of even the hardest materials. This is a very safe and robust machine and we also opted for the DL380-7 because of the confidence provided by the service of the Doosan distributor, SUMAG MOP, and the professionals in their workshop, together with that offered by Centrocar, exclusive importer of Doosan in Spain, Portugal, Angola and Mozambique, who we have been working with for many years.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GAP GROUP PURCHASE ALL DXB INTEGRATE FLEETED 200mm WASTEWATER PUMPSETS AS DEMAND FOR STAGE V PUMPSETS INCREASES DRAMTICALLY IN AMP7 AND BEYOND. With demand for Stage V pumpsets outstripping the supply chains of all European pump manufacturers, GAP Group (GAP) and DXB Integrate Limited (DXBi) have agreed for GAP to purchase the existing fleet of high head and high flow DXBi 200mm sewage pumpsets to service the rapidly expanding hire demand from GAP’s customers. The pumpsets being bought from DXBi are identical to the 200mm pumpsets that GAP bought from DXBi in 2022, and will instantly add 40% more to the GAP fleet. This allows the hire company to support the demands for clean engine pumpsets on major projects stipulating Stage V. All the 200mm pumpsets have been designed and manufactured by DXB Pump & Power, the manufacturing division of the DXB Group that has supplied almost 150 Stage V pumpsets to GAP over the last 12 months, enabling them to make a huge impact in the UK’s water industry. Mark Anderson, GAP’s Managing Director for the North commented, “We have seen a good deal of trouble-free success with these 200mm pumpsets powered by Stage V engines, and by purchasing the existing DXBi 200mm fleet, it allows us to quickly fill the growing demand that may have been impacted by engine deliveries, which have always been challenging.” He continued “DXB have done well to supply us around 150 pumpsets this year whilst building their new factory at the same time, which we know was a major challenge in these economic conditions. This purchase enables us to keep driving forward aggressively whilst we wait for the next round of pumpsets which we should have in Q1 2023.” Simon Ruffles, Managing Director of DXB Integrate said “GAP Pump Services is now a major player in the UK pump industry, having only started in 2021, and this is great credit to Mark and his business for having the vision to see the environmental opportunity of Stage V, or electric dryprime pumpsets and committing to it so aggressively.” He continued, “GAP is now the leader in the market in terms of Stage V pumpsets by far and this investment works for both companies, allowing DXBi to focus on more niche market applications such as the high pressure quarrying or oil & gas applications, and the very challenging geotechnical markets where our most recent fleet investments have been made.”
Finning, sole dealer of Cat® machines and equipment in the UK & Ireland, is urging its customers to sign up to the new Cat Productivity platform, a cloud-based system designed to gather and analyse a vast range of machine data that will boost machine performance and productivity. Customers will be able to track how much time their machines spend loading, hauling and dumping and how work is progressing whether they are on site or not. Armed with a superior level of analysis, customers are better placed to make informed decisions to ensure each piece of equipment is performing to a higher level – across multiple sites and projects. Tom Barker, Performance Solutions Consultant for Finning UK & Ireland, said: “The Cat Productivity platform gives customers the information they need to implement the right changes to improve site productivity by lowering the cost per ton through measures such as reducing idle time, reducing fuel monitor material tracking, and track individual assets to ensure they are optimally positioned to reduce cycle time. “We already have a number of customers utilising the platform and have had some great feedback from them because it’s so easy to use and gives them all the information they need in one place, both for reporting purposes to their client and to implement effective changes which add up to big improvements in productivity.” Cat Productivity can be accessed 24/7 from any internet device and can be used for mixed fleets of Cat and non-Cat machines. It gathers accurate data from multiple jobsites and machines into one platform on everything from tonnes per hour, cycles per hour, load count by site or asset, working vs. idle hours and machine fuel burn, making reporting simple and improvements to jobsite operation easy to implement. In a Cat production study which looked at two scenarios, insights from Cat Productivity led to an optimised bucket-filling process which delivered a 20% advantage in cycle time, and an optimised truck-loading process which led to a 23% improvement in fuel efficiency. Jobsite Dashboards allow users to view a summary of multiple jobsites and metrics at a glance on one screen such as number of assets, tonnes per hour and cycles per hour, while one click into the Productivity tab allows a deeper dive into weekly load counts by asset and site for example, and cost totals for idle time and per tonne. The platform also provides an interactive map so users can monitor the movement of their assets 24/7 and monitor dump events. To help customers get the most from Cat Productivity Finning are offering the platform as part of three support packages – Inform, Advise or Partner – which start from a set-up only bundle and range to a full partnership package to assist in implementing a continuous improvement programme. For an exclusive look at the new Cat Productivity platform register for FINROCK 22 to see a live interactive demonstration. Registration is completely free – register your place here: www.finrock.live Alternatively call the Finning team on 0800 169 2186. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Together Exyn and Trimble Demonstrate a Groundbreaking Solution to Increase Efficiency and Safety Across Complex GNSS-Denied Construction Environments Trimble and Exyn Technologies, a pioneer in multi-platform robotic autonomy for complex, GPS-denied environments, announced today a strategic collaboration to explore the use of autonomous construction surveying technology. The solution will integrate Boston Dynamics’ Spot® robot, the ExynPak™ powered by ExynAI™ and the Trimble® X7 total station. It will enable fully autonomous missions inside complex and dynamic construction environments, which can result in consistent and precise reality capture for production and quality control workflows. “The integration of autonomous surveying technology into a construction workflow has groundbreaking potential,” said Aviad Almagor, vice president of Technology Innovation, Trimble. “It can improve operational efficiency and transparency throughout the build lifecycle while also transforming worker safety for potentially hazardous data collection.” Autonomous robots powered by ExynAI, can sense and avoid obstacles, dynamically adapting to the ever-changing complexity of construction environments. To ensure the utmost safety and efficiency, the ExynPak mounts and integrates with a robot, supporting level 4 of autonomous exploration missions without requiring the robot to “learn” about its environment beforehand. A surveyor simply defines a 3D volume for a mission and the integrated robotic solution handles the complexities of self-navigation without needing a map, GPS or wireless infrastructure. The integration of the Trimble X7 provides high-speed, high-accuracy 3D laser scanning to capture the state of the environment. The captured data can be uploaded to the Trimble Connect® collaboration platform and shared with project stakeholders for further analysis, including a comparison to Building Information Models (BIM) and previous scans to monitor quality and progress. The end result is a map of unprecedented detail and accuracy collected with minimal human intervention and risk. “Industry has been waiting for reliable and robust autonomous technology to transform difficult and dangerous activities. Exyn’s technology is helping to enable a new front in human-robot collaboration. By working with preeminent leaders such as Trimble, we aim to create adaptable, state-of-the-art systems to tackle the complexities across construction and industrial environments,” said Nader Elm, CEO of Exyn Technologies. Exyn and Trimble will be demonstrating this technology at the Trimble Dimensions+ Conference November 7-9 in Las Vegas. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willemsen Infra BV, a civil engineering company from Utrecht in the Netherlands, purchased a new Bobcat E10e electric mini-excavator earlier in 2022. It is now one of the many electric vehicles and machines that WiIlemsen Infra uses on its projects. According to Justin Willemsen, Director at Willemsen Infra, the company’s choice of electric machines is mainly motivated by the stricter emission requirements in many city centres and by the advantage that having such equipment in the fleet offers when tendering for government contracts. Willemsen Infra offers a broad portfolio, covering earthmoving, road works and hydraulic engineering and is mainly active in the Utrecht region. It is a family business that was founded in 2008 and employs about 65 people. The company works mainly in the repair, maintenance and construction of sewerage systems, paving and soil remediation. Willemsen Infra also has a number of push boats with pontoons, with which work can be carried out on and along the canals of Utrecht. Modern Machinery Fleet Willemsen has a state-of-the-art fleet of machinery and vehicles. The company formed the fleet with the focus on reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, as most of the work it carries out is in urban areas. It also why several of the machines have a limited axle load of a maximum of two tonne and are equipped with tracking systems, with which the journeys and fuel consumption can be tracked. Justin Willemsen is a strong supporter of the use of electric equipment and tools. The company already has 14 electric vans in operation and recently an electric truck with a spray suction installation system for sewer work was added to the fleet. In addition, the company is gradually switching to electric power tools; including heavier kit such as band saws and vibratory plates. “We believe that we should actively contribute to making construction more sustainable,” says Justin Willemsen, “but the use of electric equipment also provides commercial benefits. When registering for the tendering of government projects, you have a significant advantage if you can carry out the work with electric equipment. We have already won several contracts where fully electrical work was a precondition. And the requirements for the use of construction equipment and vehicles in urban areas are only getting stricter.” Utrecht Precursor to Emission-Free The municipality of Utrecht, where Willemsen Infra works much of the time, is one of the trailblazers in the Netherlands when it comes to environmental and emissions policy. An environmental zone has now been set up in Utrecht, in which diesel vehicles are prohibited. This zone is likely to be expanded in 2023. By 2025, the power supply to the city centre is also required to be completely emission-free. These measures have been introduced to limit noise pollution and harmful emissions, but also to prevent vibrations that can damage the historic buildings. The municipality of Utrecht wants to achieve a completely emission-free city centre by 2030 at the latest. The municipality has also examined the role of construction machinery and mobile equipment. The engineering company, Royal HaskoningDHV, was commissioned by the municipality to carry out research into the causes of air pollution in the city, and this showed that mobile equipment is in second place. Forty per cent of the excavators and wheel loaders used in the city centre fall into the Stage IIIa and IIIb emission classes; so there are still many gains to be made. The municipality realizes that construction companies cannot simply replace older equipment; all the more so as zero-emission machines are considerably more expensive than traditional diesel-powered machines. According to Justin Willemsen, a solution could be for the municipality to work with contractors for longer periods of time, so that they have time to recoup their investments in replacing ‘old’ equipment with zero-emission machines. Depreciation and Residual Value Justin Willemsen is convinced that Willemsen Infra’s investments in electric equipment will bear fruit. “If you have a zero-emission fleet, you are at the front of the queue as a supplier. You can win tenders for sustainability, because KPIs have been defined for this and governments are prepared to pay more for this. And you really can’t secretly use a diesel machine for work, because there are strict controls. The fines can be up to 1500 euros per violation. “To be honest, we don’t have a complete picture of the exact operating costs of electric machines yet,” says Justin Willemsen, “because we can’t say much about depreciation and residual value yet. Of course we save on fuel costs and oil, but I think that mainly the limited maintenance of electric machines will be the deciding factor. We don’t know for sure yet, but as an entrepreneur you also have to be prepared to stick your neck out.” The Bobcat E10e Electric Mini-Excavator In any event, the Bobcat E10e has been very well received; both by the employees of Willemsen Infra and the residents of Utrecht, who often react with surprise to the fact that the excavator makes virtually no noise. Willemsen Infra’s employees are particularly satisfied with the hydraulic joystick control, which is placed on an adjustable console on the side of the driver’s seat. The position of the joysticks can be adjusted as the driver wishes. There is also plenty of foot space in the operator’s position. Because the machine is so quiet, communication between the operator and the rest of the work crew is also very easy. As the E10e mini-excavator weighs only one tonne, is only 72 cm wide (which can be increased to 110 cm using the extendable tracks) and has an integrated, foldable Tip Over Protective Structure, it is not only easy to transport, but also very suitable for working inside buildings, on difficult terrain, in inaccessible places and in narrow streets. Thanks to the zero tail swing, the E10e also causes almost no traffic problems. The machine has a number of other advantages, which are specific to an electric excavator: a patented electro-hydraulic drive system that makes full use of
Performance boosting feature wins another Archie for Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks at this year’s Awards for Excellence When the Awards jury met to select the winners for this year’s Archies – the UKMHA’s Awards for Excellence – one particular feature intrigued them. It was AutoBoost on the Mitsubishi EDiA XL 4-5 tonne electric counterbalance truck. So, what is it and what does it do? It’s one of a clutch of patent-pending design innovations that singled out the electric EDiA XL from its rivals and helped it scoop a deserved Archie. Put simply, AutoBoost senses when truck speed on an incline drops by more than 1.5km/hr. Then it automatically and seamlessly delivers the additional torque and acceleration to maintain normal progress. There’s no pause and no loss of momentum. In doing so, AutoBoost eliminates a common failing among competitor electric trucks: power drop-off on ramps and long inclines. It also overcomes one of the reasons why some sectors have been reluctant to make the switch from diesel. “In every demo, it is AutoBoost that seals the deal,” explains Ben Haseley, Managing Director of RDD, the sole UK distributor for Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks. “As soon as it comes to a ramp, rivals start to slow right down but the EDiA XL just powers up. It’s been a key factor in the decision-making process across a broad sweep of industries previously committed to diesel including transport, logistics, drinks, timber, brick and block. “Customers who are looking for the ultimate performance also love the fact that AutoBoost can be programmed to instantly deliver maximum acceleration from the moment the accelerator pedal is depressed.” Game-changing traction and greater storage density But that’s not the only reason the 4-5 tonne Mitsubishi EDiA XL stormed its way to an Archie. It’s just one in a series of features that make this truck the smoothest, strongest and quietest electric on the market. Developed for genuine indoor-outdoor performance in every conceivable application the EDiA XL features four-wheel steering along with another unique innovation: an electric differential lock. Together they deliver sure-footed traction and control, even in the most hostile environments. At the rear of the truck the wheels turn through a massive 100-degree lock to help deliver the smallest turning circle on the market – typically 500mm less than diesel models – to generate greater storage density. The most energy-efficient electric counterbalance in its 4-5 tonne class, EDiA XL works exceptionally long shifts. Available with a choice of battery types, when specified with lithium-ion batteries, it will work multi-shift operations, making it a genuine rival to diesel in terms on non-stop availability. Equipped with state-of-the art software to match performance characteristics to the operating conditions as well the individual operator, EDiA XL has been designed to inspire confidence, optimise safety and maximise throughput. “Every now and then a product comes along that stands head and shoulders above the rest,” says Ben Haseley. “That supremacy may only last a few years, but during that time, it’s the benchmark against which all others are judged. The Mitsubishi EDiA XL is that truck.” In selecting the EDiA XL as winner of the Environmental Product Award 2022, the jury was impressed by new technologies developed by Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks that allow an electric truck to offer a green alternative to IC engine trucks in more demanding environments than ever before. For further information about EDiA XL, or to find out more about any product in the award-winning Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks range, visit www.mitforklift.com or call the Mitsubishi Greenline on 0845 3713048
