Clambering into and out of construction machinery has often been one of the most hazardous parts of the plant operator’s day. Muddy boots don’t always grip

so well on muddy metal plates. Ever aware of the need to provide a clean and safe environment to work in, Volvo Construction Equipment has collaborated with Kocurek, the Ipswich-based modification specialist, to take safe cab access to a new level.

Quite literally a new level, in fact... ground level. With fixed elevated cabs not so many years ago, operators were expected to climb up structures varying between 2m and 3m above ground level to get to their work station. In recent years this problem has been addressed to an extent by hydraulic raised cab (HRC) offered by many manufacturers, but this is only half the answer to the question of safe access and egress.

Volvo and Kocurek, therefore, have teamed up to produce the Volvo Step Safe Cab. It retains the functionality of the regular HRC but also allows the cab to be lowered to ground level to provide safe access and egress for the Volvo and Kocurek have teamed up to produce an easy-access cab operator. The kinematics are similar to the standard HRC with the anchor point mounted behind the standard cab position on the superstructure. The significant difference is the modification to the standard superstructure to allow the downward movement of the cab and supporting linkage. Instead of you having to clamber up to the cab, the cab elegantly lowers itself down to you.

(The Step Safe Cab is lowered hydraulically to ground level for easy entry and exit)

All the normal functions of the HRC are retained, with built in safety devices. For example, the cab can still be lowered manually in the event of engine or hydraulic failure or if the operator needs emergency assistance. There is also a separate electric power-pack so that when the operator is leaving the machine unattended the cab can be returned to the original OEM position if desired, to prevent or minimise any accidental damage that may occur on site for example. The design is based on the EC480D but is available as an option for all Volvo GPE models of excavator, both wheeled and tracked from the EC220D upwards.

The Step Safe Cab is available in two variants: either with elevation just to the normal excavator cab position; or with full high-rise function for applications such as scrap handling or general rehandling, requiring full operator visibility from above. The innovative cab design is launched onto the market at the Plantworx trade show tomorrow (Tuesday 14^th May 2013) , where it will be exhibited on the Volvo stand.

Register for Plantworx tickets

The cab reminds me of Volvo’s futuristic excavator concept video, back in 2009.

Over the three days, these visitors picked up 7,372 copies of The Construction Index magazine. Which works out to be around 283.5 copies per hour (5 copies per minute, every minute of the show.)

The data collected by The Construction Index team really highlighted the visitor quality, with more than 65% of visitors to The Construction Index stand, detailed as senior management and directors.

For those of you which missed the show, here are a few pictures and videos from around the show ground.

Wacker Neuson demo zone:

Pictured above: The Volvo stand. You will see a tall Construction Index magazine box.. You might have also see this these on JCB, Finning, Leica, Cable Detection and Opti-cal Survey Equipment stands.. to mention just a few. A really big thank you, to all of you!

Bobcat demo zone Plantworx 2013

Takeuchi "Dig Zone" demo.. (Take a look at the young lad in the cab.. anyone guess his age.....?)

The Construction Index stand Plantworx 2013

It’s been very busy on The Construction Index stand...   (Turn left out of registration and pick up your free copy of The Construction Index magazine.)

Below are a few pictures and videos from today...

Commenting on the deal, Merrill Lynch, Operations Director at Lynch Plant Hire said: “When we first invested in the two Cat D6Ns from Finning in August 2012, we were keen to showcase the capabilities of IIIB compliant machines to our customers.  The sales support provided by Finning allowed us to fully understand the most effective machines that we can integrate into our plant hire fleet, and so far, customer reaction has been positive.

“Having these machines in our fleet has also opened up the possibility of getting involved in a wider range of developments.  The Crossrail infrastructure project in London, for example, will only use machines that are compliant with EU emissions regulations, and this is now something that we have the opportunity to get involved in.”

The Cat 320E hydraulic excavator is a machine suited to plant hire fleets with its low emission engine leading to lower fuel costs.  The full-size cab and improved service access, combined with a 6’7” tail swing, make it suitable for a diverse range of applications, optimizing productivity and potential profit.

Dermot O’Connor, sales representative from Finning said: “The comprehensive range of Stage IIIB compliant machines that Finning now really strengthens the range and versatility of the value based solutions we are able to offer.  We are hoping to build on this initial £2million investment to establish a solid working relationship with Lynch Plant Hire, and I look forward to doing more business with them in the future.”

It’s fair to say, Plantworx 2013 will offer something for everyone… Those seeking the very latest toys and gadgets, won’t be disappointed. Still time to pre-register for your FREE Plantworx tickets..

If it’s the old classics you’re after, then the Lighthouse Club has some kit which will bring a smile to your face.

(2.7t Hanix H27DR zero tail swing excavator that can be transported to site by standard trailer)

Michiro Ito, Managing Director of Hanix Europe, said: “This move marks a new and exciting phase for Hanix. The transition, together with operational improvements, is aimed at stepping-up the quality of our customer service through a more efficient, streamlined, and cohesive operation. Our sales strategy is to focus on a carefully selected range of machines that best suits the needs of the market, rather than offering a wide variety of model types. For instance, we are particularly strong in the 1.7t and 2.7t machine class which accounts for 44% of the UK market for mini excavators. Adding to this, the fact that half of all UK mini excavator sales are in Southern England, means that we confidently believe these initiatives will present us with the ideal opportunity to further strengthen our position in the mini excavator market.”

(One of the new Hanix H80D prototype machines at the NKK manufacturing plant in Japan)

For the UK, Hanix intends to concentrate most of its sales effort on the new generation D-Series machines. This latest breed of excavators includes the 980kg Hanix HO9D micro, the1.7t Hanix H17D, the 2.7t Hanix H27DR and the 5.5t Hanix H55DR. One further key model for the UK market is the Hanix H36CR zero-tail swing excavator at 3.5 tonnes. Hanix, the European arm of Japanese manufacturer NKK, also reports that it is in the final stages of development of an 8t machine (Hanix H80D). This new addition to the D-Series range is presently coming to the end of prototype testing in Japan prior to going into full production.

Free tickets to Plantworx.. 14th - 16th May 2013

There will be two models of the Sprider M25 on show. The M25S offers a 4.6 m or a 5 m arm, giving operators a 40m2 or a 48m2 working area and the second is the M25E giving a 4.3 m or a 4.6 m arm, which will offer a 32m2 or a 40m2 working area. The Sprider’s movements are precision controlled by a specially designed remote control unit.

Free tickets to Plantworx.. 14th - 16th May 2013

Our visit to Plantworx today was to talk about The Construction Index stand. Thankfully Plantworx helped us out with a few “logistical” issues… Our units were just too big to get into place. The Construction Index stand has now moved. You will find us on the left as you come out of the registration area. See below. (Get free tickets here.. )

The Construction Index “stand” is the now F1 pundit Eddie Jordan’s former hospitality unit from the Jordan F1 Racing Team. Spread over two floors our unit offers a great view over part of the show.

As an official media partner, The Construction Index will be out promoting our advertisers, via the magazine, website and other digital products, that have rapidly put us at the forefront of construction trade media. Be sure to drop by and pick up your FREE copy of The Construction Index magazine (normally £5) Plus a few other bits from us.

The Plantworx team sizing up The Construction Index stand space..

http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/free-plant-worx-2013-tickets

The resourceful bridge builders cross the icy waters with the assistance of the buckets of a Komatsu K400 and a CAT excavator.

In the middle of the icy waters the workers make the thrilling leaping of faith to the next bucket, as the machines transport them from one side of the river to the other.

Each bucket holds around five of the workers at a time, plus lunchboxes etc. ..  Seems to be a tried, tested and trusted mode of transport, based on the orderly queue…

In the background, you see the bridge the workers are building over this fast flowing river..

The TB285 is the successor to the 7.5-tonne TB175, of which close to 1,800 units were sold in the UK and Ireland since its introduction back in 2000. Improved operating features on the new machine include auxiliary hand and foot controls, eco modes, engine efficiency, angled dozer and more foot room.

There is also a little more beef, with bucket digging force increased from a maximum of 52.7kN to 59.1kN on the new model. Despite this, tail swing has been reduced from 1720mm to a more svelte 1650mm.

For the tool and plant hirers visiting Plantworx, the new compact Takeuchi TB215R 1.5 tonne will be worth a look.

The 1.5 tonne mini remains a very popular size, it’s designed for working in limited space, utilities streetworks.. etc,  offering an increased bucket and arm dig force of 14/9.5kN, yet has an extremely short tail swing. Its within legal towing limits and make this a perfect utilities and tool hire option with extended tracks and auxiliary hydraulic ports for onsite tools.

As well as the new models, operators will be invited to try out TB215R and possibly a few other Takeuchi models, from its 14-strong stable. 

Be sure to stop by stands L2 & L4, where you will be able to compare performance by size and put your skills to the test, by taking part in a zero tail swing competition – testing your “foot-ball skills”

Visitors will also get a first look at the euro version of the new wheeled option 9 tonne TB295W (UK version) which will be available later in the year.

Nine years later, after more tinkering than Claudio Ranieri ever did at Chelsea, and worn down by losses, Finning decided to get out. It sold Hewden to venture capitalists Sun European Partners for £110m, booking a £70m loss on the deal. Sir Matthew Goodwin died last year, in October, aged 83. In his retirement, he had observed from a distance Hewden’s decline and had been angry (so it has been written) about what he saw as its mismanagement in later years.

He is likely to have had strong views, too, on the relocation of its head office from Scotland to Manchester. When Finning took over in 2001, Hewden Stuart had more than 4,000 staff across 370 locations. It had annual revenues of £135m and was making pre-tax profits in the region of £15m to £20m.

By 2010, Hewden (as it now was) had 1,300 employees across 63 locations. Turnover was around £120m and it had lost £40m in the previous two years. The reduction in size was a combination of the ferocity of the recession and the disposal of significant elements of the business by Finning.

The tower crane and construction hoist operations were sold to PC Harrington in 2002 and 2008 respectively; and the tool hire business was sold to Speedy in 2007 for £115m.

Efficiency improvements may have also contributed to the headcount reduction, since a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system was implemented in 2005 at a cost of £14m.

Three years after Finning’s exit, with little or no improvement in market conditions, Hewden today has 1,050 employees and 35 operational depots.

The man at the helm is Kevin Parkes, who had already been with Finning 12 years when he was put into Hewden as operations manager in 2008. He was given the top job at Hewden a year later and is now CEO and chairman.

Like a state in permanent revolution, moves to transform the business continue. Parkes has introduced a new ERP system – Microsoft Dynamics AX – at a cost of £4.5m.  He says it has made the business “more transparent” and will save £2m a year.

Hewden is now structured around three regions rather than along product lines, but the five core product areas remain:

• general plant (excavators, dumpers, telehandlers etc)

• powered access

• mobile cranes

• site accommodation

• generators.

There is also an industrial business unit. Under Finning ownership, 30% of the fleet (by value) was Caterpillar. Since then, the inventory has been rationalised, down from 35,000 items to 25,000. More than this, there was a lot of “inappropriate” kit, Parkes says. “We used to have 24 different-sized excavators between 1.5-tonnes and 20 tonnes. Now there are six,” he says.

Product purchasing was distribution-led under Finning, he now admits. “We bought 150 skid steers one day because Cat started making them,” he says.

He says that hire companies have traditionally competed for who can have the fattest catalogue or the most depots. Parkes wants to approach things a little more rationally, and his new ERP system helps that.

Hewden now has what it calls its “core fleet” of the most common  required sizes of excavators, telehandlers, dumpers  rollers, scissor lifts and boom lifts – 30 different machines in total.

Utilisation of these core machines ranges from 64% for eight-tonne excavators to 75% for 20-tonners, with telehandlers and dumpers around to 70% mark. Smaller excavators and seasonal hires drag the overall rate down, however, to below 60% for the plant division as a whole.

Over the past 18 months more than 100,000 transactions have been analysed and Parkes is now in a position to offer customers the promise of next-day delivery on any of these 30 machines, absolutely on time.

Any orders from the Core Fleet placed before 12pm are guaranteed to be delivered the following morning, anywhere in the UK. Orders placed between 12pm and 5pm will be delivered before 5pm the next day. If Hewden fails to deliver within the guaranteed times, customers will automatically receive £100 credit.

 “We’ve been doing next day delivery for a long time. The difference now is that it’s guaranteed,” Parkes says. “This is a cast iron, no quibble guarantee, even if we’re five minutes late. We have invested heavily in these 30 product lines to ensure there are over 5,000 items covered by our core fleet guarantee throughout the UK.”

Perhaps surprisingly, Hewden never kept a count of how often it let customers down in the past, so had no idea how much this guarantee might cost it.

February was the first month of operations with the guarantee; there were 1,900 transactions that month, of which 15 were delivered late – a 0.7% failure rate and £1500 to pay out. Of these 15 failures, four were down to lack of machine availability; 11 were attributed to logistical difficulties, such as bad traffic or lorries not starting.

After three years at the table, Sun Capital Partners will no doubt be eyeing its exit options. These are likely to include a management buyout, a trade sale to a competitor or a sale to a new entrant, perhaps from overseas. No move is likely to be made until the numbers improve. Parkes says that no strategy has been defined yet. He is still positioning the business in preparation for market recovery, he says. Until then, Parkes’ best chance for improving the business lies in gaining market share from competitors and the core fleet guarantee is central to his strategy of having equipment available and on time.

“We are not saying we are going to be perfect but we are going to get better, measure it, and front up when we let the customer down,” Parkes says. And that is not a bad place to start.

The E25 (2.57 tonnes) is part of the new E-generation of Bobcat compact excavators introduced over the last three years, ranging from the E10 up to the E80. Maximum digging depth of the E25 is 2582mm, with a maximum reach at ground level of 4553mm and a maximum dump height of 3057mm.

From the 500 platform compact loader range, Bobcat will be showing the S510 and S530 skid-steer loaders the T590 tracked loader. This new series follows the styling and features of the larger 600, 700 and 800 platforms. The TL470HF telescopic handler has a maximum lift capacity of 3.5 tonnes and a maximum lift height of 7.0m. The capacity at full lift height is 3.0 tonne, while the maximum forward reach is 4.0m and the lift capacity at full reach is 1500kg.

Funky asymmetric styling and a low boom pivot point mean an unobstructed view across the entire front and rear of the machine, with no structural components in the way.  Visit Bobcat on stands M20 & M22. If you have not yet registered for FREE tickets to Plantworx.. click here..

Applications for the new DX225LC-3 excavator are diverse, from clearing land, site clearance, excavating for foundations and trenching for utilities to earthmoving and maintenance work for highway, civil engineering and general construction projects.

The new DX225LC-3 excavator offers a number of improvement in performance compared to the previous generation machine:

•        Traction force up by 8%

•        A 10% increase in power, with 10% more engine torque

•        An 18% reduction in fuel consumption and 13% increase in productivity

•        Overall an 18% increase in the productivity/fuel consumption ratio

•        Up to 7% increase in machine speed

•        Up to 7% increase in bucket and arm forces

•        An increase of up to 8% in lifting capacities

At its heart is a 6-cylinder, turbocharged Doosan DL06K water-cooled diesel engine meeting emission regulations through the use of cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) after-treatment technologies.  Featuring a high-pressure common-rail design with direct fuel injection and electronic control, the DL06K engine has a power output of 124 kW (167 HP) at 1800 rpm.

The 124 kW DX225LC-3 excavator has an operating weight of 21.9 tonne with the standard boom and arm and a 0.92 m3 bucket.  Bucket breakout force is 15.2 tonne (ISO), while the arm breakout force is 10.8 tonne (ISO).  In the standard monobloc configuration, the maximum digging depth is 6.58 m and maximum digging reach is 9.8 m at ground level.  The latter figure rises to 10.1 m in the articulated configuration and to 15.3 m with super long reach front equipment installed.

New hydraulic pumps and valves deliver higher hydraulic flow, which combined with a boost in system pressure, provides an overall increase in hydraulic performance, resulting in enhanced front and power functions, increased lifting capabilities, lower cycle times and higher breakout forces.  The combination of the new generation hydraulic systems and new highly responsive controls greatly improves the productivity of the DX225LC-3 excavator.

Doosan has gone further than just meeting the Stage IIIB regulations with the new design. They have also looked out for the operators improving our comfort with a number of enhancements, including expanding the space available for the us by 6%.  In addition, a seat-height lever and a tilting function are both incorporated in the seat to allow the operator to find an optimum seating position.

A new attachment select and setting function is a standard feature of the controls, with 10 recordable preset values.  The joysticks have proportional thumb wheel switches and integrated buttons to provide precise control of attachments.  The controls have an improved layout, with the most important switches grouped together within easy reach on the right console.

The cab is pressurized to prevent the ingress of dust and dirt.  Lighting capability has been greatly increased to facilitate working at night.  A rearside camera is standard and a side camera is available as a safety option.  An increased area of glass in the windows of the cab ensures the operator always has excellent all round visibility.  Other features include a fully automatic climate control system, a USB port to play music and videos and more storage compartments for paperwork and other items.

A new straight travel option streamlines the travel and transport of the new DX225LC-3 excavator.  This feature is ideal for the straight forward-and-backward travel common in trenching applications, as it provides a single foot pedal in the front right corner of the cab floor that operates both tracks.  A dual pump option for heavy duty applications provides extra flow for high flow attachments.

Brief specifications for the Doosan DX225LC-3 excavator

•        Buckets:                                              0.39 – 1.49 m3

•        Operating weight:                                21.9 – 23.9 t

•        Digging depth (std front):                     6585 mm

•        Digging reach (std front):                     9885mm

•        Digging height (std front):                    9560 mm

•        Overall width:                                       2990 mm

•        Height (std front):                                 3005 mm

•        Overall length in travel position (std front):         9490 mm

•        Rear swing radius:                                2790        mm

•        Drawbar pull:                                        22.4 t

•        Digging force over bucket (ISO):         15.2 t

•        Digging force over arm (ISO):              10.8 t

•        Lifting capacity at ground level (over front):     7.26 t at 6.0 m

•        Travel speed:                                         low range – 3 km/h   - high range – 5.5 km/h

•        Engine (SAE J1995  net):                      6-cylinder Doosan DL06KB Stage IIIB (EGR),  124 kW (167 HP) at 1800 rpm

An incredible mile stone, which has taken the manufacture 67 years to achieve. (A third of these machines have been produced in just the last six years.) As a reminder of the companies achievement, behind the glass in the reception area at JCB’s HQ is the actual one millionth machine, a 22 tonne JS220 tracked excavator decked out in silver… Looks great! Very much looking forward to seeing it next month.

JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford pictured with the one millionth machine.

At this year China Open at Tianjin Binhai Lake Golf Club, the first pro to ace the 13th, will win the Volvo L105.

South African Louis Oosthuizen is said to have taken home a more compact excavator at the Volvo Golf Champions tournament earlier this year, but only after trading in the car he originally won, in the team competition.

**Must have very understanding grounds people..

The E140C SR This has New Holland’s integrated noise and dust reduction system (branded as iNDr) which minimises noise, optimises cooling and maximises particulate filtration.

Also look out for the top-of-the range L230 skid-steer loader, which delivers 340Nm of torque at 1400rpm and can mount large buckets of up to 0.58m capacity. The vertical lift Super-Boom enables operators to place material right up to the centre of the truck bed, so that it can be loaded or unloaded much faster from one side.

Other new machines on the New Holland stand, will be the 15-tonne WE150B PRO wheeled excavator, designed to be economical and efficient and the W170 Recycler. The latter has New Holland’s cooling system design, where radiators form a box rather than the traditional approach of having them overlapped.

New Holland says that this improves cooling efficiency as well as making it easier to clean the radiators.  In addition to the new introductions, New Holland will also be showing the E215C, which it bills as “the most fuel efficient 21-tonne crawler excavator available in the industry” thanks to its selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology and hydraulic system. It drinks between nine and 13 litres an hour, depending on the application.

Lots to look forward to here, you will find New Holland on stands L22 & L24. If you don’t have tickets for Plantworx 2013, click here to register FREE 

This is where the best operators from across Europe compete for a place in the final, taking place in Paris later in the year.

In just a few days at Plantworx, Case will showcase a selection of its latest machines – including models from its latest midi range of excavators, crawlers, wheeled excavators and backhoe loaders.

There will be two machines making their first UK appearance, the new CX80C midi excavator and the WX188 wheeled excavator.

The latter is one of three new generation Case wheeled excavators, along with the WX148 and W168, featuring the Case Intelligent hydraulic system (CIHS), which offers a single CPU for improved controllability and simplified diagnostics.

The Case C series crawler excavator range will be represented by the CX210B and CX130C, together with the short radius CX145C SR and CX235C, strutting Stage IIIB engines and CIHS with five electronically managed energy saving systems. Case will also have the 821F series wheeled loader on show, along with the 580ST and 590ST tractor backhoes.

Get FREE tickets to Plantworx here...

All are new Stage IIIB compliant machines. The Dash 3 version of the DX300LC crawler excavator has an extra 2% more power at a lower speed of 1800rpm than the existing DX300LC Stage IIIA model.

Field tests show a 5 to 10% reduction in fuel consumption, depending on the operating mode selected and the work being done, Doosan says. Workload/hour outputs have increased by an average of 6% across the different power modes in the DX300LC-3. And a new travel device has increased the maximum travel speed to 5.3km/h, while the drawbar pull is increased by 4% to 29,800kg and lifting capacities have been increased by 6%. Doosan will be on stand M20 & M22. Get your tickets to Plantworx FREE..

For those who are not familiar with the show, Plantworx is a new trade show for the UK construction industry. The plan is to hold it every two years and the first event takes place in just a few days!.... 14-16 May 2013, at Stoneleigh Park.  You can register for FREE tickets HERE..

The organisers have set out 100,000m for working machines and live demonstrations, aiming to fill the hole left behind when SED folded. As always with these things, the devil will be in the detail. It must have seemed like a good idea moving SED away from the muddy fields of Fen Farm in Milton Keynes to the hard ground of Rockingham racetrack in Corby, but the lack of digging and the appalling traffic management contributed as much to the ultimate demise of SED at Rockingham as the economic crash. PlantWorx is organised by the Construction Equipment Association, which represents manufacturers. Exhibitors at PlantWorx, however, include hire companies, service providers, training organisations and trade associations, as well as equipment manufacturers. More than 250 exhibitors have booked stand space, so there is no lack of stuff to see.

I bumped into Mark Gunns, Marketing Services Manager for Volvo Construction Equipment Division. Below is a little preview of some of the equipment already in place.

The fact that the inaugural PlantWorx comes just a month after Bauma – the German show that had 3,500 exhibitors and more than 530,000 visitors – could prove to be both a blessing and a curse to PlantWorx. Anyone who went to Bauma is unlikely to see much new at PlantWorx. PlantWorx risks an “after the Lord Mayor’s show” feel. On the flip side, the major manufacturer’s time many of their biggest product launches around Bauma’s three yearly cycle, so there will be much at PlantWorx that is making its UK debut. And after the tiring of Bauma, a more leisurely UK event will give buyers and sellers alike more time to have meaningful conversations. There will also, of course, be the opportunity for all-important stick time.

When asked about his new products at the fair, he was most keen to highlight two: one a crane, the other a drilling rig.

The HS 8300 HD Hybrid Drive is equipped with the Pactronic hydraulics system first seen on Liebherr Nenzing’s harbour cranes. A hydraulic accumulator supplements the fluid pump in delivering power to the system. It serves as a pressure storage reservoir incorporating a gas with a hydraulic fluid. The accumulator is charged every time the load is lowered. Energy is stored in the compressed gas for release on demand. You can see the cylinder in the picture below, just above the left crawler track and below the handrails.

The Pactronic system provides a secondary energy source that can also be called on for extra beef to speed up lifting and lowering the bucket. This means that the engine does not need to be as big as it otherwise would be for a 300-tonne crane, so fuel consumption and emissions are both reduced.

The second new machine that Rainer picked out  was from the deep foundation equipment range. The LB 44 rotary drilling rig can reach a depth of a whopping 92m and offers a 3m drilling diameter. The high-performance rope crowd system, offers a 56-tonne pull force.