Plant Manager's Journal articles from December 2004

Plant Manager's Journal archives from December 2004

Planning for a better future.
December 1, 2004... Plant and tool hirers have had a good year. PLCs have increased profits (or reduced losses) and the big independents are turning in some impressive figures. And yet one in five plant hirers is making a loss. Many hirers feel their yards should...

Sir Anthony hands MD role to John Patterson.(COMPANY NEWS)(Anthony Bamford)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Sir Anthony Bamford has relinquished his position as JCB managing director in favour of his chief executive John Patterson. He will continue as JCB chairman and remain actively involved in the business. Since taking control Sir Anthony has...

The SPX Corporation.(agreement to divest its subsidary Bomag compaction equipment business)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The SPX Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Bomag compaction equipment business to Fayat for [pounds sterling]242m. SPX said it will use the proceeds to pay debt, and the transaction is expected to close by the end of the...

Volvo orderbook filling up as sales rise 17%.(Volvo Construction Equipment's sales report)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Volvo Construction Equipment's worldwide, third-quarter sales increased 17%, compared with the same period last year, to reach [pounds sterling]492m. However, European sales in the same period slipped to [pounds sterling]219m from [pounds...

Manitowoc's sales increase.(CRANES)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Manitowoc Crane Group said world-wide demand for cranes, especially in Europe, has continued to increase despite steel and commodity price rises. The company reported a world-wide, third quarter, net sales increase of 24% to [pounds...

Cotswold buys Ingersoll-Rand.(FLEET EXPANSION)(Cotswold Roller Hire )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Cotswold Roller Hire (CRH) has invested more than [pounds sterling]1m in a fleet of 11 new Ingersoll-Rand 12t soil compactors. The SD122DX machines have been delivered to CRH depots in Bridgend, Witham, Sheffield and Wigan. CRH managing...

Skills set.(in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Newly launched specialist training company Skill South (Training and Resources) has appointed Kevin Cursons as general manager. The firm aims to offer full health and safety training, including manual handling and risk assessment, within the...

Virtual Finning.(in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Finning Power Systems has updated its website to allow plant hirers and contractors to calculate their onsite power requirements. On the website, customers can identify which Kva generator set is required to power machines and auxiliary...

Brandon purchase.(in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Brandon Hire has bought the business of AM Plant and Tool Hire of Luton for [pounds sterling]233,000. This is Brandon's 12th acquisition this year and brings its total number of branches to 130.

John Deere expands.(Deere & Co's new facility)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... John Deere has opened a new engine assembly line at its Saran, France, production facility. The company has also celebrated surpassing production of five million engines.

CPA warns directive may pose safety risk.(LEGISLATION)(Construction Plant-hire Association)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has issued a warning about the disruption a proposed European Commission directive could cause on the UK's construction industry. Speaking after a recent European Confederation of Equipment...

Tracking device halts JCB theft.(SECURITY)(JCB 3CX)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The success of tracking systems has been demonstrated by the return of a JCB 3CX to O'Connor Plant Hire of Cheltenham. Plant manager Tim Mepham was contacted by RAC Trackstar at 6.30am one morning to ask if the 3CX should be moving. Having...

Management buy-in boost saves 75 jobs.(MBI)(Independent Access Supplies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A management buy-in (MBI) has been credited with saving 75 jobs at access equipment hirer Independent Access Supplies, which was in administration with debts of [pounds sterling]11m. A new management team, including former JLG directors...

Caterpillar posts best-ever results.(FINANCIAL RESULTS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Caterpillar's results for the nine months ending 30 September are the best in its history, with reported sales of [pounds sterling]11.8bn and profit standing at [pounds sterling]805m. The good news continued as the company also reported a...

CEA urges spending rethink.(MANUFACTURING)(Construction Equipment Association )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) is urging its members to complain to their MPs about the government's plan to slash spending on export support. It says government proposals will effectively see export support cut by 20% in...

UK plant hire share prices 2003/04.(NEWS)(Illustration)
December 1, 2004... UK PLANT HIRE SHARE PRICES 2003/04 PMJ gives the lowdown on share prices for 7 of the industry's leading quoted companies Company Price (p) Price (p) Price (p) in Nov 2004 in Oct 2004...

Geith's big business with Cuddy.(ATTACHMENTS)(Cuddy Demolition's HDG170)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Geith has supplied Cuddy Demolition with the largest grapple it has ever sold to a UK company. The HDG170 was ordered to fulfil a job for Corus Steel demolishing old coke ovens at Port Talbot steelworks, which involves processing 40,000t...

Terex HR42 keeps on track.(RAIL CONVERSIONS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Specialist converter Rail-Ability has introduced a rail-converted Terex HR42 tracked excavator. The unit combines low ground pressure tracks with zero tailswing and a two-piece articulated boom with a 6.6m outreach. Zero tailswing is...

Leach Lewis J-type tracks score a hit.(TRACKS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Leach Lewis Plant has sold 3,000 of its J-type rubber tracks in the 18 months since it started importing the range. The tracks' success, said the company, is due to its innovative design that does not incorporate an overlapping steel cord...

Davies buys Sumitomo SCX900-2.(Davies Crane Hire. Purchases Hitachi Sumitomo SCX900-2 hydraulic crawler crane)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The UK's first Hitachi Sumitomo SCX900-2 hydraulic crawler crane has been purchased by Camarthen-based Davies Crane Hire. Redesigned following the merger of Hitachi and Sumitomo, the 90t-class machine has a mini boom of 60m and can reach...

JCB reaches 2,000 sales of machines with Immobiliser.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... JCB has sold more than 2,000 machines with its Plant-guard Immobiliser. The device was launched in 2003 to reduce the annual theft of millions of pounds-worth of equipment. According to JCB, the milestone coincides with the launch of the...

Easy Lifter lightens load.(KERB LIFTER)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A kerb layer from Leicester has designed and built a kerb laying device that is said to meet the new manual handling regulations, while allowing operators to retain traditional speeds and methods of working. Called the Easy Lifter, the unit...

ST-Tekniikk's crawler pontoon put to work.(CRAWLER-EXCAVATOR)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... ST-Tekniikka of Finland has developed a self-propelled crawler-excavator pontoon system for inland dredging operations. The initial unit, 'Big Float', designed in conjunction with Finnish Hyundai dealer Suomen Telakone, is based on a 21t...

New carriers for Cautrac.(TRACKED CARRIERS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... UK Yamaguchi distributor Cautrac has introduced two additional high-lift tracked carriers--the WB05H and the WB07H--to its range. Based on the Japanese WB05 and WB07, which have load capacities of 500kg and 700kg respectively, the machines...

Oil & Steel supplies access units.(ACCESS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Italian access manufacturer Oil & Steel has supplied 40 Scorpion truck-mounted access units to rental firm The Platform Company. The [pounds sterling]1.5m investment in new equipment heralded the launch of the hirer's new Vehicle Mount...

Takeuchi speeds up.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Takeuchi's wheeled compact excavator model TB175 is now available with an increased road speed of 30kph. The 7t operating weight machine is powered by a low-noise 50kW Yanmar diesel engine.

A-Plant's GenSet order.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A-Plant has placed an order worth in excess of [pounds sterling]2m with GenSet for more than 300 VT-I lighting towers. The towers recently won the Best New Product award for 2004 from the Hire Association Europe.

Excavators for Detech.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Detech Environmental of Chesterfield has taken delivery of four demolition specification Daewoo excavators from Filtermech Plant. The order consists of two 26t Solar units and two 50t machines.

HE supplies Komatsu.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Komatsu PC340)(HE Services)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... HE Services has supplied the Environment Agency with a long-reach Komatsu PC340 excavator for a flood defence project in Rye, East Sussex. The machine is aiding the re-profiling of the tidal section of the River Rother.

MultiServ's three Volvos.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... MultiServ Group has taken delivery of two Volvo A35D articulated dump trucks with a third on order for its Corus Steels site in Rotherham. The vehides will haul scrap metal to an on-site melting shop.

Leica's MC2000 Digger.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Leica Geosystems has introduced the MC2000 Digger, a new cab-mounted bucket guidance system for excavators. The unit, via an LCD-display panel, indicates where the bucket is working, whether underwater or on dry land.

SGB's new platform.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SGB has launched a new one-piece aluminium 1m-high work platform. Known as the Miniboss, it has a 600mm X 600mm platform area and weighs 25kg.

Manor invests [pounds sterling]250,000.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Manor Plant Hire )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Manor Plant Hire of Derbyshire has invested more than [pounds sterling]250,000 in new Bobcat and Ingersoll-Rand equipment. The order included 1.5t and 3t Bobcat mini excavators and IR compressors and breakers.

Citroen hits 20.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Citroen C15 van celebrated its 20th birthday during October. More than 1.2m models of been sold around the world, with approximately 50,000 of these in the UK.

Nissan breaks record.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Nissan GB's commercial vehicles division has reported its best ever quarter, with more than 4,000 units sold between July and September. Nissan claimed a 5.6% market UK market share for the period.

Johnston sweeper sale.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The London Borough of Redbridge has purchased four Johnston Compact 40 sweepers as part of its four-year replacement programme. The order also included a truck-mounted VT500 sweeper and two 5000 series machines.

Citroen hire deals.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Automobiles Citroen S.A.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Citroen's contract motoring division is offering contract hire deals on its Ready to Run CV range. The contracts run for between one and four years and are offered with or without maintenance.

Hiab goes remote.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Hiab's XS122, 144 and 166 truck loader cranes can now be supplied with a remote control system, said to offer up to 50% more efficiency. The system also incorporates a feature allowing three simultaneous movements.

Public services launch.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Freight Transport Association has launched an essential public services interest group for businesses serving utilities and other essential services providers. The group will discuss non-competitive issues, including road traffic law,...

Iveco adds revised Trakkers to range.(HEAVY TRUCKS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Iveco has completed its cab line-up with the launch of a revised Trakker multi-wheeler chassis and a new Eurocargo 4X4. The Trakker comes as a 4X4, 6X4 or 8X4 and is aimed at the heavy-duty muckaway market. It is fitted with the 2.2m-wide...

FTA to run workshops.(LEGISLATION)(Freight Transport Association )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is running a series of Working Time workshops ahead of a new Directive coming into force on March. The Directive, from which there is no opt-out, limits drivers to working an average 48 hours a week...

Holystone adds lowloader.(PLANT TRAILER)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Plant hire and engineering specialist Holystone has added a GTL70, three-axle power steered Hydroneck lowloader from King Trailers to its fleet of HGV vehicles. Hauled by a Mercedes Actros tractor unit, the trailer has a payload of up to...

Limited edition Transits.(PANEL VANS)(Ford Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Ford has introduced two special limited edition Transits--the SilverBlue and the ExecAir Pack--both featuring a host of extras. Only 400 of each will be available in the UK. The Transit SilverBlue has a medium wheelbase, a medium roof T280...

Sortimo's high-strength rack.(RACKING)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Van racking specialist Sortimo has introduced the Globelyst range, which it says balances lighter weight with high strength. Based on the company's Aluspace Frame system, it offers a robust and ridged construction that a crash test has shown...

Crock of gold: crushing mineral waste for reuse on construction sites is becoming increasingly popular as contractors try to avoid taxes on site waste going into landfill. This has led to a mini-boom in recycling kit. Martin Cooper reports.(CRUSHING AND SCREENING)
December 1, 2004... The introduction of the aggregate tax and the landfill levy have been credited with increasing people's awareness of recycling in the construction industry--and thus the need make more use of crushing and screening equipment. More companies are...

Safe practice: the need for plant equipment training has never been greater, reports Martin Cooper.(TRAINING)
December 1, 2004... Plant equipment is an invaluable resource that dominates today's industrial arena. Each year the diversification and proliferation of equipment increases as seemingly expensive manual labour costs are continually replaced. This trend is...

Breaking out: hydraulic breakers have broken out of their small, specialist niche and are appearing everywhere, even in the guise of other equipment manufacturers' own brands. Dan Gilkes reports.(EQUIPMENT FOCUS: DIPPER MOUNTED HAMMERS)
December 1, 2004... The hydraulic breaker market has rapidly become one of the busiest, most vibrant sectors of the plant business. Traditionally catered for by just a handful of specialist manufacturers, it has grown to include a vast array of hammer suppliers...

GAP in the market: non-operated plant hire is a booming business, as nationwide group GAP bears witness. It expects to reach its optimum size for the market within the next three years. Martin Cooper reports.(HIRE VIEW)(GAP Group)
December 1, 2004... The GAP Group has come a long way in the past 35 years. From humble beginnings as a local operated-plant rental specialist in Glasgow the company has grown into one of the UK's leading plant and tool hirers. From a single depot at the...

Eastern promise: with Daewoo poised to be sold, Colin Sowman paid a visit to the company's facilities in China and Korea.(Daewoo Motor Company Ltd. Construction Equipment division)
December 1, 2004... It's been a challenging year for Dae-Ryong (Dennis) Kang, executive managing director of Daewoo's Construction Equipment division. Demand has outstripped production capacity, the Chinese market hit new highs and lows, and by the beginning of...

Between the sheets: annual accounts can show a lot more than whether a company is making a profit or a loss, Colin Sowman finds out what secrets they contain.(BUSINESS)
December 1, 2004... The hire business is nothing if not diverse. National players to single depot outlets, operated or non-operated, excavators to accommodation, hand tools to ADTs--the variations just keep on coming. But how do company directors know how well...

Cat's centenary dozer: caterpillar celebrated the 100th anniversary of the track-type tractor last month by introducing new models and innovations. Justin Stanton travels to Cat's Peoria headquarters to find out more.(CATERPILLAR)
December 1, 2004... As Caterpillar celebrated 100 years of the track-type tractor (commonly known as a dozer) last month, it also took the opportunity to unveil the model's latest evolution, the T-Series. The three new models--the D8T, D9T and D10T--will...

Getting all fired up ... put the date in your diary, 17 to 19 May 2005, because SED 2005 is shaping up to be another demonstration you cannot afford to miss.(SED 2005)
December 1, 2004... Doesn't time fly! SED will be celebrating its 39th birthday in 2005. Its continual growth and longevity has secured its position as the UK's leading construction event. SED (Site Equipment Demonstration) started in Hatfield, Hertfordshire...

French connection: French manufacturer Manitou organised an event recently to celebrate an important milestone. It also told those present about the company's plans for the future. Martin Cooper went along.(MANITOU)
December 1, 2004... The 200,000th Manitou machine has rolled off the Ancenis production line with all the pomp and grandeur associated with such an auspicious event. To commemorate this milestone, the company organised a two-day seminar at its base near...

Managers take the plunge: in his final article, James Stirling looks at management buy-outs from the management side of the table.(SELLING A BUSINESS)
December 1, 2004... If an employer invites the management team to consider a management buy-out (MBO) and the team can arrange financial backing, there will undoubtedly be a turbulent few months for team members before the deal is closed. Nevertheless,...

Teeing off for charity.(CHECKOUT)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Gary Cooper of Speedy Hire and Mark Richards from the Hire Supply Company have raised [pounds sterling]10,000 for the Jay Shepherd Memorial Fund by staging a charity golf day. Their fifth annual Golf Day took place at the Marriott Breadsall...

Lighthouse success.(CHECKOUT)
December 1, 2004... As PMJ went to press, more than [pounds sterling]55,000 had been raised from the Lighthouse Club's John O'Groats to Lands End Run. More than 30 teams entered the two-day challenge, which involved completing the trans-UK course without...

In the picture: win [pounds sterling]50.(CHECKOUT)
December 1, 2004... Many of you rail buffs got the correct answer to last month's competition and the winner pulled out of the hard hat was Robert Davis of CTA Centre in Barnstaple. He correctly identified the Cat D4C rail conversion dozer. If you think you can...

Gunn in the pink.(CHECKOUT)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Fundraiser Cath Woods is pictured taking charge of a pink 1.5t JCB excavator on extended loan from Gunn JCB. The Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity is in line to receive all hire proceeds, while Anderton & Kitchen of Leyland has agreed to...

Events diary.(Calendar)
December 1, 2004... 2005 MARCH 1-5 2005 Smopyc 2005 Feria de Zaragoza Zaragoza, Spain Tel: +34 976 764 700 www.feriazaragoza.com MARCH 15-19 Conexpo-Con/Agg Las Vegas, USA Tel: +1 414 298 4141 ...

You are holding in your hand a UK issue of Mascus magazine, the international used equipment journal.
December 1, 2004... Dear reader, You are holding in your hand a UK issue of Mascus magazine, the international used equipment journal. The international journal presents the best used equipment of some 60 dealers in Scandinavia, Germany, Belgium, Poland, the...

R Tincknell & Son Ltd: agricultural engineers.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Head Office Glastonbury Road Wells Somerset BA5 1TQ United Kingdom www.tincknellag.com Contact Jon Brain Email sales@tincknellag.com Telephone +44 (0) 1749 683150 Mobile +44 (0) 7747 625579 ...

Cautrac.
December 1, 2004... New + Used Construction Machinery Tel: +44 (0) 1206 273111 Fax: +44 (0) 1206 273120 E-mail: sales@cautrac.com www.cautrac.com The Causeway Great Horkesley Colchester Essex. CO6 4EJ United Kingdom ...

McCormick Macnaughton.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... David Goodall Used & New Sales Administration Mc Cormick Macnaughton Ltd. Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Ireland Ph: 00353 (0) 1-4643523 Fax: 00353 (0) 1-4592482 Email: dgoodall@mccormickmacnaughton.com ...

Construction Plant Services (SW) Ltd.
December 1, 2004... TEL: 029 2048 2002 WWW.CPSLTD.CO.UK INFO@CPSLTD.CO.UK Barford SX6000 2004 [pounds sterling] 13950 ([euro] 19966) ID: B7717E4B Daewoo 130W-3 1997, 6350 h [pounds sterling] 15500 ([euro] 22184) ID:...

SPK Equipment Sales Ltd.
December 1, 2004... Steve Powlesland Cross Park Farm, Heath Cross, Whitestone Exeter EX4 2HN England E-mail: steve@spk-equip.com Web: www.spk-equip.com Tel: +44 1647 61900 Fax: +44 1647 61980 Mobile: +44 7900 823600 world...

Volvo.
December 1, 2004... Construction Equipment Volvo Construction Equipment Ltd Duxford, Cambridge CB2 4QX Contacts Elena Crites +44 (0) 1223 251724 elena.crites@volvo.com Freda Mullenger +44 (0) 1223 251714 ...

Warwick Ward (machinery) Ltd.
December 1, 2004... Blacker Hill, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1226 747260 Fax: +44 (0) 1226 350129 E-mail: info@warwick-ward.com Web site: www.warwick-ward.com Europe's largest stock of Wheel Loaders. Over 150 good working machines...

JG Paxton & Sons Ltd.
December 1, 2004... Abbey Road Durham. Telephone 0191 3847111 Finkills Way Northallerton North Yorkshire Telephone 01609 783331 Lionheart Enterprise Park Alnwick Northumberland Telephone 01665 605577 AMAZONE ...

JE Buckle Engineers Ltd.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Cromer, Nr.Stevenage, Herts, SG2 7QA Tel: 01438 861257 Fax: 01438 861783 Manor Pk Fm, Millbrook, Beds, MK45 2HY Tel: 01525 405848 Fax: 01525 405854 www.jebuckle.co.uk email sales@jebuckle.co.uk Sales contacts Gary...

Mascus services for dealers.
December 1, 2004... Looking for a bigger audience? Mascus can deliver details of used stock to 150,000 people every month. Every machine is displayed with your contact details. You can add up to four colour photos for each machine. Got your own web site?...