Plant Manager's Journal articles from March 2005

Plant Manager's Journal archives from March 2005

Emissions aren't a local problem.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... For local authorities to impose unilateral diesel emissions regulations on construction plant (see page 5) would be a technical and logistical nightmare. While the reasons may be laudable, it is ill-conceived and directed at the wrong people....

GLA in emissions move.(EMISSIONS)(Greater London Authority)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... By the end of 2006, the Greater London Authority wants all diesel-engined construction plant operating in its area to be fitted with particulate filters and to be run on ultra low sulphur diesel. The initiative is part of the Partnership in...

Theft of plant equipment up by [pounds sterling]1.8m.(THEFT)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... More than [pounds sterling]36m-worth of plant equipment was stolen in the UK in 2004, up by [pounds sterling]1.8m from the previous year, according to The National Plant & Equipment Register (TER) annual report. The report said the top five...

Volvo sales hit record.(FINANCE)(Volvo Construction Equipment )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Volvo Construction Equipment has reported record sales for 2004, with the number of machines sold rising 25% to 30,000 units. Net sales for the year also increased by 25% to [pounds sterling]606m, and operating profit doubled to [pounds...

Cox in admin.(BUSINESS)(appoints Simon Allport and Ian Best )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Cox Plant, one of the oldest names in the UK rental sector, has gone into administration. Simon Allport and Ian Best from Ernst & Young have been appointed joint administrators. They will continue to trade the business and said they...

Worthing crane crash could have killed more.(ACCIDENT)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The collapse of a crane at a site in West Sussex that left two site workers dead and a third seriously injured could easily have claimed more lives. Gary Miles, from Crowthorne, and Steven Boatman, from Reading, were killed when a 30m...

Deutz distributor.(NEWS in brief)(Hindle group )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Hindle group has been appointed as the UK distributor of Deutz engines and parts. In addition to [pounds sterling]700,000-worth of engines, the company has invested [pounds sterling]350,000 in parts stock and can provide overnight delivery...

Platform move.(NEWS in brief)(Platform Company relocates its Birmingham branch )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Platform Company has relocated its Birmingham branch to Pearsall Drive, Oldbury. Featuring an access training centre, the new depot will also accommodate an additional 150 new machines.

Krupp performs at Atlas.(NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Atlas Copco has successfully negotiated the first year of its rebranding of the former Krupp breaker range. Since being added to the Atlas Copco portfolio, sales have risen by nearly 20%.

Facelift guide.(NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Facelift has published its 2005 access guide containing easy-to-follow guidelines for experienced users and novices. It also includes details of the company's access equipment, which ranges from non-HGV self-drive machines to underbridge...

Brandon record profit.(NEWS in brief)(Brandon Hire )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Brandon Hire has reported a record turnover and profit for 2004. Turnover was up 23% to [pounds sterling]48.7m, while pre-tax profit reached [pounds sterling]4.7m, up [pounds sterling]1.2m on 2003.

Lifting adds access division.(NEWS in brief)(Lifting Solutions )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Barnsley-based Lifting Solutions has added an access division to its business, which supplies bi-energy access platforms with capacities up to 12m reach. Details are available on its updated website.

Record sales for Caterpillar.(RESULTS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Caterpillar has reported record sales and revenues for 2004, and its highest-ever fourth-quarter earnings--up by 58% from the previous year. On the back of a strengthening worldwide mining sector, Cat announced sales of [pounds...

Bucher snaps up Johnston for [pounds sterling]20.5m.(ACQUISITION)(between Johnston Sweepers and Bucher Automotive )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Road sweeper manufacturer Johnston Sweepers has been sold by its current owner Ennstone to Bucher Automotive for [pounds sterling]20.5m. The deal sees Bucher take over Johnston's production facilities in the UK, Denmark and Australia, but...

Working group aims to enforce CE marking.(CE MARKING)(Construction Equipment)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Construction Equipment Association (CEA), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Department for Trade and Industry are forming a working group to look at the importation of non-compliant construction machinery. The Southend...

CNH thrives after rebranding.(RESTRUCTURING)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Despite incurring restructuring charges, CNH has reported a profit of [pounds sterling]103m for 2004, up from [pounds sterling]16m for the previous 12 months. In the fourth quarter, net income was [pounds sterling]13.9m, compared with a...

CPA unveils seminar details.(SEMINAR)(Construction Plant-hire Association )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has announced the content of its forthcoming seminar. Topics covered will include: legislative matters such as whole body and hand/arm vibration; working at height; an update on the use of...

UK plant hire share prices 2004/05.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... UK PLANT HIRE SHARE PRICES 2004/05 PMJ gives the lowdown on share prices for 7 of the industry's leading quoted companies Price (p) in Price (p) in Price (p) Price (p) in Company Feb 2005 Jan 2005...

Telehandlers from Terexlift.(TELEHANDLERS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Terexlift is to introduce six new telehandlers this year, three of which are aimed at the construction and rental markets, including a roto model. A 3.5t payload 12m machine designed for the rental market is how Terex describes the...

Oystertec launches coupling system.(HYDRAULIC COUPLINGS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... A guaranteed 100% leak-free push-fit system for coupling hydraulic pipes to valve blocks and cylinders operating at up to 400 bar has been developed by Oystertec. In the TL system (thread less), the traditional screw thread is replaced by...

Kubota adds mini excavators.(EXCAVATORS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Kubota has completed its KX-3 mini excavator range with the addition of the KX61-3 and the KX71-3. These machines replace the series-2 units and have operating weights of 2.6t and 2.8t respectively. Compared to their predecessors, the new...

Dozer deal.(KIT)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... DOZER DEAL: South Wales-based Walters Group has purchased the UK's first nine Caterpillar D9T dozers as part of a major order with Cat dealership Finning. The deal also includes eight Cat 777D and four 775E off-highway trucks and a 16H Cat...

Record year for Volvo.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Volvo Trucks said that 2004 was its best year ever for sales. Deliveries increased by 29% to a record-breaking 97,264 vehicles, compared to 75,312 in 2003.

Bushby takes Hitachi Zaxis.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Devon-based Dave Bushby Plant Hire has taken delivery of two Hitachi Zaxis excavators. The ZX50 and ZX110 machines have been hired to a utility company that is working on a water rehabilitation project in Cornwall.

Belle block splitter.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Belle has launched a Maxipave block splitter. The unit has a cutting height of 120mm and is aimed at the rental market.

Imer saw and mixer.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Imer launched a masonry saw and a concrete mixer with a plastic drum at last month's Hire Show. The large 700 sawing machine is aimed at contractors requiring a unit for lengthy contracts.

Mini crusher.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Global Construction Plant & Equipment has introduced a 7t mini crusher to the UK market. The Guidetti MF520 tracked unit has a jaw opening of 520mm X 600mm and is powered by a 40kW Isuzu engine.

Bobcat skid steer.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Bobcat has expanded its compact loader offering with a new skid steer machine. The S205 has a rated operating capacity of 930kg and a tipping load of 1,860kg.

HE Services buys excavators.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... HE Services has bought 10 PW160-7 Komatsu excavators from UK dealer Marubeni-Komatsu. The new Dash-7 models meet the EC Stage II emission regulations.

Hyundai launches 10 model skid steer range.(SKID STEERS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Hyundai is aiming to increase its European skid steer market share with the launch of a new 10-model range. The Korean manufacturer has entered into an agreement with Canada's Thomas Equipment, whereby its North American-built machines...

A-Plant invests heavily in JCB.(INVESTMENT)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... A-Plant said it has invested more than [pounds sterling]7m over the last 12 months in new JCB equipment. As part of its replenishment and replacement programme, the company has taken delivery of 270 mini excavators. Teletruks,...

Bobcat builds its largest ever excavtor.(EXCAVATOR)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The new 12.5t Bobcat 444 excavator is the latest addition to the company's midi-range, as well as the largest machine it has ever built. The company said the 444 is unusual for its weight class as it not only features a short radius design...

Terex hits 1,000 milestone.(ADTS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The 1,000th articulated truck from Terex's Generation 7 range has rolled off the production line at the company's Motherwell facility. To mark the milestone, the 28t TA30 truck has been painted a special platinum colour and is currently on...

Manchester Cabins and Hiab design a two loader crane truck.(TRUCK CRANES)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Manchester Cabins said it has taken delivery of the world's first heavy goods truck to be equipped with two loader cranes on a bespoke chassis. Developed in conjunction with lifting specialist Hiab, the truck will be used to assemble...

Talk of the Toon: Martin Cooper travelled to Newcastle, where he heard about Nixon Hire's plans for national expansion.(HIRE VIEW)
March 1, 2005... The phrase 'from little acorns do mighty oak trees grow' is trotted out on a regular basis. However, no matter how tired the saying is, it's quite often very applicable--and none more so than in the case of Nixon Hire. The company began...

The high life: New Work at Height Regulations have been on the horizon for more than a year. Martin Cooper finds out when the legislation will come into play and what effect it will have on the construction industry.(WORKING AT HEIGHT)
March 1, 2005... The Work at Height Regulations (WAHR) have been a hot topic for the construction industry for well over a year and the question of when they will be implemented has turned into something of a saga. Initially, the Health & Safety Commission...

Show stoppers: Dan Gilkes previews the offerings from some of the larger construction equipment players at Conexpo, where 100,000 visitors will see products from 2,300 firms.(CONEXPO)
March 1, 2005... Conexpo-Con/Agg runs in Las Vegas from 15-19 March, and while it may not be the biggest plant show in the world, it certainly has more pazazz than any other. It is impossible to think of Conexpo without thinking of Caterpillar. Playing on...

Loader opportunities: compact wheel loaders are more common on the Continent than in the UK, so what chance do they have of catching on here? Paul Howard investigates.(EQUIPMENT FOCUS)
March 1, 2005... This month, PMJ looks at wheel loaders. Not, however, that relatively frequent sight--large production machines used either in quarries or in waste management--instead, the focus is on smaller machines in the 55kW to 75kW sector. Many...

Logging it: maintenance records for kit should always be kept up-to-date, either by the company itself or with the aid of a service contract. Martin Cooper reports.(BUSINESS)
March 1, 2005... Whether a company is keeping records for health and safety reasons or just conducting good house-keeping, maintenance, service and repair log books should be an integral part of any plant hire business's head office. If an item of kit is...

Driving interest: Colin Sowman offers a flavour of what visitors to the Commercial Vehicle Show will be able to see.(PREVIEW)
March 1, 2005... With commercial vehicle registrations hitting new highs, there is plenty of interest in what will be at the CV show at the NEC from 5 to 7 April. Market leader Ford will invite visitors to its stand to enter a time tunnel to relive 40...

Seeing red: our new series of articles looks at various aspects of the CPCS scheme and the requirements for membership.(TRAINING)
March 1, 2005... Why change it all? That's the most common comment when asking plant hirers and contractors about the new CPCS scheme. The answer is simple: the industry is moving from a scheme where somebody was issued a card based on training achievement...

Show time: JCB will launch a new 14t zero-tailswing excavator at Conexpo, as well as introducing a host of improvements to its 4CX backhoe loader.(JCB LAUNCH)
March 1, 2005... When it launched the new JZ140, JCB said the machine was the first to feature a full-size cab (as used on the New Generation JS330), making it larger and more sophisticated than on any competitive machine. With a tailswing of 1,420mm, which JCB...

Making the Clearance: at SED 2005, the Site Clearance Zone will be the place to see the latest crushers, hammers and shredders in action.(SED 2005)
March 1, 2005... The Site Clearance Zone at SED 2005 is the place to see not only the latest crushers, hammers, pulverisers and screens, but also chippers, shredders and other green waste kit. The working demonstration areas make good viewing as the kit is in...

Debut for new Chelsea signing.(CHECKOUT)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Chelsea have dipped into the transfer market again and added yet another new player to join the ranks of its star-studded squad. However the new team member will not be turning out in Chelsea's blue strip. It's a JCB mini excavator in the...

In the picture: win [pounds sterling]50.(CHECKOUT)
March 1, 2005... Maybe readers are getting a little blase--or did we finally find a picture that was too hard to identify? We only received two entries, and the winner was Deborah Whitlock of Rhino Plant, Dover, who correctly identified the JCB long-reach...

Longleat gets a Mule.(CHECKOUT)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The first place outside Africa to open a safari park and the first stately home to open its doors to the public, Longleat has now purchased its first Mule. In this case it's not of the four-legged variety, but a Kawasaki diesel utility...

Events diary.(Calendar)
March 1, 2005... 2005 APRIL 5-7 CV Show NEC, Birmingham www.cvshow.com APRIL 21 CPA Plant Seminar JCB HQ Rocester, Staffs enquires@cpa.uk.net MAY 4-8 Samoter Verona Exhibition Centre Verona, Italy...