Plant Manager's Journal articles from November 2004

Plant Manager's Journal archives from November 2004

Competition off the rails.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
November 1, 2004... The government set up the Competition Commission to examine business takeovers and ensure one player doesn't become so dominant ('occupying over 70% of the market') that it can abuse its position. But without any referral, it has created a...

HSE proposes vibration test rule changes for workers.(REGUL ATIONS)(Health & Safety Executive)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Proposals to be put forward by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) will, if accepted, mean employers will not have to undertake individual machine testing to comply with the impending Whole Body Vibration regulations. If the Health &...

Finning to increase trainees.(APPRENTICESHIPS)(Finning Holdings Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Caterpillar importer Finning UK is doubling the number of trainees it takes on and expects to offer 49 16- to 20-year-olds places on its apprenticeship scheme starting in summer 2005. Finning's training and development manager Stuart...

Bobcat rolls out new loader range.(CHINESE PLANT)(Bobcat Co. rolls out its production line in china)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The first Bobcat skid steer loaders have rolled off the production line at Ingersoll-Rand's (IR) plant in Wuxi, China. The S150 and S160 models will be distributed in China and select markets in the Asia-Pacific region. The Wuxi plant is...

SGB takes over Mastclimbers.(ACQUISITION)(United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SGB has taken full ownership of Mastclimbers, the specialist hirer of mast climbing work platforms. In 2001, SGB took a majority shareholding in the Scottish company, which now operates nationwide. The company has the UK's largest...

Grundomat works for Tubelines.(MAINTENANCE)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... TubeLines, the company responsible for modernising and maintaining the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly underground lines, has used a specially modified Grundomat directional drilling unit from TT UK to drive mini piles into an unstable...

EU to extend safety directive on hoists.(HOISTS)(European Union imposed new common technical standards for construction industry)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Construction-site hoists intended for workers, equipment and building materials are to be subject to new common technical standards imposed by a European Union (EU) safety directive. The EU Council of Ministers has approved expanding the...

Marubeni-Komatsu returns to SED.(EXHIBITION)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SED2005 will be Marubeni-Komatsu's launchpad for two new machines when it returns to the show after a two-year absence. Visitors to SED, which runs from 17-19 May, will be among the first to see the company's latest zero tail swing mini and...

Speedy Hire buys Simons.(EXPANSION)(Simons Construction Ltd. divested its in house hire operations)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Speedy Hire, which claims to be the UK's fastest growing hire company, has purchased the in-house hire operation of Simons construction for [pounds sterling]500,000. As part of the agreement, Speedy has signed a four-year deal to supply...

Warning on overtrading.(PLANT HIRE)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Overtrading is beginning to affect the plant hire industry as more than 350 significant firms chase sales at the expense of profitability, according to the latest Plimsoll financial report. The report claimed the behaviour of these...

Graduate help.(NEWS in brief)(RDS Technology has employed three graduates)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Stroud-based RDS Technology has employed three graduates with help from a [pounds sterling]2.2m DTI-backed scheme run by the Construction Equipment Association. The scheme will pay 40% of the graduates' salaries as they develop new and existing...

HAVS booklet.(NEWS in brief)(hand-arm vibration)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Tool manufacturer Hilti has published a booklet, which it hopes will help users better understand the issue of hand-arm vibration. Reduce HAVS Health Risks' contains information on those who are at risk, legal requirements and basic vibration...

GAP depots.(NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Tool and plant hirer GAP is to open five new depots this winter. It plans to open a Maidstone and Inverness outlet in November, Oxford in February, with Colchester and Worthing to follow.

Vibration tags.(NEWS in brief)(Ritchey-id)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Ritchey-id has launched a range of polyurethane warning tags to help contractors manage the risk of hand-arm vibration on tools. The colour-coded tags should be attached to tools and display vibration hazard warnings and relevant data.

Crane training.(NEWS in brief)(Skills South Training and Resources)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Skills South Training and Resources (STR) is a new company offering training on cranes, as well as forklift driving and stowing. Part of Southampton Cargo Handling, STR has a core workforce of 125 people.

HSS finances.(NEWS in brief)(financial system)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HSS has installed a new financial system from OpenAccounts, which integrates the financial and hire office parts of the business. The system replaces an accounts payable, general ledger and invoice matching systems.

Johnston move.(NEWS in brief)(Johnston Sweepers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Johnston Sweepers has moved its Bristol depot to a facility three times the size of the old premises and with workshop space for seven machines.

JCB finance.(NEWS in brief)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2004... In last month's feature on finance we should have stated that 50% of JCB machines were sold on finance and JCB finance was used in 90% of these deals.

Digbits and Matrix get on track with security.(SECURITY)(Matrix Telematics)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Digbits is introducing a range of security and tracking options for plant operators. It has joined forces with Matrix Telematics--a company that produces car security and tracking systems to the latest Thatcham 'Cat 5 approval' standard....

Brandon Hire expansion.(EXPANSION)(Brandon Hire PLC)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Brandon Hire has bought three more plant and tool depots, bringing the total number of acquisitions this year to 11. It has acquired for cash the assets and business of Hiramix in Burton-on-Trent for [pounds sterling]275,000; Yorkshire Tool...

Syrinx puts images into documents.(PHOTOGRAPHY)(Hire Concept Software' latest Syrinx hire management software)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The latest release of the Syrinx hire management programme from Hire Concept Software can incorporate digital images of damaged plant into customer correspondence when notifying customers of machine damage sustained during the hire period. ...

Platform company adds vehicle mounts to range.(ACCESS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Access hire and sales firm the Platform Company has added a vehicle mount division to its 2,000-plus machine fleet. The company said the move is in response to customer demand for self-drive, truck-mounted machines, and 40 Nissan Cabstar...

DVLA tax proposal.(TAX)(United Kingdom Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority to tax all registered vehicles)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The DVLA has issued a consultation document proposing that all registered vehicles be subject to a [pounds sterling]4.50 tax, even if they are not currently taxed for the road. Such a move could hit plant owners who register items such as...

Mini telescopic crawler throws light on cathedral.(CRAWLER CRANE)(Coventry Cathedral)(AGD Equipment of Birmingham supplied its cranes free of charge)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... An IHI mini telescopic crawler crane proved to be the ideal workhorse for setting up lighting towers for an outdoor event inside the ruins of the old Coventry Cathedral. AGD Equipment of Birmingham supplied free of charge a 2.9t capacity...

Stolen plant reaches cost of [pounds sterling]200m.(DATABASE)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... TER's 10-year-old database of stolen equipment has exceeded [pounds sterling]200m, with 4,500 excavators accounting for some [pounds sterling]70m of that total. Data on stolen plant is gathered from manufacturers, banks, insurers, owners and...

Perkins unveils Tier 3 engines.(ENGINES)(Perkins Engines Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Perkins has unveiled its Tier 3 compliant 1.1 lit/cylinder 1100D series engines before the emissions regulations come into force next January (engines over 224kW) and January 2006 (75kW and above). The new, four-cylinder 1104D engines can have...

Strobe beacons.(BEACONS)(Spillard Safety Systems released its range of xenon beacons)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Spillard Safety Systems has introduced its own range of dual-voltage xenon strobe beacons under the All Round Alert name. The range includes single, three-point, din and magnetic mount units, which are all protected against incorrect polarity...

Komatsu confirms ADT and telehandler ranges.(NEW LINE-UP)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Komatsu's 2005 European line up will include six telehandlers and three ADTs. The telehandlers can lift from 3t to 4.5t and have 9m to 16.1m lift heights, while the ADTs have payloads of 27.3t, 32.3t and 36.5t. All the telehandlers are...

Genset launches Link Tower.(LIGHTING)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Welsh manufacturer Genset has launched its Link Tower system of lighting towers. Up to four models can be linked together and run from just one generator, reducing the floor space required for the amount of light generated. Each Link...

Bullimore first.(GRINDER)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Bullimore Plant and Tool Hire has taken delivery of the first Volvo short swing radius excavator sold in Great Britain. It joins a fleet of almost 30 compact excavators at Bullimore's St Neots branch, in the East Midlands.

Volvo EC360B to dig at 28m.(EXCAVATORS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Chepstow Plant International has entered a long-term hire agreement to supply Barhale Construction Services with a highly modified Volvo EC360B excavator. The two companies, along with Volvo and Kocurek, are building an excavator able to dig at...

Fiat adds 48t excavator.(NEW MODEL)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Fiat Kobelco has completed its excavator line up with the introduction of the E485 Evolution. The unit has a 48.25t operating weight in standard configuration or 50.25t when fitted with a long undercarriage and is powered by a six-cylinder...

Super clamp.(KIT)(Butler Reynolds)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SUPER CLAMP: Derby-based Manor Plant has taken delivery of one of the country's first Hunklinger excavator-mounted kerb clamps. The Type 01 fully-hydraulic clamp, supplied by Butler Reynolds and imported by Taylor Construction Plant, can handle...

Atlas Copco cuts a new dash.(CUTTERS)(hydraulic demolition cutters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Atlas Copco Construction Tools has introduced a new generation of hydraulic demolition cutters, the CC 3300 in both universal and steel-cutting versions. According to the firm, the attachment's cutter jaws are mounted on one central...

WRAP grant.(KIT NEWS in brief)(National Grid Transco)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... National Grid Transco has received a grant for nearly [pounds sterling]100,000 from WRAP for crushing, screening and mixing plant at its site in Sheepscar near Leeds. The plant will process materials from the company's trench excavations.

Bar for brush.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Broadwood International)(SweepEx modular brush system)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Broadwood International, which distributes the SweepEx modular brush system, has introduced a heavy-duty magnetic bar attachment. The attachment picks up nails, screws, steel shards and other metal refuse.

Powershift for hills.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The UK's first Volvo BL71 with a powershift transmission has been purchased by Trinity Plant to cope with the steep gradients on the roads around its Exmouth base.

Bobcat orders.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... East-Midlands Bobcat dealer Butler-Reynolds has taken orders for the first nine models of the company's T35120 12m telehandler. The orders have been placed by Mainline Tool and Plant Hire, Hall Plant Hire, East Midlands Civil Engineering and...

Largest V-Twin.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Engine manufacturer Briggs & Stratton has unveiled a new version of its Vanguard V-Twin engine with 'cooler-cleaner' technology as well as the 35HP V-Twin, which at 26.1kW it says is the largest V-Twin on the market.

Bobcat MT52 for Galliard.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Chrysalis Demolition of Barking has purchased the UK's first Bobcat MT52 mini track loader for a Galliard Homes contract in Westminster. Barloworld Handling supplied the machine.

Merlo for Greenwood.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Greenwood Hire has taken delivery of one of the UK's first Merlo 25m Roto MCSS telehandlers. The company now has 20 Roto machines in a total Merlo fleet of more than 70 units.

New Nokian tyre.(KIT NEWS in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Nokian has launched a multi-purpose radial tractor tyre known as the TRI-2 and said to be suitable for off-highway vehicles and road-based operations up to 65km/h. The tyre is distributed in the UK and Ireland by Nordic Tyres (UK).

CNH ranges add seven new mini excavators.(EXCAVATORS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... CNH brands Fiat Kobelco and Kobelco have introduced new mini excavators. The three Fiat Kobelco units, one short-radius and two traditional machines, are below 1.7t. The four new Kobelcos range from 2.7t to 4.9t. The E9SR is Fiat Kobelco's...

Demolition contractor picks Hitachis.(HIGH REACH)(Hitachi Ltd)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Portsmouth-based demolition contractor Hughes & Salvidge has taken delivery of three Hitachi 47t Zaxis 460LCH excavators, consisting of two standard rig machines and one ultra-high 26m-reach unit. The acquisition brings the total number of...

Three join up to provide remote solution.(REMOTE CONTROL)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Demolition specialists Coleman & Company, Marubeni-Komatsu and hydraulic solutions provider Koppen & Lethem have joined forces to create a remotely-controlled Komatsu PC45R-8 mini-excavator. Coleman & Company required the unit to allow it...

HSS places bulk order with Belle.(CONCRETE)(Belle Group.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Belle Group has supplied HSS with 30 Premier 100XT site mixers, 20 PCLX320 plate compactors and 10 RT66 rammers. The Premier 100XT site mixers have a 250-litre drum with a 110-litre mixing output. This is mounted on a chassis with its...

Arc-Gen wins orders worth [pounds sterling]200,000 from Hember.(GENERATORS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Specialist welding hire firm Hember Plant has placed an order worth more than [pounds sterling]200,000 with Arc-Gen. The deal covers 20 supplier Weldmaker 300avc units and 10 Weldmaker 200SSD super silent welder generators. Steven Hember,...

Commercial vehicle sales hit record high.(SALES)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... September was a record-breaking month for commercial vehicle sales, as registrations increased by 8.4% compared to the same period last year. The figures were the highest recorded in 15 years, with more than 52,000 commercial vehicles...

Anti-theft measures.(INSURANCE)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Insurance companies are not recognising the work done by truck manufacturers to increase anti-theft protection, Robin Dickeson of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders told the recent Vehicle Crime conference. "Many truck makers...

SRS takes delivery of three Volvo rigids.(ROAD RAIL)(Volvo 6X4 FL rigids)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Swedish Rail System (SRS) has taken three new Volvo 6X4 FL rigids for use as dual road and rail vehicles. The 186kW Volvos are fitted with road rail equipment and a modular bodywork system, which is able to carry: a boom; scissor lift or...

ATS pilots new web system.(E-SERVICE)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ATS Euromaster is piloting a web-based system, which will allow staff across its 530 service centres to receive work authorisations within seconds of sending an electronic request. Entering the vehicle's registration number prompts the...

Ford reduces Transit costs.(VANS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Ford has knocked between [pounds sterling]100 and [pounds sterling]1,450 off the price of 17 Transit models, including vans and double-cab-in vans (diesel, petrol and LPG variants). Long wheelbase, rear-wheel drive 280 variants are reduced...

Protek snaps up a Vito.(in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Protek Lighting of Summertown, Oxford has taken delivery of the UK's first high-roofed Vito IIICDI. While the new-generation Vito range was launched late last year, high-roofed variants are only now reaching UK showrooms.

Iveco gets heavy.(in brief)
November 1, 2004... Iveco is increasing its focus on the heavy truck sector. "We are relatively happy with our performance in the light and medium ranges and want to bring that same focus to our heavy range," said a spokesman.

MAN ERF UK gets nod.(in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... MAN ERF UK has been named as the Ministry of Defence's preferred bidder for the [pounds sterling]1.1bn new support vehicle programme. The MoD wants more than 5,000 new trucks (4t, 6t, 8t and 14t payload), with deliveries starting in 2007.

Thomas Crompton order.(in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Thomas Crompton Developments has ordered ten Johnston VT800 truck-mounted sweepers to add to the seven already in its fleet. Founded less than four years ago, the company has a [pounds sterling]6m turnover and employs 50 operators, mechanics...

Cleanaway salt spreaders.(in brief)(The Royal Borough of Kingston)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Cleanaway has taken delivery of five new Volvo FL rigid salt spreaders for use on a winter maintenance contract with The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

Movano is top van.(in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The Vauxhall Movano panel van has been named Van of the Year by What Van. "This is another feather in our cap," said Steve Bryant, commercial vehicles brand manager for Vauxhall.

High maintenance: having brought its maintenance work back in-house, Network Rail has had to reassess its relationship with plant hirers. Paul Nicholson tells Colin Sowman about the changes.(RAILWAYS)
November 1, 2004... With Network Rail taking maintenance work back in-house, it is inevitable that relationships with plant hirers have to change. The switch to in-house, while politically inspired, is a major undertaking, with a total of 16,000 employees being...

Laying down the line: bringing Eurostar trains into St Pancras is a huge project requiring a wide variety of plant and major safety considerations. Colin Sowman reports.(RAILWAYS)
November 1, 2004... The Channel Tunnel Rail Link is as big as new rail projects get in the UK and the final piece of the jigsaw is bringing the high-speed rail link into central London and the building of the new terminus. To undertake such a massive project is...

How to make an impact: what's the best way to tell your customers that you've got a product they need to buy? Dan Gilkes unravels the mysterious world of marketing.(BUSINESS)
November 1, 2004... It's very dark, pitch black. Somewhere behind the audience there's the faintest thrumming of drums, growing steadily louder. Lasers and powerful lights sweep the stage and the hiss of dry ice fills the air. The drumming grows in strength, to be...

AP Webb invests in new depot.(COMPANY NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Specialist plant hirer AP Webb has invested [pounds sterling]1.2m in a new three acre depot near Stafford with 630[m.sup.2] of office space and a six-bay 1,331[m.sup.2] workshop. It is one of the biggest plant suppliers to the rail industry...

Alaska's amphibious craft take to water.(EXCAVATORS)(Alaska Environmental Contracting to use amphibious excavators from United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Alaska Environmental Contracting is utilising the UK's first two amphibious excavators. The units have Volvo EC210B superstructures mounted on Sunland-Kori amphibious under-carriages, which are 8.5m long by 5.5m wide and 1.5m high to provide...

Higher concerns: with the imminent arrival of the new Work at Height Regulations, Martin Cooper finds out how the industry is preparing to work in a safer way.(WORKING AT HEIGHT)
November 1, 2004... Nobody can deny that working at height can be a dangerous occupation. Across all industries, falls from height are said to be the biggest single cause of death and serious injury. According to the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), between...

Coming round again: Paul Howard visits GSE Plant to talk to a man who, despite more than 40 years experience in plant, is still hungry for more ...(HIRE VIEW)
November 1, 2004... In the volatile worlds inhabited by internet entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, such events may be seen as an interesting coincidence rather than a genuine rarity. But in highly capital-intensive businesses with conservative instincts such...

Little Britain: with industry pundits predicting that the UK's mini excavator market could exceed 12,000 units by the end of 2004, PMJ looks at developments in the compact end of the sector.(MINI EXCAVATORS)
November 1, 2004... There seems to be no let-up in the continued popularity of the mini excavator, now the tool of choice for plant hirers, civil engineering contractors weekend odd-jobbers and DIYers. Those in the market to buy a compact excavator have a...

Tooling up for growth: after a period of consolidation, the tool hire sector appears to be going from strength to strength. Martin Cooper reports.(TOOL HIRE)
November 1, 2004... During the past five years, the tool and small plant hire sector has gone through a period of extensive change and consolidation. Most industry commentators predict the trend will continue as the largest national players are riding high, and...

The human touch: James Stirling of Livingstone Guarantee looks at a management buy-out from the owner's point of view.(SELLING A BUSINESS)(Vendor Initiated Management Buy-Out)
November 1, 2004... There is no such thing as a 'cosy' management buy-out (MBO). Often the process can't even be described as amicable. The problems all stem from one source--human nature. An MBO seems extremely attractive at first glance: everybody knows...

Dutch master: UK operators had their work cut out competing against Dutch firm Ton Verdam in the 2004 Caterpillar Operator Challenge. Dan Gilkes reports.(OPERATOR CHALLENGE)
November 1, 2004... The 2004 Caterpillar Operator Challenge has been won by Dutch operator Ton Verdam, for the third year running. Fifty operators from 17 countries, travelled to Cat's demonstration site in Malaga, Spain, during a week in October for the final,...

Digger gets trunk call.(CHECKOUT)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A JCB backhoe loader proved it was up to a jumbo-sized task when an elephant in Sri Lanka needed rescuing. The 3CX was donated to the Born Free Foundation last year by JCB and is normally used for ground clearing and construction work at...

New York, New York.(CHECKOUT)(Belle's 40 years celebration)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Belle's '40 years of mixer production' campaign has come to close with the grand draw for the two big prize winners. The draw was made by Groundforce's Tommy Walsh (pictured, left) and resulted in Michael Walsh and Chris Bell both winning...

All in a good cause.(CHECKOUT)(Speedy Hire PLC to finance three construction industry charity organizations)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... After enjoying a year of record growth, Speedy Hire has pledged support to three construction charities as part of its commitment to playing an active role in the industry. The Lighthouse Club, the Construction Industry Trust for Youth and...

Garic's marathon man.(CHECKOUT)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... When it comes to charity, Garic's Lorne Entwistle has gone for the big one. Until eight months ago he had not run for 22 years and later this month he will attempt the New York Marathon to raise money for Cancer Research and Children with...

Events diary.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOVEMBER 16-19 Bauma China 2004 Shanghai New International Expo Centre Tel: +86 21 6876 6868 www.bauma-china.com MARCH 1-5 2005 Smopyc 2005 Feria de Zaragoza Zaragoza, Spain Tel: +34 976...