Plant Manager's Journal articles from September 2005

Plant Manager's Journal archives from September 2005

An industry under fire.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... It's open season for taking pot shots at the plant industry: the government wants to restrict red diesel usage; Network Rail is determined to cut 30% from its maintenance budget; and the GLA wants diesel particulate traps fitted on plant. ...

London sites face GLA diesel filter proposal.(EMISSIONS)
September 1, 2005... The Greater London Authority (GLA) is proposing that plant working on certain London sites should be retrofit of diesel particulate filters (DPFs) by 2006. According to the Construction Equipment Association (CPA), DPFs are duty cycle...

Speedy Hire buys Gleeson.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Speedy Hire has acquired the plant hire operations of MJ Gleeson Group (MJG) for a cash consideration of [pounds sterling]8.2m. The division had assets of [pounds sterling]4.2m at 30 June 2004. The deal also includes MJG entering into an...

Wait on for crane operators.(RED DIESEL)
September 1, 2005... Mobile crane operators will have to wait until the end of the year to find out if they can continue to run their equipment on rebated red diesel. Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) does not expect a decision from HM Revenue &...

Hire sector keeps growing.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The UK plant and tool hire sector increased by 9% to a value of [pounds sterling]4.1bn in 2004, representing growth of 45% from the 2000 level, according to the latest report from Market & Business Development (MBD). Reflecting a buoyant...

Fiori moves to Indeco.(DISTRIBUTION)
September 1, 2005... Breaker specialist company Indeco (UK) is to act as importer and distributor for Fiori following the ending of the Italian machinery manufacturer's contract with Equipment Supply Services in Neath, South Wales. Indeco UK director John...

Alimak Hek finds access.(MASTCLIMBING)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Mastclimbing specialist Alimak Hek has provided eight specially modified work platforms to Edmund Nuttall, designed to overcome access problems on the new River Swale crossing. The new 1.25km bridge is 30m above the river and is built on 36...

SED breaks visitor record.(Site Equipment Demonstration)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... It's official, SED 2005 broke attendance records, with just under 22,000 visitors coming through the gates. The certified figure from ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulation) confirms that 21,916 visitors attended over the three days of the...

Local councils to get product recall powers.(LEGISLATION)
September 1, 2005... Environmental health and trading standards officers will have the power to force manufacturers and distributors to withdraw products from the UK market if a safety-related problem is discovered. The New General Product Safety Legislation is...

Plant hirers slam NR's new contract.(RAIL PLANT)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Plant hirers say the onerous terms and conditions of Network Rail's (NR) contracts for rail plant could compromise the delivery of track maintenance work. One worry is NR's insistence on price as the determining factor--targeting a 31%...

Vac-Tron cuts time at city hall.(PMD300GT vacuum excavator )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... A Vac-Tron PMD300GT vacuum excavator has allowed specialist contractor John Mee to shorten a job uncovering buried services during the refurbishment of Sheffield City Hall from 13 weeks to 10. Before purchasing the Vac-Tron unit from U Mole...

HAUC to re-examine single drum criteria.(Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The suitability of single drum rollers on reinstatement projects has again been called into question after the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC) said it will reexamine the criteria and the recommended equipment for such work...

Manitowoc alliance.(NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... The Manitowoc Crane Group and Bank of Scotland Corporate's asset finance division have formed an alliance. Buyers of the company's crane products will now have direct access to the bank's construction funding expertise.

JCB open day.(NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... As part of its 60th anniversary celebrations JCB will host an open day at its Rocester headquarters on 10 September. Attractions include a dancing diggers demonstration and the super-charged JCB GT, which is capable of reaching 160km/h...

Nixon to sell Ammann Yanmar.(NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... Nixon Plant Hire has been appointed the exclusive construction dealer for Ammann Yanmar in Scotland. Nixon has four Scottish depots in Aberdeen, Broxburn, Dundee and Perth.

24/7 hose repair.(NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... Dunlop Hiflex has introduced a national control centre for mobile hydraulic hose repair. Utilising a fleet of 200 vehicles the service will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Syrinx support.(NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... Higher Concept Software has added support for outside servicing to its Syrinx Hire Management System. The new feature allows detailed customer service and repair jobs to be monitored.

IPAF training.(NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... The International Powered Access Federation will introduce new training courses during September for mast climbing platforms and telescopic handlers. The handlers' course will apply only to machines equipped with man-baskets, as these are...

Ashtead stays top hire firm.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Ashtead has retained pole position as the UK's largest plant holding company with a fleet gross book value of [pounds sterling]813m, according to the latest Plant Hire Investment Report from Catherine Stratton. The top nine positions for...

Anti-theft systems scrutinised at forum.(PLANT THEFT)
September 1, 2005... Stuart Hyde, the assistant chief constable of West Midlands Constabulary, will be guest speaker at the Construction Industry Theft Scheme (CITS), plant theft Forum and exhibition on 15 September at JCB's headquarters. There will also be a case...

Theft from under J & J's nose.(PLANT THEFT)
September 1, 2005... Plant thieves are getting ever bolder, with one recent incident in which thieves stole a breaker while the operator was only metres away. The thieves used a Transit-size van with tail-lift to steal the breaker belonging to J & J Plant Hire...

Avoid subcontracting, says CPA.(HIRE TERMS)
September 1, 2005... The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has warned its members against becoming involved as subcontractors as that would involve the hire company taking on "serious financial responsibilities". CPA chief executive Colin Wood said the...

Walking excavator does all the leg work.(EXCAVATORS)
September 1, 2005... If you're building a mountain bike track, you'll need a Euromach 5000 walking excavator. Andy Hopkins of the Forestry Commission's 7 Stains project in southern Scotland describes the machine's performance as "top spec trail-building in one...

UK plant hire share prices 2004/05.(NEWS)
September 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 Price Price (p) in (p) in Price (p) ...

JCB ties up Vibromax deal.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... JCB has bought German-based compaction equipment manufacturer Vibromax. The products will be branded as JCB Vibromax and all 170 employees, mainly at its Leipzig facility, will be retained. JCB managing director John Patterson said: "This...

New Holland steers into breaker market.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... New Holland has made its first entry into the hydraulic breaker market with a range of units said to be suitable for carriers in the 1.5t to 70t operating capacity. The 11 breakers have been designed and manufactured in collaboration with...

Forward thinking.(J Breheny Contractors )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... FORWARD THINKING: J Breheny Contractors has taken delivery of four of the UK's first Barford SK10 forward-tipping dumpers from Northampton-based Shellplant. Painted in Breheny's red livery, the company said the units will improve site...

Bobcat adds to compact range.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Bobcat has expanded its compact equipment offering with the launch of the new 323 mini excavator. Replacing the 322 model, the 323 is equipped with a number of new features, including a variable displacement hydraulic system. A dual outlet...

Omega gives range a lift.(Omega Access )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Holland-based Omega Access has launched a new three-model range of scissor lifts with working heights of 19m, 22.5m and 26.5m. According to owner Mark van Oosten, three of the largest machines had already been sold before the launch. ...

EC seeks noise directive exemption.(EU LEGISLATION)
September 1, 2005... The European Commission (EC) is proposing that eight types of plant equipment should be exempt from a European Union (EU) noise directive that would force them to be scrapped if they did not meet its stringent requirements. The directive...

Number one.(Marubeni Komatsu Ltd)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... NUMBER ONE: Plant-hirer Hawk has ordered the UK's first six Komatsu HM350-I ADTs from Marubeni Komatsu. The 35t machines are part of a 26-unit order. Hawk managing director Mike Hawkins (pictured on the machine with his wife) said: "I've been...

Genie launches Euro-targeted boom.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Genie has launched an articulating boom designed specifically for the needs of the European market. The Z-51/30J RT has compact dimensions of 2.16m-long and 2.29m-wide. Working capacities include a platform height of 15.6m, 9.2m of...

Kubota fires up immobiliser.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Kubota has launched a unique key-based anti-theft system for its entire range of mini excavators. In an attempt to combat the increased numbers of plant-related thefts, new Kubota machines will now be equipped, as standard, with an...

Portable Ingersoll-Rand range.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... Ingersoll-Rand has launched a new 7/170 range of portable compressors covering the free air delivery range from 11.3 to 17[m.sup.3]/min. The range consists of three machines providing output pressures of 14, 10.3 and 7bar respectively.

New Forest buys Takeuchis.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... Hampshire-based New Forest Hire has purchased three Takeuchi 1.4t TB014 mini excavators from local distributor CBL The machines are 980mm wide, have a 2,135mm dig depth and a 3,660mm reach.

Stabiliser debuts at Smith.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... The UK's first Wirtgen WS2500 tractor-towed soil stabiliser has been purchased by plant hirer Smith Construction. The unit can pulverise and mix soil to a depth of 500mm and a width of 2.5m.

Panther's [pounds sterling]1m Skyjack order.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... Panther Platform Rentals has placed an order to the value of [pounds sterling]1m with Skyjack for both diesel and electric elevating platforms. The newly acquired units will be based at the company's new depot in Haydock, Lancashire.

Facelift makes Haulotte smile.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... Access equipment hirer Facelift has purchased 10 self-propelled booms from French supplier Haulotte. The HA16SPX machines have a working height of 16m, 230kg cage capacity and a platform that can rotate 180[degrees].

Aquajet boasts extra removal.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... Swedish-based hydrodemolition specialist Aquajet has launched a new control system for its equipment, which it claimed offers a 20% increase in removal rate. The new Evolution system can be fitted to all Aquajet units.

Finning offers Cat-K series.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... A new bucket tooth system for Caterpillar excavators is available through Finning UK. The Cat K-series is said to have a 15% increased lifetime, a better penetration and digging capability, and is available with 11 tip options.

Hire or Buy adds JCBs to fleet.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2005... Cambridgeshire-based Hire or Buy's rental fleet has expanded with the delivery of two JCB micro excavators, a Terex Benford dumper and two Ausa hi-tip dumpers. The order value is said to exceed [pounds sterling]60,000.

CV sales pass 225,000 mark.(Commercial vehicle )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Commercial vehicle registrations have passed 225,000 in the first seven months of the year--an increase of almost 2% over 2004. Heavy trucks are the biggest winners, up 7.2% in the year-to-date at 34,294, with July seeing 4,800...

Mercedes to roll out Vario option on Vito.(VAN LAUNCH)
September 1, 2005... Mercedes-Benz is set to introduce a Vario transmission option for its lightweight Vito vans. The Vario system being demonstrated in the picture during a recent Van Experience Day at the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) is...

Ford reaches 5m milestone.(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Ford's five millionth Transit has rolled off the production line in Southampton, 40 years after the van was first introduced. The company has donated the vehicle, a minibus version, to the Lord's Taverners charity, which helps young people...

Lex launches telematic solution.(TELEMATICS)
September 1, 2005... Lex Vehicle Leasing has claimed that its new own-brand telematics solution can deliver substantial savings for fleet owners. Known as Lex FleetSolve, the system is said to be an internet-based modular fleet and asset-management solution,...

Kia makes commercial debut.(4X4)
September 1, 2005... Kia has launched its first commercial vehicle for the UK market--a five-door load carrier based on its 4X4 Sorento. Branded the Kia Sorento XE-C, the unit has a 103kW/2.5-litre diesel engine and part-time electric-shift transfer five-speed...

Dunlop rolls out new winter tyre.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Dunlop has introduced a new winter traction tyre for the drive axles on road-going trucks. The SP462 offers significant improvement in traction on snowy and icy surfaces. The new tyre is also said to offer better wear characteristics due...

Power Plane gets heavy.(in brief)
September 1, 2005... Power Plane has taken delivery of a heavy-duty MTS73 step frame trailer from King Trailers. The four-axle unit is hauled by a Scania 6X4 and used to transport a new Wirtgen road planer.

Clean vehicle grant delay.(in brief)
September 1, 2005... The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said that the new clean vehicle grant schemes may not be fully functional before 2006. So far, it said, only one of the six schemes, which have a [pounds sterling]24m budget, has paid out any...

Sales boom at Renault UK.(in brief)
September 1, 2005... Renault UK has reported van sales for the first half of 2005 of 11,125 units, a rise of 4.4% compared to the same period last year. It said demand for its Trafic and Master ranges rose by 11.8% and 16.2% respectively.

CV sales up at Volkswagen.(in brief)
September 1, 2005... Volkswagen has seen a 23% rise in commercial vehicle sales this year, including an order for 150 vans from automotive parts distributor FPS Distribution.

Terranova takes trailer.(in brief)
September 1, 2005... Crane hirer Terranova has taken delivery of its first heavy-duty tri-axle GTS44 trailer from King Trailers. The unit is 7.93m long, features a 1.42m steel beavertail, and will be used to transport heavy plant.

Where there's muck ... as UK waste generation grows at around 3% each year, the need to recycle has never been so important. Dan Gilkes looks at the role that plant and mechanical equipment play in the sector.(WASTE MANAGEMENT)
September 1, 2005... The waste handling and recycling business is booming, and it's not hard to see why. Industry, commerce and public households in the UK produce more than 100 million tonnes of waste every year, with construction, demolition, mining and...

The giant awakes: Hewden is no longer the slumbering giant of the hire industry. With a new management team and new organisational structure, the company says it is ready to regain lost territory. Martin Cooper reports.(HIRE VIEW)
September 1, 2005... Hewden is back. Stronger, leaner and fitter than before and ready to outperform the competition. This is the message from its new management team which was installed in January, when the company underwent what can only be described as a major...

Reinventing the wheel: a shortage of large tyres, combined with new whole body vibration regulations, should see the tyre industry take advantage of increased demand. Colin Sowman reports.(TYRES)
September 1, 2005... Tyres have long been the Cinderella of the plant world--always ignored, often abused, and sometimes not needed at all. Now, however, things are changing for two reasons: first, there is a world-wide shortage of larger earthmoving tyres; and...

Service games: coping with the maintenance of plant is one of those subjects about which everybody has a strong opinion, but that should not prevent plant owners considering all the options. Colin Sowman investigates.(CONTRACTS)
September 1, 2005... While modern plant needs less servicing than its older counterpart, for instance, oil change intervals have been extended, the problems of providing that maintenance gets ever greater. So how companies approach maintenance should be reviewed...

The black stuff: Castlebridge Plant has the not-insignificant job of maintaining all the equipment for Scottish Coal's open-cast mines. Martin Cooper visited the Glentaggart site to see how the operation works.(CASTLEBRIDGE PLANT)
September 1, 2005... Heavy earthmoving fleets don't come much larger than Castlebridge Plant's compliment of equipment. Said to be the largest fleet in the UK, and also one of Europe's biggest, the full list of kit is certainly impressive. Castlebridge Plant's...

Rebuilt to last: with steel prices higher than ever, there are enormous benefits to be had from rebuilding kit. Cat is leading the way.(BUSINESS)
September 1, 2005... Steel shortages have pushed up the cost of new equipment to levels that can be daunting for many plant hire and construction companies. These shortages have also created problems for manufacturers trying to fulfil growing order backlogs....

Rise to the occasion: construction firms are increasingly employing the lifting power of the telehandler. Martin Cooper looks at the popularity of this multi-purpose workhorse.(PLANT FOCUS)
September 1, 2005... Telehandlers have come a long way during the past decade or so. In this short period of time they have grown from being bit-part players on construction sites to having leading roles to fulfil. There was a time when the backhoe loader was...

Cards on the table: a CPCS photo-card can help combat fraud, ensuring safety levels are maintained on site.(TRAINING)
September 1, 2005... CPCS is the UK's largest card scheme for plant operators and many sites will not accept anything else--including those run by members of the Major Contractors Group (MCG) and National Contractors Federation (NCF). Importantly, anybody who...

Up, up and away.(100t Terex Demag AC100 mobile crane )
September 1, 2005... A Hewden 100t Terex Demag AC100 mobile crane was recently called into action to lift a Phantom V Rolls Royce aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. The royal lift took place in Leith, Scotland and involved the car being hoisted approximately...

If the kids are united ...(CHECKOUT)
September 1, 2005... Alongside an extensive display of mining and quarrying equipment at June's Hillhead exhibition, Terex also took the opportunity to provide a bit of fun, while raising some much-needed cash for the Heart of Mary Villa Appeal Fund. This...

In the picture: win [pounds sterling]50.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Readers have had two months to think about the last competition we held in July. Anyway, there was no shortage of correct answers and the lucky winner was David Swales of Clevestone Trans, Hartlepool, who identified the wheel of the Terex SL28...

Norman invasion.(Norman Hunter)(Portable Building Association)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Former Leeds United and England defender Norman 'bite yer legs' Hunter was the guest of honour at the recent Modular and Portable Building Association annual golf tournament. Hunter (who was famously part of the successful, but somewhat...

It's Monte Carlo or bust.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... It's not every day that a plant hire company allows its machinery to go on holiday. But that's what HE Services says it did by sending two excavators to Monte Carlo. A Komatsu PC130 and a Takeuchi TB175 were hired by a customer in the...

Events diary.(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... 2005 SEPTEMBER 6-8 IOG Saltex Windsor Racecourse Windsor, Berks Tel: 020 8232 1600 www.iogsaltex.co.uk SEPTEMBER 15 Construction Industry Theft Scheme (Forum) JCB HQ Rocester, Staffs Tel: 0800...

Cooling systems.
September 1, 2005... Modern low-emission engines run hotter than their older counterparts and are also more highly stressed; their ability to withstand malfunction without damage is therefore greatly reduced. In fact, analysis of the root causes of engine failures...