Plant Manager's Journal articles from September 2006

Plant Manager's Journal archives from September 2006

Unite on emissions approach.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... If you thought emissions regulations would come to nothing, think again. This summer saw many parts of the UK reaching their highest temperatures in 130 years of record keeping and researchers in Edinburgh proposing that diesel particulates may...

OPERC warns of plant theft by terrorists.(PLANT THEFT)
September 1, 2006... The founder of the Off-highway Plant and Equipment Research Centre (OPERC) has issued a stark warning to the construction industry that it could be unwittingly aiding terrorists if it ignores the issue of plant theft. The warning coincides...

Gap acquires J & S Plant.(ACQUISITION)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Gap has purchased J & S Plant of Lincoln, the plant and tool part of contractor Johnson & Smith, for around [pounds sterling]900,000 plus [pounds sterling]450,000 of net debt. J & S Plant has a turnover of around [pounds sterling]1m, a fleet of...

Quarry kit under threat as HSE applies WAH regs.(Health and Safety Executive, work at height )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors are threatening to issue improvement notices on the plant used in quarries, even as industry representatives met the chairman of the ISO committee looking into access and egress from machines. ...

Sunbelt boosts Ashtead profit.(George Burnett chief executive of Ashtead Group PLC, to retire)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Ashtead Group has announced a trebling of profit to [pounds sterling]67.5m, the retirement of chief executive George Burnett and the acquisition of US plant hirer NationsRent. Ashtead's US division Sunbelt Rentals recorded a profit (before...

Winding down.(NEWS)
September 1, 2006... Hewden has proposed changes to its cranes division that will see a shift in focus to cranes of up to 100t and the creation of a more local presence. The proposal, which is in consultation with staff, would result in a rationalization of the...

Report highlights acquisition trend.(Aggreko Inc.)(Ashtead Group PLC)(Balfour Beatty Ltd.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The latest Plant Hire Investment Report shows the effect of 21 major acquisitions among the major plant hire companies although there is no change in the four largest mobile plant fleets--Ashtead Group, Aggreko, Hewden and Balfour Beatty. ...

Police recover stolen plant.(SECURITY)
September 1, 2006... Security specialist Satrak has warned plant hire firms to be on their guard when dealing with customers and make sure they are genuine. Satrak sales director Dan Walton said: "Plant hire companies large and small are being increasingly...

Speedy enters FTSE 250.(Speedy Hire PLC)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Strong organic growth and a spate of recent acquisitions have propelled Speedy Hire into the FTSE 250 for the first time. Chief executive of Speedy Hire Steve Corcoran said: "Our entry into the FTSE 250 is another milestone in the...

Training policy hit by insufficient funding.(TRAINING)
September 1, 2006... Training providers attending the newly instigated afternoon sessions of the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) Roadshows are asking who will pay for the training the government insists construction workers need. They highlighted the...

Hole in the hill.(NEWS)
September 1, 2006... Hochtief has provided a giant tunnel-boring machine for use on a [pounds sterling]140m Scottish and Southern Energy hydro power project in the Highlands. The unit will be used to create an 8km tunnel in the hills.

Tough times for poorest hirers.(FINANCE)(Survey)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... One in six plant hire companies reported a loss last year and for 18% of them this was their second loss-making year, according to Plimsoll Publishing. In its survey of results from 1,500 companies involved in plant hire, the bottom...

Case enjoys UK sales rise.(SALES)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... UK sales of Case's core products are up by 20% over the same time last year and some product lines have increased by 40%, said vice-president George Russell. The company will introduce a number of new machines over the coming months, but...

Jones joins JCB.(NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2006... Sir Digby Jones has become an adviser to JCB on government and international affairs following his retirement from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sir Digby, who was director-general of the CBI for seven years, took up his position...

JLG wins [pounds sterling]5.5m deal.(NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2006... JLG has won its biggest order of the year thanks to a [pounds sterling]5.5m deal to supply A-Plant with powered access equipment. The order makes up a large proportion of the [pounds sterling]8m earmarked by A-Plant this year for new investment...

Turnover up at Liebherr.(NEWS in brief)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Liebherr Group has reported a 16% climb in turnover to almost [pounds sterling]3.6bn in 2005 and is confident of a further two-figure percentage growth for 2006. Profit increased by almost 60% on 2004 to [pounds sterling]190m. The construction...

Britcom moves HQ.(NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2006... Plant and truck exporter Britcom International has moved into a [pounds sterling]4m facility in East Yorkshire. Britcom said the 2,600m[.sup.2] HQ would allow it to significantly expand the UK side of its business.

HSS hire hotline.(NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2006... HSS Hire has set up a dedicated hotline for customers wanting to arrange the collection of tools and equipment. The number, 0845 OFF-HIRE (633 4473), will give customers the chance to cease the hire and arrange for collection without...

Firms face unlimited fines under new bill.(SAFETY)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has welcomed the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter Bill, but warned that it still wants to see individual workers take more responsibility for their own actions. The reaction follows...

Pedal power.(Jackson Civil Engineering)(Komatsu America Corp.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Jackson Civil Engineering used a Komatsu D20 AG 3t mini dozer for the construction of cycle paths in Cambridge. Contractors chose the smaller machine for sections for sections of the [pounds sterling]1.2m scheme, as it required some new paths...

UK plant hire share prices 2006.(NEWS)
September 1, 2006... UK PLANT HIRE SHARE PRICES 2006 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 August 2006 July 2006 ...

Peter Oram dies, aged 69.(OBITUARY)
September 1, 2006... Peter Oram, chairman of the BSI committee on cranes for 30 years has died. Having spent 27 years with the Health & Safety Executive before retiring in 1994, he continued his work with the BSI and also sat on the steering committee of the...

Q2 figures up 18% at Terex.(RESULTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Terex has raised its outlook for 2006 following positive second-quarter results that saw year-on-year sales rise 18%. The company now expects sales to increase by 17% to 22% in 2006, climbing to between [pounds sterling]4bn and [pounds...

Tool hire shows go head to head.(EXHIBITIONS)
September 1, 2006... Next year will see two exhibitions for the tool hire sector taking place just one week apart. The Hire Show will take place on 24 to 25 January at the ExCel Centre in London's Docklands, while from 31 January to 1 February, the Executive...

Mek-Tek offers smaller batcher.(MIXERS)
September 1, 2006... Volumetric concrete mixer manufacturer Mek-Tek has introduced a compact version of its MBP mobile batching plant that it says will allow manual mixing operations to quadruple their output. The new MBP4 has a capacity of between 4m[.sup.3]...

Hiab extends its outreach.(TRUCK CRANES)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Hiab UK has launched the most powerful of its cranes that can fit on a three-axle truck. The unit also offers the longest outreach in the range. The Hiab XS377, which completes the company's 20t to 40t lineup, is available with the manual...

Fuel siphon prevention kit.(ANTI-THEFT)
September 1, 2006... The Syphon-Sound name alone ought to be enough to frighten off thieves, but the device from Specialised Designs also prevents them from siphoning fuel from the tank. The manufacturer claims the device is 'fit and forget' technology, will not...

CPA stands ground on DPFs despite new study.(EMISSIONS)
September 1, 2006... The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) will continue to oppose the introduction of diesel particulate filters (DPFs) in London, despite a new study into the harmful effects of soot particles. Researchers at the Edinburgh's Queen's...

Mighty Dot moves to aerosol applicator.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Mighty Dot is to launch an aerosol applicator for its micro-dot equipment marking system, which removes the need for a compressed air supply. The latest weapon against plant theft is used to glue thousands of 1mm dots to the machine. The...

Noise poster in demand.(POSTER)
September 1, 2006... Hewden claims to have been inundated with requests for the Shout About Noise poster it produced with CJ and PMJ. Having distributed more than 38,000 copies with the magazines, the company has received requests for over 300 additional copies...

Grove GMK reaches out.(Manitowoc Cranes Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Manitowoc Crane Group (MCG) has introduced a long-boom version of the Grove GMK4100 all-terrain crane it launched at Intermat earlier this year. The GMK4100-L incorporates the same features as the GMK4100 and also offers a 60m...

Unic launches Paus cranes.(CRANES)
September 1, 2006... Having been appointed UK distributor for German plant manufacturer Paus, GGR-Unic is set to launch two cranes. The first is Paus's 1.2t-capacity Skyworker self-erecting crane, which comes mounted on a 2.1m-wide self-powered trailer chassis....

HSE calls for caution after fatal accident.(Health and Safety Executive )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has renewed its call for construction contractors to use mobile plant with caution after a man was struck and killed by a telehandler "during a reversing manoeuvre". Peter Prunic died at a residential...

One-man sledge.(SLIDE SLEDGE)
September 1, 2006... Construction tool distributor Damar International claims its new Slide Sledge will provide an accurate, heavy-duty alternative to the sledge hammer. The tool, which is designed to remove bolts, pins and rivets from construction machinery, will...

Compact dumper boosts sales.(Cormidi UK )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Cormidi UK said its sales have doubled since last year, largely thanks to the launch of its 6.50 High-Tip tracked compact dumper at SED. The firm has sold 40 machines in the past three months and has secured a deal with Hire Center that...

Smart move.(KIT)
September 1, 2006... Wrexham-based recycling firm Entrec uses its new Kramer 750T telescopic wheel loader to load tyres into a shredder. Entrec's purchase replaced a telehandler, which the firm felt was not manoeuvrable enough and did not provide enough visibility...

A-Plant order for GenSet.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2006... GenSet has become the latest firm to reap the benefits of A-Plant's [pounds sterling]80m investment programme with a [pounds sterling]2m order for super-silenced generators. The generators are from the GenSet HireMan range within the 6 to...

Plant Hire takes Komatsus.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2006... Plant Hire 4U has ordered 10 Komatsu PC130-7 excavators from Marubeni Komatsu and made the Komatsu brand one of its 'core products'. Excavators represent a significant market for Plant Hire 4U; 60% of its customers are interested in the...

Windhoist opts for Liebherr.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2006... Liebherr has supplied Windhoist, the sister company of McNally Crane Hire, with the UK's first LTR 1100 crawler-mounted telescopic crane. The 100t capacity crane has a 52m-long main boom and is powered by a Liebherr diesel D 924 TI-E A4 engine...

Cappagh buys Hitachis.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2006... Waste and recycling contractor Cappagh has bought four Hitachi Zaxis ZX135US excavators and a Zaxis 225USR LC for use on contracts with Thames Water, Cemex and local authorities.

T Clarke hires from AFI.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2006... Electrical contractor T Clarke Midlands has hired 20 compact machines from AFI Aerial Platforms to help it carry out refurbishments at two Waitrose stores in Scotland. The company hired 18 7.8m scissor lifts and two 10m booms that it could take...

Extec double order.(KIT NEWS in brief)
September 1, 2006... Renways Aggregates and Bonnar Sand & Gravel have bought Extec C-12 crushers for operation in their respective quarries. Renways needed the machine after changing its core business from contract screening and crushing to operating a quarry....

GE raises axle rates on trailer.(TRAILERS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... GE Equipment Services is set to launch a plant trailer that aims to address customers' concerns that standard trailers are too easy to overload. The company teamed up with its main trailer supplier Indespension to come up with a solution....

Case to approve use of B5 blends in its engines.(BIO-FUELS)
September 1, 2006... Case is set to become the first construction equipment manufacturer to approve the use of B5 blends (5% biodiesel and 95% petroleum-based diesel) in all of its mechanical engines. The manufacturer also indicated that the use of B20 blends...

On the high road.(KIT)
September 1, 2006... GMJV, a joint venture between Galliford Try and Morgan Est, is using tracked dumpers to deliver hatch covers and other materials to inaccessible reservoirs and water storage tanks in the Scottish Highlands and Islands for Scottish Water...

Human vibration analyser.(Bruel and Kjaer Instruments Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Bruel and Kjaer has introduced a hand-held system to measure, analyse and evaluate human vibration on hand tools, compact equipment and heavy machinery. The Type 4447 Human Vibration Analyser is designed to calculate vibration exposure and...

Nap Hire opts for Messersi.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Nap Hire has bought a Messersi CH2R/13 high tip dumper from Global Construction Equipment, Bucks. Nap Hire owner John Napthine bought the machine after seeing a range of Messersi dumpers on the firm's stand at SED. Messersi has hired...

EA tests lone worker alarm.(SAFETY)
September 1, 2006... A lone worker alarm is undergoing trials with the Environment Agency. The satellite-based device, developed by marine civil engineering contractor Land & Water in conjunction with emergency response systems specialist SBES, offers greater...

Liebherr replaces 742 with 744.(Liebherr Construction Equipment Co.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Liebherr has added the 744 Litronic to its Series 4 bulldozer range. The 28.2t operating weight machine replaces the 742 and is fitted with Liebherr's new Stage IIIa compliant engine, which develops 184kw--7% more than its predecessor. Key...

New Astravan makes debut.(Vauxhall Motors Ltd.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Vauxhall's new generation of Astravan will cost from [pounds sterling]9,995 (excluding VAT) when it becomes available next month. The Astravan roofline has been swept back by 50mm to improve air flow and reduce wind noise, while the van's...

London told to use rolling-age system.(EMISSIONS)
September 1, 2006... The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has written to London mayor Ken Livingstone repeating its call for the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) to based on a rolling-age limit. "Such a scheme would yield wider environmental benefits, be...

Tax penalty for van use.(TAX LIABILITIES)
September 1, 2006... New benefit-in-kind rules coming into effect next April will see a massive hike in tax liabilities for employees who use their employer's van for private use. The annual tax liability on employees using company vans for their own purposes...

Into the fold.(Boarhunt Garage )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Fareham-based Boarhunt Garage claims the hydraulic fold-forward ramp system on its new Andover low loader (see inset) has helped it record a fuel saving of 0.7mpg. The fold-forward ramps, which Andover introduced in 1997, improve fuel economy...

Red diesel abuser jailed.(Robert William James)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A businessman who evaded excise duty worth over [pounds sterling]275,000 through the repeated use of red diesel has been sentenced to three years and nine months in jail. Robert William James, 45, ran haulage companies in Tyseley, Birmingham....

Peugeot replaces Boxer.(in brief)
September 1, 2006... Peugeot is to introduce a replacement for its Boxer van in November, with the new 300 range replacing the current range and spanning 3.0t to 3.5t GVW. A new 400 range will go up to 4t GVW with payloads of up to 2t and all will be powered by a...

Fiat offers 24-hour support.(in brief)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Fiat Commerical Vehicles has boosted its aftersales support, with 11% of its dealers now open 24-hours-a-day for service and repair work. A further 10% of the network has flexible and extended opening hours. Fiat also plans to increase its 63...

Saint's fuel saving.(in brief)
September 1, 2006... Saints Transport has fitted its entire fleet with an anti-siphon device manufactured by Tiss Trailer Security. Saints Transport's managing director Piers Carroll said: "I decided to roll the systems out across the fleet because the savings in...

Citroen cuts emissions.(in brief)
September 1, 2006... Citroen has announced that its UK head office-based cars and vans will start to run on 30% biodiesel. The blend of diesel and processed vegetable oil should reduce emissions by around a fifth and will require no technical modification.

Free sat nav from Daihatsu.(in brief)
September 1, 2006... Daihatsu is offering customers free satellite navigation worth [pounds sterling]289 when they buy one of its Terios 4x4 models. The Clarion MAP 360 system will come free with every retail sale before 31 October. The Daihatsu Terios 1.5S costs...

Changing of the guard; A new trend is slowly emerging within the plant industry: a reliance on the outsourcing of core services. Neil Gerrard investigates.(QUARRYING)
September 1, 2006... The word 'outsourcing' is one of those ugly euphemisms that financial services companies use when they can't think how to describe the service they provide in less than several hundred words. The plant industry, on the other hand, is among the...

Look before you buy: there's a large market in second-hand plant, but not all of it is legitimate. Colin Sowman outlines the steps you can take to avoid buying stolen kit.(STOLEN KIT)
September 1, 2006... Why do thieves steal plant? The answer is easy: because they can sell it again to make substantial amounts of money and the chances of getting caught are minimal. Result--uproar in the plant world and questions about what the police are doing...

Digging up growth: Neuson is adding machines to its range to help its bid to more than double its production by 2010. Neil Gerrard reports.(NEUSON)
September 1, 2006... Neuson Kramer has announced ambitious plans to more than double its growth, as it aims to increase production from 4,500 machines a year to 11,000 units per year by 2010 and plug the gaps in its compact equipment range. The firm hopes to...

Rising to the challenge: L & W is the smallest of the four plant firms awarded a Network Rail framework contract. Colin Sowman pays it a visit to find out what the contract has meant to the company.(Dave Walton )(Interview)
September 1, 2006... There is no disguising the fact that Network Rail's decision to introduce framework contracts for the supply of rail plant on maintenance work has caused a major shake-up to suppliers. Having taken the maintenance work back in-house after the...

Big market for small diggers: micro excavators are gaining in popularity as they take over many tasks from manual labour. Neil Gerrard reports.(EQUIPMENT FOCUS)
September 1, 2006... Micro excavators are exceptionally small. Small enough, in fact, to be able to fit through domestic doorways and gateways. And it is this ability that makes the machines such an interesting prospect for hire firms--they can attack all sorts of...

On your own terms: Clive Day looks at the perils, pitfalls and employees' rights when it comes to changing employment terms and conditions.(BUSINESS)
September 1, 2006... As a business, you need to be flexible to survive. You need to respond to changes in the way in which your industry works and must always try to find the most cost-effective and efficient way of managing one of your most costly overheads: your...

D-Day: a second generation of Bell's D-Series ADT will be arriving in the UK shortly--as Colin Sowman finds out.(BELL D-SERIES ADT)
September 1, 2006... In fitting Stage IIIa-compliant engines to its ADTs, Bell Equipment has given its machines a comprehensive makeover to produce a second-generation D-Series. Not only is Generation 2 cleaner, but Bell says it is also stronger, more durable, more...

The need for speed: on a scorching hot August day in Utah, JCB's Dieselmax takes British engineering speeding into the record books. Dan Gilkes reports.(JCB DIESELMAX)
September 1, 2006... JCB's Dieselmax streamliner has become the fastest diesel-powered car in the world, shattering the previous record at its first attempt. On Tuesday 22 August, the Dieselmax, driven by Wing Commander Andy Green of the RAF, recorded two runs...

Facelift takes to the water for charity.(CHECKOUT)
September 1, 2006... JCB has spent its summer sweating it out on the Bonneville Salt Flats, trying to break the diesel land speed record with its blisteringly fast Dieselmax. Meanwhile, Facelift has been participating in a rather more sedate project: paddling...

Vivaro travels length of the UK on a single tank of fuel.(Alan Philips)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Alan Philips from Nottinghamshire-based Morris Vermaport has raised [pounds sterling]1,000 for Breast Cancer Care by driving a Vauxhall Vivaro from John O'Groats to Land's End using less than one tank of fuel. Philips filled the Vivaro's...

In the picture win [pounds sterling]50.(CHECKOUT)
September 1, 2006... July's competition proved a bit of a poser, and answers varied considerably. To be strictly accurate, the photo showed a model from the Mantovanibenne MS range attached to a Daewoo 130 excavator. We decided to give the benefit of the doubt to...

Double trouble for thieves.(CHECKOUT)(JCB 2CX security device)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Who needs GPRS tracking devices when you can chain your roller up to a JCB 2CX? Thieves who tried to steal plant from one of Lincmaster's major customers were dismayed to find that the company's JCB Airmaster and its Bomag roller were...

2006.(CHECKOUT)(Calendar)
September 1, 2006... SEPTEMBER 20 The Geospatial Future of Buried Services Manchester Tel: 0220 7665 2318 conferences@ice.org.uk SEPTEMBER 26-28 No-Dig Live 2006 Stoneleigh Park, Coventry Tel: 01923 778 311 ...