All fall down for JCB's old factory site....

Out with the old, in with the new....this is the case at JCB where the new £40 million factory for heavy products is officially opened to the press on the 8th April, but the old factory in the town centre of Uttoexeter is now being demolished after 140 years on the site.

JCB Chairman Sir Antony Bamford used a 33 tonne JCB JS330XD tracked excavator to begin the process of tearing down the buildings on the site of the former JCB Heavy Products watched by Uttoxeter Town councillors.

The demolition work is set to be completed in June – paving the way for the important town centre site to be redeveloped and enhanced. The site in Pinfold Street was home to JCB Heavy Products until December last year when the business moved to its brand new £40 million production facility next to the A50.

The work is being undertaken by Birmingham-based Armoury Demolition and Recycling Ltd. Established in 1988, Armoury is one of the region’s leading contractors and provides a range of specialist services, including structural demolition and site reclamation for a wide range of clients. The company is currently sending letters to local residents outlining details about the start of the demolition project.

Sir Anthony Bamford said: “Today is the end of an era. My family has been manufacturing on this site for almost 140 years. I remember coming here with my father as a small boy and like many people in the town have fond memories of this factory.

“Today is the end of an historic chapter but more importantly it is the start of a new an exciting era. JCB Heavy Products has, over the years, has become a nuisance to the town as we’ve expanded on this site.

“I’m excited about the future of this area because what is planned for this site will not only remove that nuisance, it will replace it with something that’ll be hugely beneficial to the area. Uttoxeter is very close to my heart because it’s a town my family has been associated with for so long. I’m determined that - in partnership with the local council - the development that replaces this factory will be of the highest quality.

“We were also determined that this site would not be left to fall into dereliction and become an added nuisance to the area which is why I’m delighted we’re here today to start the demolition work.”

Plans for the redevelopment of the 22-acre site are also forging ahead after London-based McDowell + Benedetti Architects was chosen as the winner of a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) design contest to devise the scheme’s final design master plan.

Sir Anthony Bamford instigated the RIBA competition and took a personal involvement in the project to ensure the redevelopment is “of the highest possible standard.”

The Bamford family has links with Uttoxeter stretching back nearly 200 years. Sir Anthony’s family started out in business in the town as blacksmiths in the 1820s. An application for outline planning permission has already been submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council. The Pinfold Street site has been linked to manufacturing from as early as 1871 when the agricultural machinery makers Bamfords opened for business.

Miller launches new Twinlock II Auto Hitch with Flannerys

Miller, the bucket and attachment specialist, has launched its new TwinLock II automatic hitch. The TwinLock II, developed with contractors Flannery, is said to feature revolutionary safety features to ensure that attachments stay on the coupler when required. In the light of new legislation regarding couplers, Miller is leading the way in developing safer sites.

Check out the video here:

Hyundai launches new beast of a shovel

Another step into quarries by HHI

R800-7A FS, Hyundai’s first front shovel excavator

After releasing HL780-7A, a well accepted 30 ton wheel loader at Intermat 2006 and R800LC-7A, an 80 ton backhoe excavator more recently, Hyundai Heavy Industries Europe (HHIE) now reaches out to the quarrying and mining sector again by introducing R800-7A FS, an 86.5 ton Front Shovel crawler excavator.

Based on the R800LC-7A backhoe, this front shovel version can rely on a wide range of extensively tested structures, systems and components. Hyundai’s well-known expertise in excavator manufacturing has been put to use when developing the front attachment of the R800-7A FS. Other than that, HHI engineers succeeded in limiting noise and emission levels notwithstanding a powerful TIER III Cummins QSX15 engine, delivering 497 HP.

As one might expect from any Hyundai machine, R800-7A FS provides the operator with all comfort necessities for a pleasant work experience. The smooth and sensitive hydraulics system delivers precision, while performance and comfort levels can be set to the operator’s preference in the proven Hyundai -7A Series cabin, which, mounted on a riser, provides the operator with a better view on his working area.

Front shovel excavators like R800-7A FS are an ideal for heavy duty work above track level. The particular boom-arm-bucket configuration facilitates the process of excavating and loading material into hauling units, which makes them suitable for use in quarries and open mines. Moreover, a front shovel excavator has the capacity to develop a higher break-out force than a conventional backhoe excavator. Unlike any front shovel excavator, only R800-7A FS brings both operator and owner the pleasure of true Hyundai quality.

Ennstone PLC goes into administration

Ennstone PLC, the quarrying and cement company, has gone into administration.

See here for more details.

Lynch help LEGO model to float down the Thames

Stanmore based Lynch Plant Hire helped out with LEGOLAND WINDSOR's latest attraction a couple of weeks back. Using a Volvo 6 wheeler with PM "HIAB" crane, Lynch were tasked with collecting the Pharaoh from Legoland Windsor and then delivering to a barge at E16 in London.

The 16ft Pharaoh was completing its final journey, having been put together in the Czech Republic and transported 1,395 miles. 200,000 pieces of LEGO make up the model, which weighs one tonne. A team of model makers took five months to complete the Pharaoh model.

The model was loaded onto a barge and then floated up and down the Thames for a promotional stunt to launch the Kingdom of the Pharaohs attraction.

Liebherr goes ditching!

Liebherr Excavator Plays Major Environmental Role

Liebherr-Great Britain has recently supplied another specialist hydraulic excavator to The Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board in Lincolnshire. A new generation R 317 LC Litronic is being used for general dredging duties, as well as drain clearance and weedcutting. This versatile excavator has been supplied with two sets of equipment – a long-reach Multi User boom and stick for weedcutting and de-silting duties and, for general drainage work, an hydraulically adjustable boom with a standard stick. Welland and Deepings’ new excavator replaces an old Liebherr R 900 B originally purchased in 2001, joining three others in the fleet of this long-standing customer. When discussing their requirements with Liebherr, the Board looked at the new generation R 900 C Litronic but decided to opt for the smaller R 317 as the lighter weight and compact dimensions makes for easier transportation to the more remote sites. Additionally, its performance, long and wide tracks and lower centre of gravity makes it very stable with long-reach equipment.

Deeping Fen itself has been transformed from meres and marshland into fertile and well-drained land since Anglo-Saxon times, when medieval man built sea and fen walls to keep out the water. As early as the mid thirteenth century, drainage systems were introduced and, in the early 1800's the area was dependent on 50 windmills to provided the pumping power for drainage, which were converted to steam-driven pumping systems in 1827.

Now, modern methods and machinery continue the maintenance and development of watercourses and their associated banks, whilst placing the environment and ecology of the area to the forefront in all aspects of fen management. Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board is the vanguard in the efficient maintenance of the region, paying particular attention to the sensitive preservation and encouragement of the environmental habitat for many species of flora, fauna and birdlife. The Board maintains over 662kms of water courses within the 35,000ha catchment area from The Wash to Peterborough.

The R 317 LC Litronic hydraulic excavator bought by Welland and Deepings is a 20 tonnes class machine, depending on equipment and configuration, with bucket capacities ranging from 0.28 to 0.85 cubic metres. Powered by a Deutz TCD2013 LOV4 turbo-charged and after-cooled engine to level IIIA/Tier 3 with reduced emissions, the R 317 LC Litronic has power to spare and is rated to 90kW at 1,800RPM. This versatile excavator has been supplied with two sets of equipment – the long-reach Multi User with a 7m gooseneck boom and 5.2m stick for weedcutting and de-silting duties providing an extended reach and digging depth of 12.4m and 8.5m respectively. For general excavating and drainage work, the alternative additional equipment taken by Welland and Deepings consists of a 3.4m hydraulically adjustable boom with a 3.05m stick. Extra hydraulics services have been supplied and fitted for the wide variety of attachments used in this specialist application.

The resiliently-mounted cab is a large dimensioned ergonomic and comfortable work station for the operator, with full instrumentation including Litronic monitor, air-sprung shock-absorbing fully adjustable seat, radio and sound-proofing. Twin joysticks integrated into the seat armrests provide precise travel, slewing and attachment movements for easy and accurate operation.

Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board says that they are delighted their long-standing relationship with Liebherr is continuing and are pleased to report that the new R 317 LC Litronic is performing well in their winter cleansing operations.

Photos now online

Construction and Plant Machinery

SED and Hillhead

Interesting that Hillhead organisers have realised that the economic situation is at a level that will mean that attendance would be low and exhibitors struggling. This hasn't happened with SED's organisers, and one wonders if the money that it brings in is the reason? SED suffers with its location, as did the LAMMA Ag Show this year - Are these shows becoming to big and outgrowing their sites?

SED's problem is no doubt the location at Rockingham, which doesn't lend itself to easy access with poor roads. But, where can it go? This problem will keep occuring until the punters drop into the site by helicopter!

Hillhead will now be on in 2010, as will BAUMA. Is this good for the industry? Some manufacturers may struggle to attend both, but the bed is made - someone has to lie in it now.

CAT Operator Challenge heats Desford, Leicestershire

Had a chance to go along to the CAT Operator Challenge heats at CAT's Desford plant - not to Malaga mind (oh well) - here's the vid I made with some upbeat music.

CAT go down TV route

Caterpillar has launched CAT TV - highlighting their products via the film medium....bit more interesting than looking at pictures and reading text! Great idea to get their ideas across!

Amazing power in this Liebherr

You could say the Germans are mad:

First post

Welcome to my blog, covering the world of plant and construction machinery. I'm a freelance journalist working in the industry for various machinery titles, and have experience in the PR and sales side too with the smaller end of the scale kit.

Always interested in your comments on the industry and how you are affected by the construction downturn at present.