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Exhibitor Profile: Digbits Expansion on Trak A significantly increased design and manufacturing capability is enabling Digbits to broaden its product portfolio. Alan Guthrie reports from its Staffordshire headquarters. While many bemoan the decline of British engineering expertise, Digbits is certainly doing its best to redress the balance. Established in Cannock in 1990 to specialise in the supply of wear parts for mini excavators, its range has subsequently grown to include rubber tracks and buckets, as well as specialist attachments designed by Directors Marcus Clay and his father, John. Expansion necessitated a move to larger premises in Rugeley in 2003, but the lease on a building at Cannock was retained as an interim fabrication plant. “However, in August 2005 we seized an opportunity to recruit several highly skilled engineering staff previously employed by one of our sub-contractors, effectively giving us a ready-made, specialist design team much earlier than we had anticipated in our development plans,” states Marcus Clay. “Initially based at Cannock, they will very shortly transfer to a new building on the same site as our Rugeley headquarters. This will enhance efficiency and enable us to develop more new products. We are investing substantially in additional CAD (computer aided design) facilities.” Overseeing the design team is Paul Wise, Digbits’ General Manager, Manufacturing. “Now being able to design and manufacture in-house makes us less reliant on outside suppliers and means we can maintain strict quality control. We can also examine processes and improve them: the cost of implementing any changes to components is usually small if done at the early stages. In many cases we have been able to quickly modify attachments to meet a customer’s specific requirements, and because our design and manufacturing will be fully integrated at Rugeley, new ideas can be explored easily.” The design team’s latest introduction is the Bavtrak 009 tracked crusher. EHN was able to see the very first machine off the production line, and its first public viewing will be at the Executive Hire Show. “Derived from our popular Bavtrak Micro, which has a 6hp Mitsubishi petrol engine, it features a Honda 13hp power unit, in response to requests from hirers. It will also be offered with a 10.5hp Hatz diesel engine,” states Marcus Clay. “Both still weigh less than 1 tonne and, measuring 711mm wide, will pass through a standard doorway. Hydrostatic drive is also incorporated for simpler operation. Like the Micro, which will remain in production, the Bavtrak 009 is designed so that it can be filled to capacity before being set into action. Also, the larger engines give greater jaw speed and increased pressure for better crushing performance.” Digbits reports that its mini excavator attachments remain popular. “2006 was our best year yet for sales of our BAV alligator crushers, of all sizes. We see massive potential for the Micro version for minis of 0.5-1 tonne with dual flow hydraulics, not only from a recycling perspective but also with regard to reducing manual handling risks. It will actually be featured on television, in programme six of Sky One’s Crash Test Dummies, scheduled for transmission at the end of this month. Demand is also strong for our Boom Broom brush attachment, multi-screen buckets that can sieve materials on site, block and kerb grabs and augers. In fact, these products represent a great profit opportunity for hirers; if they pro-actively market the diverse applications that a mini plus an attachment can undertake, they can really increase utilisation.” Meanwhile, thanks to Digbits’ enhanced design and manufacturing operation, product development continues apace. Future planned launches range from the Bavtrak 025, a 2.5-tonne model for larger sites, up to the mighty BAV6 alligator crusher attachment, which will weigh in at 3.5 tonne and be suitable for 30-50 tonne excavators. Such diversity shows the company’s flexibility, and its eagerness to meet market needs. • T
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503020 Executive Hire News › Archives › Jan/Feb 2007 › Exhibitor Profile: Digbits › Expansion on Trak
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