|
        
|
|
Executive Report: Profits within proximity Digbits believes that the recycling of construction materials represents a significant market for the hire industry. Alan Guthrie reports from its Rugeley headquarters. Recent statements from the government have shown its intention to ensure the wider adoption of initiatives to reduce the amount of waste dumped into landfill sites. In March, in his last Budget speech as Chancellor before becoming Prime Minister, Gordon Brown announced that the landfill tax would increase by £8 each year until 2011, and that the quarried aggregates levy would be raised in April 2008 from £1.60/tonne to £1.95/tonne. Furthermore, last month, he set out his aim for three million more homes to be built across the country by 2020. This will result in more construction activity at a time when the EU is increasing fines payable by member governments that fail to meet its landfill reduction targets. These are estimated to currently cost £40m/year for the UK, which is passed down to local authorities and could rise to £205m/year in 2013 as tougher targets are envisaged. “A cornerstone of the new approach is the ‘proximity principle’, which states that waste should be managed as close as possible to the point at which it is generated,” states Digbits Director, Marcus Clay. “This means that, if you can recycle on site, then you must. Furthermore, under waste transfer legislation, if builders move materials like waste concrete and brick from their sites, they should have an appropriate licence, even if taking it back to their base for recycling. Such licences will become more strictly regulated. This will inevitably raise demand for on-site recycling equipment, and there is an obvious hire opportunity here. Digbits receives a growing number of enquiries to hire our crushers, which we pass on to hirers who have our machines in their fleets, so we know the potential from first-hand experience.” For work in confined locations, such as back gardens, Digbits manufactures the Bavtrak 009 tracked crusher, launched at the Executive Hire Show in January. It has a 13hp Honda petrol engine or a 10.5hp Hatz diesel power unit. Weighing 950kg and measuring 710mm wide, it can pass through standard doorways. The powerful crushing jaws are derived from the company’s BAV alligator crusher attachments for mini excavators from 0.5 tonne upwards. EHN can reveal that a larger machine is in the final development stages, for sites seeking greater recycling capability. “Weighing in at just under 3 tonnes, our 025 model incorporates patented crushing jaws that can deal with material as tough as industrial grade concrete blocks measuring 76cm by 25cm,” states Marcus Clay. “The hopper gives the optimum feed angle and, in addition to the crushing piston at the bottom of the machine near the conveyor, an upper piston is fitted. Moving in a reciprocal direction to avoid power loss, it begins to break up material and helps the overall flow. Power comes from a Hatz 33hp Silent Pack two-cylinder diesel engine, and we are delighted by the machine’s performance. We have operated it in tandem with a 3.2-tonne mini, and the crusher was dealing with the material faster than the machine could load it.” The 025 could be launched at Interbuild next month. Digbits is also considering an intermediate model that could be towed to site on a trailer, and this should be unveiled at the Executive Hire Show 2008 on 6-7 February. Indeed, manufacturing capacity has been doubled following the June opening of Digbits’ dedicated engineering facility, adjacent to its Rugeley headquarters. “It used to be located in Cannock, so our efficiency is vastly increased,” states Marcus Clay. “We can react to customers’ demands and develop new ideas more easily, and we like to think we are upholding the best traditions of British engineering.” • T
01889
503020 Executive Hire News › Archives › September 2007 › Executive Report › Profits within proximity
|
