Executive Hire News › Archives › December 2008 › Executive Report : 2008 Review
Executive Report : 2008 Review
Arc-Gen goes green
Arc-Gen Hilta’s Weldmaker 300AVC won the Green Zone Award at the Executive Hire Show. Voted for by visitors, the welder/generator was recognised for its low emissions, high fuel efficiency and low noise output. Not long after the company’s success, Zone sponsor Speedy Hire placed an order for 63 machines.
Arc-Gen Hilta’s Chief Executive, Mark Hodgkins, says, “We are expanding our presence at this year’s Executive Hire Show and will be showcasing two new additions to the family, namely the 400 and 500 SSD models.”
The company has also announced that A-Plant has bought 125 of its Vertitower lighting towers. Tony Grimshaw, the hirer’s Senior Purchasing Manager, says, “We are very pleased with the Vertitower, particularly its compact size and excellent light output.” The machine’s dimensions enable a larger number to be transported in a single delivery. It has four 1000watt metal halide lamps and incorporates a bi-directional automatic cable reel, which distributes and retracts the electrical cable as the tower is raised or lowered.
01902 790824
www.arc-gen.co.uk
Wacker Neuson consolidates
The middle part of the year saw the consolidation of the Wacker Neuson merger. In the UK, the sales function for Light and Compact equipment, for both machines and parts, is now handled by Wacker Neuson Ltd, based in Waltham Cross. A new corporate livery and logo have been adopted, with yellow and grey now the standard finish for machines in the construction industry.
The manufacturer has continued to develop new products, such as the CRT36, a compact, petrol driven 96cm twin rotor ride-on trowel. In the Compact equipment class, the new VDS digging system has been launched, which enables a mini excavator’s upper assembly to tilt by up to 15%. This allows vertical trenches to be dug on sloping ground, while removing up to 25% less soil.
01992 707200
www.wackerneuson.com
Pop-Up reaches new heights
Pop-Up Products reports that 64% of customers who purchased the original Pop-Up platform have also acquired the 1m taller Pop-Up+ derivative, officially launched last January. It has a 1200 by 700mm footprint and has found a particular niche in the first-fix stages of major construction projects, where more height is needed but users still require a compact platform.
Taking seconds to reach it full 2.5m platform height, the machine’s battery provides more than 200 operations per charge. Like the standard Pop-Up lift, it was designed to meet the requirements of the Work at Height Regulations, with safety features including LED lights to confirm stabiliser set-up.
01244 833111
www.popupplatform.co.uk
Takeuchi prepares for launch
Takeuchi launched its TB235 3.5 tonne mini excavator at SED to supersede the TB235, and the company reports strong interest from hirers. It retains similar operating features and controls so as to be straightforward for users and to give maximum performance with reduced risk of machine damage. Air conditioning has proved a popular option for the machine, which offers more foot room and adjustable armrests and seats. The machine is the first of several new minis, with more scheduled for the New Year, and the latest models are scheduled for launch at the forthcoming Executive Hire Show.
The manufacturer says that its 1.5-tonne TB016 remains its most popular machine amongst tool and equipment hirers, with demand particularly strong from users such as utility contractors. The machine’s extending tracks facilitate work in confined spaces and when digging deep trenches.
01706 657722
www.takeuchi-mfg.co.uk
Two from Timberwolf
Timberwolf is preparing to officially launch two new models, bringing its total range to 18. The TW190TVGTR (turbo diesel engine, variable gradient tracking system) 190mm chipper was previewed at Saltex in September. Full production is anticipated during the first quarter of 2009. The machine’s track system can be operated in three directions - width, height and tilt angle, allowing the operator to work more comfortably and safely on slopes and difficult terrain. The twin cantilever design of the track undercarriage is designed to withstand rugged conditions.
Production of the new the S426TFTR tracked shredder starts next month. Following the success of the road-tow version, Timberwolf quickly realised the potential for an off-road model for construction sites and challenging conditions. Like the TW190TVGTR, it is a ride-on machine, making it particularly suitable for travelling distances associated with scrub clearance work alongside roads and motorways.
01449 765800
www.timberwolf-uk.com
DTAS’ tough performer
DTAS reports dramatic growth for its welded-tip, tungsten carbide Duro Ultra Rippa blade since its launch at the Executive Hire Show in February. Used with a standard petrol saw, it can undertake many tasks for which a diamond blade is unsuitable, such as removing tree roots while still in the ground, work involved in house demolition, removing plastics and metal, and cutting up old tyres. A second generation Rippa will be launched at the 2009 Show.
“When we introduced the Rippa, we knew we had a tiger by the tail,” says Managing Director, Paul Morewood, “yet the huge demand even took us by surprise. Since then, a couple of copycat versions have been introduced, but the original is still the best.”
01909 552470
www.dtas-diamonds.co.uk
Seddons plays its part
Seddons’ Parts Handbook, reviewed in our September issue, produced so much interest from the hire industry that initial demand caused Seddons’ fax and phone lines to gridlock. “The timing of the 1st edition coincided with an increase in hirers wanting to repair existing equipment rather than replace it, in the current market conditions,” says Phil Winnington, Sales & Marketing Director. “We were positive our Handbook would be of value to workshop managers and technicians and this exercise confirmed it. Requests for the Handbook are still coming in on a daily basis from hirers across the UK.”
Helping workshop technicians identify and source parts quickly was the main aim, and Seddons worked closely with its major supplier partners to produce the Handbook. It includes a quick reference guide to fast moving parts numbers, together with exploded diagrams and technical information.
Parts details are provided for products from brands such as Yanmar and Hatz engines, Winget mixers, Belle mini mixers, and components for disc cutters including Stihl’s TS 400 and TS 410, and Husqvarna’s K650 and K750. A specific section covers Honda engines, including the entire GX/GXH150 range and Honda, in association with Seddons and sister company, Brownpower, has just printed a Honda Engine Maintenance Wallchart.
01204 854600
www.seddonplant.co.uk
Euro Towers cleared for success
One of the new products for safer working at height and at the Safety & Health Expo, reviewed in our July issue, was Euro Towers’ Klik High Clearance Unit. “It has been very successful,” says Managing Director Roger Verallo, “proving popular for tasks undertaken by companies ranging from small offices to large London City enterprises and gardening maintenance firms. It is also being used in many airports throughout the world.”
The High Clearance Unit, which is available in 2, 2.5 and 3m lengths, provides an easy way of overcoming ground level obstacles, such as desks or hedges, while still giving safe access to the working platform.
01604 644774
www.eurotowers.co.uk
Ammann offers Cesar system
The launch of Ammann Equipment’s 1740kg ViO 17 zero tail swing mini excavator was reported in our May issue. The latest development from the company is that it is the latest manufacturer to register its new machines with Datatag’s Cesar identification and theft deterrence system.
Ammann Equipment MD, Robert Brown, says “We have watched the growth of Cesar with interest and feel the time is right to offer our customers its significant benefits. As we finance a high proportion of our sales, it makes sense to secure the equipment, and Cesar is now a serious deterrent against theft.”
01789 414525
www.ammann-group.com
Western tanks prove popular
Our July issue gave details of Western Environmental’s TransCube double-walled, double bunded diesel fuel tank, available in 960-3000 litre sizes. It has UN Intermediate Bulk Container approval for road transportation and meets the PPG2 pollution prevention guidelines for storage. The company reports increasing interest in its TransTalk remote fuel management system, which can be fitted to any TransCube. The Standard version automatically sends text message alerts to a mobile phone to warn of low fuel levels, while the Pro model reports to a monitoring web site.
Western also finds that the washer/bowser market is a growth area. Its range includes petrol and diesel engined models with a variety of bowsers from 500- 4400 litres, mounted on skids, or on a site or highway tow chassis. The polyethylene tanks enable storage outside, and models are now fitted with a reel and holder for the hose and lance. Western products will be promoted on the Knott-Avonride stand at the Executive Hire Show in February.
028 9446 6111
Belle’s clean winner
Belle Group says its Belle Clean concrete remover has been purchased by leading national hirers and many independents following its launch at SED. It is available in bulk 19-litre containers and in 650ml bottles for retail. The company also reports success in the hire market with its BHF high frequency pokers. Available in both 110 and 230V versions, they are designed for versatility and ease of maintenance, especially since such products are typically used in tougher working conditions than conventional pokers.
01298 84606
www.belle-group.co.uk
Stihl extends green line-up
At the IOG Saltex exhibition, reviewed in our October issue, Stihl launched several new grass trimmers, leaf blowers and garden vacuums designed for low engine emissions and reduced vibrations. The company has since introduced the BG 66 C-E professional class blower, which has a sound power level of 100dB(A), making it suitable for use in noise sensitive areas.
The manufacturer’s latest leaf blowers and trimmers incorporate a simplified starting system, reducing the start-up procedure from eight steps to four. The operator simply pumps the fuel primer, sets the choke and pull-starts the machine before squeezing the throttle. The engines on the trimmers are designed so as to be virtually impossible to flood.
0800 137574
www.stihl.co.uk
Turner Access stresses safety
Turner Access believes that much current practice concerning scaffold and tower erection exposes workers to the risk of falling, with work processes that rely on harnesses and other mitigation measures. It says that full collective fall prevention, as required by the Work at Height Regulations, can be achieved by using products such as its PlusEight system scaffolding, aluminium towers, and low-level access solutions, which were promoted at the Safety & Health Expo in May.
The company has helped develop products such as the PlusGard advance guardrail, tested to OSHA and European/British Standards,
which has been incorporated into comprehensive erection guidance for PlusEight system scaffolding and aluminium towers. Specialist training is also offered, including courses in fall prevention, using the latest equipment and methods.
0141 309 5555
www.turner-access.co.uk
Compact Digbits machine’s big benefits
Digbits says its compact Bavtrak 025 tracked crusher has proved a big success in its first year. Customers include East Midlands-based Abacus Hire Centre, whose MD Duncan Anderson (pictured, left, with Digbits’ John Clay) says, “Waste management tops the agenda for every builder and contractor and we wanted to get ahead of the game. The main thing that made the 025 stand out was the jaw feed size, which minimises the risk of the machine becoming jammed.”
Digbits Director, Marcus Clay, is keen to raise awareness of recycling in 2009, as a means for hirers to encourage contractors to make cost savings and promote a more sustainable approach to construction: “Next year will be tough for our industry but it is an opportunity for everyone to embrace new ideas, change old habits and emerge in good shape.”
01889 503020
www.digbits.co.uk
Pike develops high-tech traffic light
A runner-up in the Green Zone at the Executive Hire Show in February, Pike Signals’ Tandem Duo has since been developed further. It is smaller and lighter, making it more manoeuvrable and easier to tow. Each half of the unit now has an external fuel filler cap, individual built-in signs baskets, and a sliding battery compartment. The product combines the battery powered, cable-less radio technology with a fuel-efficient bio-diesel compatible engine. Low-consumption LED optics and night-time dimmers extend running time, and an in-built monitoring system ensures the engine automatically starts only when the battery level becomes too low, charging the batteries while powering the lights. The engine automatically stops when the charge is complete, and the machine can operate non-stop for over 30 days.
0121 359 4034
www.pikesignals.com
Hirer’s Hanix gives long service
In April we reported how, to mark its 20th year of trading in the UK, Hanix Europe launched an appeal to find the oldest working Hanix excavator in the country. The eventual winner was an N220 mini manufactured in 1988 and owned and operated from new by EPS Hire Centres in West Yorkshire.
EPS Director, David Fielden, says, “When we bought the 2.2-tonne machine we were operating a skip hire business and it was needed to sort materials in our yard. Many customers were keen to hire it. Over the last four or five years, metal tracked machines have been less welcome on building sites and so the excavator has been on long-term hire to a landfill contractor.” Daveter Rosevere of Hanix comments, “We still offer an excavator in the 2.2 tonne class, the H22B. It has the same advantage of compact size, yet is powerful enough to handle heavy tasks.”
0161 335 2330
www.hanixeurope.com
HSC tackles dust
The Hire Supply Company (HSC) reports that its range of equipment launched at the turn of the year to tackle workplace dust has enjoyed great success. The line-up includes the Enviroboot dust suppression accessory for use with industrial demolition breakers and chipping hammers.
It draws silica dust and other particles into a vacuum chamber. The accessories fit round the tool’s chisel.
HSC has also introduced Dustless Technologies equipment, including the Dustless Wet/Dry vacuum, which has a 30-litre capacity drum and incorporates twin filters, as well as a pre-filter, for optimum collection and easy cleaning. Attachments enable the machine to be connected to angle grinders and other power tools.
0845 309 0707
www.thehiresupplycompany.co.uk |
