24
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER2014
d
&
ri
COMPACT
EQUIPMENT
D&Ri
reports on some
of the latest additions to
manufacturers’ ranges
of compact construction
equipment to be found on
today’s demolition sites
A
rguably, skid steer andother forms of
compact loaders are themost popular
type of small size construction
equipment tobe found in actionon today’s
sites, workingboth in andout of doors,
invariablymoving and/or processing the
waste that arises from site activities.
A trendhas been identified suggesting that
the compact tracked loader (CTL) is finding
favour in someEuropean countries, adding to
the options that are available. JohnChattaway,
Bobcat’s productmanager for compact
loaders in theEurope,MiddleEast andAfrica
(EMEA) region, said that although theCTL
conceptwas not new, it had started to expand
thenormal compact loader customer base in
someEuropean countries and industries.
He said, “TheCTL is now replacing
wheeled loaders in some applications and
openingupnew applications for others.
Although thedifferent rates of economic
recoverymake themarket expansion
inconsistent, the trend is clear enough tobe
able to identify. From theCTL industrypeak
in2007, theEuropeanmarket recoveryhas
been slow as the southernmainstaymarkets
continue tobedepressed.”
He added that customers nowadaysmore
clearlyunderstood theCTL’s advantages over
different types ofwheeled loaders.
“This includes how theCTLs offset the
initial higher purchaseprice andmarginally
increasedmaintenance costs. Additionally, the
reduceddowntimebynot havingpunctures,
and the cost savings associatedwithnot
needing tokeep sparewheels in stock, is
appealing to rental suppliers and contractors
alike,” said John.
He explained that theCTL’s basic benefits
of high flotation allowedwork to continue
onpoor ground and inbadweather. “This is
now also joinedby theunderstanding that the
high flotation allowswork in applications that
require less grounddisturbance anddamage
– for example, landscapingor cleanup at the
endof aproject.”
John said that contractors realised that
theCTL couldbeoneof the firstmachines
on site thatwas able to access difficult areas,
andmovematerials and equipment “with
impressiveperformance capacity”.
He added, “Then, after themulti-purpose
CTL continues towork evenduringpoor
weather, it canbe the lastmachineon the site
performing cleanup and repairwhere larger
orwheeledproducts arenot allowed togo
UK company ISMWaste Services andRecycling
ltd has acquired a Volvo EC55C compact excavator
that it is using to re-handle industrial, commercial,
domestic and special waste at its Ramsbottom,
GreaterManchester, facility. Equippedwith a Pro
DemPSG400 selector grab, the EC55C’s primary
duties are to pick and sort a variety of themore
diversematerials such as plastics, polythene, wood
and cardboard from the receiving bays to aid better
wholesale recycling on the picking line.
Loading times
The 760i is the biggest, fastest andmost
powerful loader in the Avant range
