Plantworx 2015

Plantworx is billed as "The UK's dedicated working construction exhibition" and it certainly lived up to it's billing. The event which is held once every two years hosts an array of live exhibits from the biggest names from the world of plant machinery. Not only could you see what's new, you could also try out a large array of machines in live demonstration plots.

Below are some of my highlights from this year's Plantworx.

Komatsu impressed the crowds with it's PC210 LCi paired with Komatsu's unique intelligent Machine Control. Here the operator was demonstrating the machine's automatic real time digging control, which allows the operator to set the dig depth.

Once the depth has been programmed, the machine will not allow the operator to dig below that depth. Komatsu claim that this system "improves site safety" and "drastically improves efficiency"




Wacker Neuson had on display innovative solutions for working on difficult terrain. The 50Z32 excavator shown below was displaying their vertical digging System (VDS) which enables tilting of the superstructure by up to 15° which in turn can compensate for slopes up to 27%.

Another piece of equipment that caught my attention was the  RTSC3 smart remote-controlled vibratory trench roller. This little machine is ideal for "the compaction of excavations and sub bases of foundations"




Speaking of little machines, the Giant SK251D on display is surely one of the smallest loaders you can buy. What the SK251D lacks in creature comforts and size it more than makes up for in versatility. On display were an number of attachments which make their range of small loaders incredibly useful and versatile pieces of kit. 



Amongst the larger machinery on display were the new Hyundai HL960 and HL970 range of wheel loaders, with the new 18 tonne HL960 making it's world debut. The new loader is powered by a Stage IV 168 kW Cummins QSB6.7 engine, has a new cabin and comes complete with a new electro-hydraulic joystick which replaces the hydraulic joystick fitted to previous loaders



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Re-blog: Improving links between North West England and North Wales

Image
A version of this article was published in Rail Magazine in December 2021 As someone who lives on the Wirral and frequently travels to North Wales via the A494 through Queensferry, and has been a committee member of the Wrexham-Bidston Rail User's Association for a number of years, I'm well aware of current poor transport connections between North West England and North Wales. The bridge which carries the A494 over the River Dee and on to the A55 was used by 60,000 vehicles a day before the Pandemic. So, knowing how busy the A494 can get, particularly during school holidays and on Fridays before bank holidays when people flock to North Wales, I supported a proposal to build a new link road from the A548 Flintshire bridge to the A55, a proposal known as the " Red Route ". You may be wondering what if anything roads have to do with railways? Well, recently my support for the " Red Route " has started to wane, especially as awareness of the climate emergency ...
Read more

End of the line nearing for Merseyrail's 508s and 507s

Image
On Sunday 16th of August, a pair of Merseyrail class 508s left Birkenhead North depot for the last time. The units were hauled by a class 57 operated by Rail Operations Group over the Wrexham-Bidston line, then on to Craven Arms, there they would remain overnight before being taken to Newport docks, where they are to be scrapped. The scrapping of Merseyrail's fleet of class 508 and 507 units has been on the cards for some time, as they are to be replaced by new class 777 units built by Stadler. However, 110 and 134 have been retired much earlier than their classmates and months before the expected introduction of the first class 777. It appears 110 and 134 had reached their mileage limit and were in need of an overhaul, therefore with new units on the way it wasn't deemed cost-effective to keep them in service. Space at Metseyrail's Birkenhead North and Kirkdale depots will also start to become limited as more class 777s arrive. 6 have arrived so far and are being stabled ...
Read more

Western Link HVDC project

Image
The Western Link HVDC ( High Voltage Direct Current ) project is a joint venture between National Grid and Scottish Power to create a High Voltage electricity transmission link between Scotland, England and Wales. The link is required in order to increase transmission capacity between Scotland, England and Wales. The link will transmit power from renewable sources in Scotland to Deeside in North Wales, from where it can be distributed via high voltage overhead wires. This £1bn project involves laying a 385km long High Voltage Direct Current cable under the sea between Scotland and the Wirral in the North West of England. Construction of the Western Link is being carried out by a consortium of Siemens and Prysmian In Scotland the subsea cable will be connected to a converter station under construction at Hunterston on the Western coast. This is where alternating current will be converted to direct current for transmission along the subsea cable. From Ardneil Bay in ...
Read more