Zero Tailswing excavators from New Holland are working on a motorway project in Northern England
Zero tailswing excavators from 5895 New Holland are part of a plant deal won by civil engineering contractor 1147 K Rouse with 1146 Balfour Beatty.
The machines, 11 E135BSRs and two smaller models, the E80 and E50, are being used on a section of the M621 motorway near the city of Leeds, northern England, to remove existing metal crash barriers and install improved drainage prior to the erection of a new concrete central reservation.
According to Jim McGibbon, plant manager at Leeds, County Yorkshire-based K Rouse, use of the E135BSRs was Balfour Beatty's preferred option.
"They are the only size of machine that will physically fit in the space available on a live motorway," he explained.
Operating weight of the E135BSR is 14.7tonnes, and it has maximum power of 74kW with a maximum digging depth of 5.29m The alternative of using an even greater number of smaller machines is ruled out by the demanding nature of the work itself. The existing road surface has to be removed along with the concrete sub-base.
"The concrete is some 76cm thick. We saw a line along either side, then use a pulveriser to break up the middle. Then we excavate a bit further before putting the drainage in and backfilling.
"We have only a short amount of time to get the work done hence the large number of excavators we have got on the go," said McGibbon.
To add to the ability of the machines to work efficiently in such a confined and potentially dangerous environment, the company has also agreed with Balfour Beatty to test two Tiltrotators from Swedish manufacturer705 Engcon. The versatile hydraulic wrists, now almost universal in Scandinavia, allow operators to accomplish more tasks from one position, reducing the number of times the machine has had to relocate.
"That means there is less risk to people working nearby and to passing traffic," explained Sten Stromgren, Engcon marketing director.
Other modifications to speed up the work and reduce upheaval include the use of rubber blocks mounted over standard steel tracks on two machines. This means work can be carried out on both sides of the trench, including on the lane not scheduled to be resurfaced when the job is finished, without damaging it." K Rouse also operates as the New Holland dealer for Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, operating under the business name of European Plant Services.
The machines, 11 E135BSRs and two smaller models, the E80 and E50, are being used on a section of the M621 motorway near the city of Leeds, northern England, to remove existing metal crash barriers and install improved drainage prior to the erection of a new concrete central reservation.
According to Jim McGibbon, plant manager at Leeds, County Yorkshire-based K Rouse, use of the E135BSRs was Balfour Beatty's preferred option.
"They are the only size of machine that will physically fit in the space available on a live motorway," he explained.
Operating weight of the E135BSR is 14.7tonnes, and it has maximum power of 74kW with a maximum digging depth of 5.29m The alternative of using an even greater number of smaller machines is ruled out by the demanding nature of the work itself. The existing road surface has to be removed along with the concrete sub-base.
"The concrete is some 76cm thick. We saw a line along either side, then use a pulveriser to break up the middle. Then we excavate a bit further before putting the drainage in and backfilling.
"We have only a short amount of time to get the work done hence the large number of excavators we have got on the go," said McGibbon.
To add to the ability of the machines to work efficiently in such a confined and potentially dangerous environment, the company has also agreed with Balfour Beatty to test two Tiltrotators from Swedish manufacturer
"That means there is less risk to people working nearby and to passing traffic," explained Sten Stromgren, Engcon marketing director.
Other modifications to speed up the work and reduce upheaval include the use of rubber blocks mounted over standard steel tracks on two machines. This means work can be carried out on both sides of the trench, including on the lane not scheduled to be resurfaced when the job is finished, without damaging it." K Rouse also operates as the New Holland dealer for Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, operating under the business name of European Plant Services.
