Long reach specialists Long reach excavators UK

New machine for 2009
capable of 25m reach!

Shaft excavation
over 20m in depth !

View Latest News

Dedicated only to long reach solutions, WM Plant Hire operates one of the largest fleet of long reach excavators in the UK to suit a wide range of applications.

From 10 to 29 metre reach, our plant ranges from 8 to over 100 tonnes for light to heavy duty demands of land and water based operations. For certain applications, up to 30 metre reach can be achieved.

We are happy to consult with our Customers to ensure that we specify the right machine, using our expertise to assist in the safe and effective delivery of the work operations.

Our typical long reach applications:
Marine Dredging – Coastal Defences – Harbour and Marine Construction –
Land Remediation – Ground Reclamation – Slope Stabilisation – Deep Trenching – Slurry Walling – Quarrying – Lagoon Clearance – Lake Dredging -
Specialist Backfill Operations


	December 2009 As part of the environmental improvements at Cavendish Dock, a new footway and cycle path is to be constructed around the dock basin. The 60 tonne long reach machine is being used to place rock armour and stone infill across a part of the dock for the new access road to be built. A heavy duty rock grapple is being used to place rocks over 3 tonnes in weight at a radius of 20 metres.


	November 2009 The development of Salford Quays includes the construction of the new ‘Media Bridge’ where specialist marine contractor, Commercial Marine & Piling, have to install a cofferdam and the bridge pier foundations. The 45 tonne CAT 330 with 22m reach is excavating underwater down to the bedrock material. Concrete will then be placed inside the caisson as a base layer for the bridge piers.


	View the news article from Contract Journal here

October 2009

The 60 tonne CAT 345 has been working on the high profile Tyne Tunnel project, excavating between the supporting props on the south approach. Whilst other machines were rehandling material at the base of the excavation, the long reach used its digging power to excavate the hard material down to around 15m depth. For high rates of production this was fitted with a bucket capacity in excess of 1.5m3 achieving over 200 tonnes per hour.

September 2009

WM Plant Hire used their 65 tonne excavator on the construction of a stormwater outfall in Fife as part of a large investment by Scottish Water. Mounted on a jack up pontoon the machine had to excavate the trench underwater through sandstone rock and place the rock armour scour protection. The pipes were lifted in and placed on a precast concrete matting. An electronic dig system and rock grapple were used to successfully complete the works.


	August 2009 The need to use a heavy duty rock drilling mast to stabilise a rail embankment required the CAT 345 with heavy lifting capability on this rail project near Tamworth. With 20m outreach the rig was able to drill soil nails to depths in excess of 15 metres which greatly increased the rate of productivity.


	July 2009 Following a landslip on a key route in mid Wales, a machine with over 25m reach was required to drill rock anchors into the underlying material. Working with Rock Engineering, the drilling mast was fitted to the long reach excavator and the anchors installed safely using roped access operatives.