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.

Ground improvements including a deep cut off trench to prevent the movement of contaminated groundwater are underway.  The excavation depth for the bentonite slurry wall will be up to 21m and the 95 tonne long reach is demonstrating higher levels of productivity than alternative clamshell digging grabs.  Rock teeth have been fitted to penetrate the hard mudstone some 18m below ground level.

Works are ongoing to install deep leachate drains on a landfill site at depths up to 14m. The 45 tonne CAT 330 long reach is being used to excavate the drains through the compacted fill and place the drainage runs. Modifications to the machine have been made to satisfy safety and environmental constraints and minimise downtime.

April 2009

Worcestershire County Council are using rock armour to protect the historic Ham Bridge from the scour of the River Teme. Working for Scour Protection, WM Plant Hire have provided a 13 tonne long reach machine to place the rock from the deck of the bridge. Coordinated by a banksman and diver in the water, the works have successfully been completed safely and on time.

Improvements to the berthing facilities at the Port of Southampton are posing a real challenge, with the heavy duty CAT 375 needed to remove a concrete slab with an underwater breaker. Lumps of concrete weighing up to 12 tonnes are no match for this machine, which have been lifted using a rock bucket from around 19m depth, to clear the channel of obstructions. Fitted with an electronic dig system linked to a tide gauge, the grading operation to achieve the finished bed level is being controlled to a high degree of accuracy.

Deep Digging - A new Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) is under construction at Newhaven with a deep shaft forming part of the processing plant. In its tidal location, a diaphragm wall was constructed and the excavated material was to be treated prior to disposal. With a high level of groundwater, the excavation had to be carried out underwater using a pole grab and clamshell bucket attached to the 60 tonne CAT 345. With the grab full of material weighing over 7 tonnes, the material was excavated to a depth around 22m.

January 2009

A landslip on the Wolverley Canal prompted swift action by British Waterways to remove the obstruction from the water and re-grade the embankment. Working with local tree specialists, the 20 tonne CASE 210 with 15m reach was used to reach down the slope, remove the slip material and assist in clearing the felled trees. Filled with biodegradable oils, the EA requirements were satisfied and safe passage for boat traffic returned.