To tackle increasingly demanding earthmoving projects, Chandos Civil Engineering has brought the JCB 370X tracked excavator – the largest and most powerful machine in JCB’s X Series range – into its fleet.
“The 370X is a game-changer for our lifting capabilities, especially as water attenuation tanks and larger culverts are becoming more common,” says Danny Molloy, civil engineering director and co-owner at Chandos.
“Culverts for handling larger volumes of water are also now a regular aspect of our work. With their sizes increasing, so does their weight and the 370X beats previous machines hands down for lifting capabilities.”
Powered by a Stage V compliant 8.9-litre, Cummins engine, it boasts a 14% power increase over the outgoing JCB JS370, with 240kW (322hp) available at just 1,700rpm. The engine delivers this maximum power within a reduced operating rev range, to increase fuel economy and reduce overall noise levels.
The new addition has already earned praise from Chandos operator Simon Finch. “I’ve got masses of room around me and I don’t feel claustrophobic as in some other machines. The controls are smooth and precise, and there is so much movement on the sticks and seat, you are able to get the right operating position with ease,” he says.
“Fuel efficiency is impressive too. We are currently using around 20 litres per hour. That’s well down on any other 40-tonne machine I have operated.”
Supplied by Gunn JCB, the excavator joins 85 other JCB machines in the Chandos fleet, which includes tracked excavators and cabbed site dumpers.
