Construction Plant News visits a company that’s forming an attachment to Hill Engineering technology
There are some contractors that have wholeheartedly embraced the idea of plant ownership rather than hire and Ford Civil Engineering is among them. One of the newest additions to the Dorset-based contractors already extensive fleet – a five-tonne Takeuchi TB250-2 equipped with a Hill Engineering Tefra Hydraulic Coupler – is making light work of its extensive range of duties at a CG Fry development in Weymouth. Supplied by the Takeuchi and Hill Engineering dealer, CBL it’s the first Tefra/mini excavator combination that Ford Civil Engineering has invested in and has proven an immediate hit with operators.
The new machine joins Ford Civil Engineering’s considerable plant presence at the Dorset house build, including two further five tonne and one 1.6 tonne Takeuchi TB216, as well as a 13tonne Kobelco and a Hitachi in the same weight class. Added to that are a range of site dumpers also suppled by CBL, including two 9 tonne, two 6 tonne and one 3 tonne Thwaites machines. Ford Civil Engineering prides itself on scrupulously maintaining and servicing its equipment, with a young fleet that exhibits all the latest technologies.
The Weymouth site will ultimately consist of 292 high quality homes that will enjoy a beautiful rural backdrop. The Ford Civil Engineering team are undertaking all of the groundworks – including footings, drainage, utilities, and landscaping. The 5-tonne machine is a versatile unit that will be undertaking everything from digging service trenches to grading and levelling – a range of work that demands a quick and reliable tool change, and that’s where the Hill Engineering Tefra comes into its own.
First launched in 2012, the Tefra has since established itself as the industry’s leading hydraulic coupler for excavators from 2 – 120 tonnes, with a dedicated mini excavator solution for machines under 10tonnes. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication when it comes to attachments and, with only three moving parts, there’s very little about the Tefra that can actually go wrong, virtually guaranteeing an extended operational life.
Most importantly, it’s the unique double locking design that helps the Tefra exceed the demands of the ISO 13031 global safety standard. The cast steel front and rear hooks are powered by a single cylinder, which works in tandem with a solenoid valve to securely lock the attachment in place, with immediate front pin capture ensuring attachment retention.
The second part of that two-stage locking system is known as Hill APS (Active Protection System) consisting of two separate powerful springs that apply pressure to the hooks to ensure the attachment is secure, with a single leaf spring applying pressure to the front hook and a coil spring on the hydraulic cylinder ensuring the rear hook stays in place. A reverse hose system also reduces the risk of damage and resulting downtime. In addition, the cast steel frames, provide maximum strength and minimum weight, which is crucially important when installing a coupler onto smaller machines.
CBL services the whole of the south of England and south Wales from seven strategically located depots – with its Welsh facility located in Bridgend. In addition to Takeuchi and Hill Engineering, other premium brands on its books include Bomag, Atlas Copco, Epiroc, Thwaites and Messersi tracked dumpers. Ford Civil Engineering has been a long-standing customer, particularly for Takeuchi machines. “All of the Japanese manufacturer’s excavators from 3tonne are now supplied with the fitting kit for a Hill Engineering quick hitch”, explains Richard Sturgess, CBL’s Sales Director. “It’s plug and play, easy to operate and, as system, it can’t be faulted for safety, so we get very good feedback from end users. The best way to sum it up is that we never have any complaints about a Hill hitch.”
