It is difficult to imagine improving the incredible views over Lake Windermere, in Cumbria’s Lake District. Yet Kendal-based groundworks contractor Andrew Harvey does just that, providing a range of groundworks services, hard and soft landscaping, external works and construction up to DPC, for many customers in the area.
The company completes that work with a range of compact machines, including its latest recruits, a 2.5-tonne CASE CX25D and a 9.0-tonne CX90D, both supplied by local CASE construction equipment dealer Dennis Barnfield of Carnforth. The CASE mini and midi excavators are equipped with Engcon tiltrotators and the company has a Digitec iDig 2D machine guidance system, that can be used with either model, to maximise versatility and productivity on site.
Both excavators have been built to the company’s own specification, with additional counterweight on the smaller CX25D to offset the weight of the tiltrotator. The CX90D is equipped with rubber bolt-on track pads, allowing the machine to work on finished driveways. Both machines have extra LED lighting, on top of that supplied by Dennis Barnfield to all CASE excavators, for maximum visibility in poor weather and light conditions.
In addition, the firm has had the side and rear glazing tinted, to prevent glare in the cab on sunny days. This modification has proven so popular with other businesses in the area, that Dennis Barnfield has already been asked if it can provide a similar specification. The CX90D offers the perfect combination of size, power and reach for Harvey’s mainly residential contracts. Having the main boom mounted in front of the upper structure, with an offset facility, also makes the CX90D suitable for tighter working and, when combined with the tiltrotator, it is possible to operate a cross a wider envelope around the machine, rather than relocate on the tracks.
“The 9.0-tonne machine has bags of reach and it’s really stable,” said Harvey. “We can lift a full pack of blocks over the side on pallet forks, even with the Engcon tilt-rotator. It’s got the dozer blade as well, which makes it perfect for us.”
