FINNING has revealed it has completed a bespoke installation of an on-site, one-stop hose solution facility at Tillicoultry Quarries, which is expected to reduce downtime and enable proactive repairs and routine maintenance.
The facility was installed at Tillicoultry Quarries’ Northfield site where it will support a fleet of both Cat and non-Cat machines.
Tillicoultry Quarries took delivery of the unit – which was converted from a former shipping container – after working with hydraulics specialists at Finning to develop a solution that provided on-site access to hose and coupling service capabilities and parts. This was led by Finning Hydraulic Services (FHS) engineer Chris Mains.
The workshop is stocked with Cat hose assembly tooling – the only approved solutions for Cat machines but which can support a range of other machinery.
Finning account manager John Gallacher said, “Finning is always looking for ways to bring exceptional value and support to customers and building a dedicated on-site hose facility for Tillicoultry Quarries is a great example of this. Accessibility is a real strong point in this initiative, giving Tillicoultry Quarries the flexibility to carry out work as and when it is needed.
“It has been rewarding to work on creating such an innovative and practical solution and we hope to see great results from the use of the on-site workshop for Tillicoultry Quarries.
“Due to the nature of the industries Cat machines are used in, site locations can often be quite a distance from the nearest dealer. Having the parts and know-how on-site to remedy an issue or fit a new hose makes sense to minimise downtime and keep machine productivity high.
“The ultimate purpose of the on-site facility is to support optimal machine use in a production critical quarry by cutting back on the time needed for hose and coupling work, especially on machines such as hydraulic excavators, and increased uptime will aid site efficiency. All Cat hose and coupling products meet or exceed major industry standards and can be used across different fleets ensuring that standards remain high.”
Robert Hamilton, hard rock production manager from Tillicoultry Quarries, added, “Having the onsite facility should reduce our downtime, enabling us to have the speed of turnaround in our own hands and we expect to see an immediate impact on efficiency. We have had four engineers trained, which should give us cover at all times and allow us to maximise use.”
