A Komatsu HB365LC Hybrid excavator is among a range of machines that have been impressing on Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK’s build of the 15-turbine Benbrack Onshore Wind Farm in Dumfries and Galloway.
The contractor has been putting its extensive plant fleet to the test on the challenging Red Rock Power project this year. The civil engineering specialists were founded in the 1950s and made the decision from the outset to have all its plant machinery in-house. Jones Bros’ growth over the years has meant that it now privately owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK, with over 500 individual pieces of kit to call upon.
The first concrete pour for the turbine foundations was made the day prior to our visit, with project manager Jonathan Maitland and foreman Gareth Davies explaining this was a significant milestone for the project. Utilising its onsite concrete batching plant, the principal contractor’s team took just eight hours to complete the 290m3 pour, using six concrete trucks.
Having such a large inventory of equipment has allowed the company to progress projects quickly.
“We’ve got a resource calendar and a lot of effort goes into it to ensure we have the plant when we need it,” Jonathan told Project Plant. There are currently over 50 live Jones Bros developments taking place on sites across the UK, with Jonathan continuing, “We know where the plant is and when it’s going to finish, so it can be allocated to the next job. It’s a lot of effort to maintain that calendar, but it works well. Stuart Bates (plant manager) and Elfyn Dafydd (senior works manager) do a great job at collaborating and getting the plant to us when we need it.”
Having just secured the contract for the 49-turbine North Kyle Wind Farm, located a short drive from Benbrack, Jones Bros is already beginning to schedule equipment on the Benbrack project to be transferred over to the Brockwell Energy site.
“Because North Kyle is just around the corner, they’ll utilise a lot of the plant from Benbrack as we’re winding works down,” Jonathan explained.
The business is on course to have concrete batching plants moved across to North Kyle in time for pouring in mid-October. Jonathan added, “With the close proximity of these two sites we have been able to share some of the resource as well as equipment to ensure both programmes are being fulfilled without delay.”
Komatsu has predominantly been the manufacturer of choice for Jones Bros over the past few years when it comes to general plant and machinery, while the firm turns to Volvo for dumpers. Foreman on the Benbrack project, Gareth, paid tribute to the two brands.
He revealed that Volvo dump trucks were among his first three picks for plant on site, with the kit playing a major part in the creation of the roads and foundations. The Komatsu PC490/LC-11 excavator was another pick, due to its ability to handle hard rock alongside the PC210/LC/NLC-11, which he described as ‘one of the best machines’ on site as it is very versatile and can handle most tasks.
Currently trialling the Komatsu HB365LC Hybrid on the project, Gareth, who started his career at Jones Bros operating plant in 2002, said he hopes to see more hybrid machinery brought in, after being impressed with both the fuel economy and general performance on site.
The digger is designed to significantly reduce carbon footprint. It has an electric swing motor that captures and regenerates energy as the upper structure slows down, converting this energy into electricity. The captured electricity is stored in the ultra-capacitor to be used by the motor to assist the engine when acceleration is required.
Featuring six working modes, Jones Bros can choose from power, lifting, breaker, economy, attachment power, and attachment economy whilst using the machine to match the power with the work at hand. Boasting ‘ultra-low’ external and internal noise levels, the machine is also said to offer enhanced comfort for the operator.
Also being trialled to great success on site is the Prolec PME100MH height restrictor, which is being utilised on the PC210/LC/NLC-11 excavator. The attachment prevents the boom from going above a designated height.
“It offers great peace of mind,” Gareth explained, before telling us how overhead cables on site present a risk to the machine operator, so this attachment was an excellent control measure implemented by the site team. “It’s a great piece of kit that can be utilised on various machines, with a beacon showing when it’s operating.”
Jonathan added that Jones Bros is continually investing in new technologies that improve performance and productivity, which in turn allows the business to remain competitive.
Branching out to new innovations enables the firm to build up an inventory that it can utilise on a number of different projects.
Due to the site conditions at Benbrack, the contractor had to bring in larger plant than it normally would, in order to create the roads and foundations. A PC490/LC-11 was utilised to excavate rock in conjunction with a drilling and blasting regime that required the constant use of an Atlas Copco Epiroc D55 FlexiROC Rock Drill just to allow the works to progress.
The general conditions at Benbrack can’t be underestimated. Project Plant’s site visit was blighted by torrential rain and Gareth revealed that challenging weather was experienced for around three months after Christmas prior to a five-week spell of sunshine.
“It can be very difficult and trying at times,” he added. “However, being able to look at the finished project that has been constructed to a high standard is something the whole team can be proud of.”
With skills shortages in the industry rife, Jones Bros is committed to helping attract the future workforce.
With this in mind, the team recently visited Dalmellington Primary School with a VR headset loaded with plant simulators.
Jonathan, who began his career at Jones Bros 10 years ago, said, “The VR lets them feel as if they’re driving a machine allowing them to see what handling an excavator would be like.
“The team spoke to the school children about the opportunities out there, especially in this area with the future developments that are planned.”
Gareth concluded, “The construction sector is growing every year and there are far more opportunities to work and develop now compared to what there used to be.
“Leaving school now, it should definitely be an industry people consider working in.”
