BREEDON Group has invested in its first Cat 395 excavator in a bid to improve productivity at its cement plant.
The digger was supplied to the quarry operator by Finning UK & Ireland and will be used with Sleipner E90 dollies from Sleipner Finland, a specialist in heavy tracked machinery transport.
Breedon’s Hope Cement plant in Derbyshire is the largest in the UK, and in conjunction with its Kinnegad plant in Ireland has a total capacity of more than two million tonnes.
Tim Palmer, quarries development manager at Breedon, said, “Straight away we could see that the Cat 395 was a true powerhouse of a machine. We were impressed with the higher capacity regarding bucket size, which for us means greater payloads and faster material movement.
“Durability and productivity are also key to our investment in the Cat 395. The reinforced booms, sticks and frames on this machine go a long way in ensuring reliable performance in very demanding conditions. It is also a highly productive machine thanks to increased swing torque and stick force, which enable faster cycle times and improve material handling.”
The Cat 395 excavator is a 95-tonne tracked machine – the largest in the Caterpillar Next Generation lineup.
Dean Turner, corporate account manager – mineral products, at Finning, added, “Finning was thrilled to be able to work with Sleipner on this impressive machine for our long-standing customer Breedon. Sleipner are the experts in transport systems that reduce track wear, fuel consumption and downtime for heavy machinery and we knew this was going to be a vital asset to Breedon to ensure this impressive machine runs at peak performance whilst on site.
“We arranged to have the machine delivered to Breedon to use alongside the Sleipner dollies. The machine was transported on both new and rebuilt Cat 775G off-highway trucks that were on site at Hope Quarry. These are impressive and fuel-efficient machines that supported the overall sustainability approach.
“The Cat 775G trucks are part of Hope Cement Works Quarry rebuild programme. The fourth truck is currently going through our Chesterfield workshop facility, undergoing a Cat Certified Powertrain and Hydraulic Rebuild. This programme underlines the company’s commitment to building a circular economy and highlights the ability of Cat machines to be rebuilt as-new, complete with five-year powertrain/hydraulic warranty.
“The delivery of the machine and Sleipner dollies truly marked a collaborative effort between Finning, Sleipner and Breedon. We are thrilled to have supported Breedon in the acquisition of this machine that will go on to enhance their operations for many years to come.”
