Monthly Archives: February 2013
Kubota scales the heights at Glencoe
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Working at heights of up to 3,600 ft on a rugged Scottish mountainside is all in a day's work for a Kubota mini excavator.
The 5 tonne KX161-3 machine is a key member of the maintenance team at the Glencoe Ski-Mountain Resort in Argyll. Set amidst some of the most stunning scenery in Scotland, the centre attracts 30,000 skiers each season.
Normally found working at ground level, the mini has proved to be the ideal tool for a variety of jobs at the ski resort, from trench digging to repairing damage to roads and paths during the off-season.
It's also used to move pieces of heavy equipment around in its buckets, including fetching new electric motors needed for the resort's seven ski lifts and taking the old ones away.
The standard specification machine was supplied by local Kubota dealer, Young Plant Sales, of Doune, Perthshire.
It is equipped with a pin-type manual Quick Hitch for the speedy fitting of three different sized buckets and a ditch cleaner. Like all new Kubota minis, from 1.5 to 8 tonnes, it has the unique 'ANTI-THEFT' security system fitted as standard equipment. This is based on an individually programmed key for each machine, incorporating an immobiliser system, that replaces the former universal starter key.
As the company that operates the ski resort has a policy of being environmentally friendly in everything it does, it chose the rubber track version so as to avoid any damage to the ground's surface.
Said operations manager, Bob Munro: “The Kubota is a handy piece of equipment that's not heavy enough to chew up the mountainside but robust enough for the jobs we need it for.
“As well as being used for a host of general maintenance jobs throughout the year, we plan to put it to work clearing snow this winter. With its excellent stability it has no difficulty in driving up and down the mountainside, and it’s easy to operate.”
Added Brian Young, managing director of Young Plant Sales: “It's pretty unusual for us to supply a machine that spends all its working life on the side of a mountain. We are confident that with its proven reliability the mini will be able to withstand everything that a tough Scottish winter can throw at it.”
Kubota is the world leader in mini excavators and provides the largest range of minis available from a single manufacturer. Customers can select from 18 base models, spanning the weight range from 850 kg to 8-tonnes, and including the widest choice of the increasingly popular zero tail swing machines.
Sales have continued to increase significantly, further boosted by the incorporation of a unique key-based 'ANTI-THEFT' security system – the first and still the only one fitted as standard by a mini excavator manufacturer.
Kubota mini excavators have a legendary reputation for quality, performance, reliability and excellent resale values, together with unbeatable support from a nationwide network of specialist dealers, and their versatility makes them the ideal tool for many different applications and end-users, from civil engineering to landscaping and plant hire companies to owner operators.
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Train to Gain
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From October 2006, new Fire Safety Legislation will require many building owners, managers and facility managers to ensure that any work carried out within their premises must include fire stopping when appropriate. Tradespersons, will find that it will become common practice to prove that they have an extensive knowledge and training on passive fire protection products and systems, as there will be an increasing need for accredited passive fire installers. With legal litigation on the increase many building owners and managers are insisting on detailed written certification of the work carried out by the trades person.
The Nationwide Association of Passive Fire Installers and Specifiers, ‘NAPFIS’ has recently been established to offer an accreditation process to all trades people involved in the construction industry. The NAPFIS Certificate, will ensure that as a carpenter, plumber, electrician or decorator you have an obligation to ensure that a variety of projects are completed to the highest possible fire standards. Examples of essential fire protection, include doors on fire escapes or corridors, which must be upgraded to the recognised standard, pipe-work that pass through fire-walls, and that all light fittings and trunking need to be also fully fire protected. With the risks of injuries and fatalities in a fire and the danger of a possible prosecution by the building owner, many contractors need to show that every effort has been made to minimise the risks and self-certification will become mandatory in the industry.
With a NVQ level 2 certificate and greater knowledge of fire protection, many NAPFIS certificate holders will have an ideal opportunity to increase their earning potential on existing and future projects whilst also learning how passive fire protection systems are installed to fulfil the requirements of the Reform Order and Risk Assessment.
The new Passive Fire Training Centre is located in Dover, Kent, and tradesmen will have an opportunity to experience, hands on demonstrations on the do’s and don’ts of passive fire protection. Early indications are that a number of the training courses are filling up fast, so to avoid any disappointment contact now on 01304 210721.
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Treasury minister calls for pre-Budget representations from the building industry
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A Treasury minister has told a House of Commons select committee that he would consider representations from the building industry that presented a case for tax incentives to encourage the construction of energy-efficient commercial and public buildings.
The representations are required urgently in advance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget, expected sometime during March. The invitation to make submissions came from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, John Healey MP, when he appeared before the Environmental Audit Committee to give the Government’s views on the Stern Report on the Economics of Climate Change.
The minister was responding to an MP’s question on whether the Government’s decision last December to use the stamp duty regime to encourage the building of zero-carbon homes could be followed by tax incentives in respect of commercial and public buildings.
Hambleside Danelaw Ltd, the environment award-winning building products manufacturer, has made submissions on the issue to the select committee and the Stern review. The Group also met Mr Healey last October to discuss the matter. Its proposals focus principally on reshaping the Industrial Buildings Allowance regime to incentivise sustainable development in the non-domestic building sector.
Robin Jeffery, Hambleside’s vice-chairman, said: “It is really encouraging that the select committee took up Hambleside Danelaw’s case for new tax incentives to encourage sustainable development. I urge others in the industry to respond to the minister’s invitation to submit representations in advance of the Budget. Given that non-compliance with the energy efficiency provisions in the Building Regulations remains a huge issue, we need a fresh approach.”
