As demand for high-speed broadband in rural areas of Ireland has increased, so too has the company’s workload, necessitating specialised machinery equipped with dedicated attachments to complete this niche work.
For the sibling duo this had to be a pair of JCB Hydradig 110W wheeled excavators specified with tree shears on tilt-rotators which are proving to be the perfect combination for their unique requirements.
Used and approved
With a decade of experience in the industry Colin and Garry have used an array of machinery in order to find what best suits this difficult work, beginning with a tractor-mounted circular saw, but felt that a more specialised machine was out there, and in the words of John Garry: “We kept coming back to the idea of a JCB Hydradig.”
For this reason, they decided to explore the possibility of a used machine to ascertain whether it would work for them when equipped with the tilt-rotator they felt would make it the perfect machine for their needs. And it turns out they were right.
As John Garry said: “When looking for the ideal host for a tree shear to complete line clearance, the JCB Hydradig was clearly the only option open to us due to its unique design. It seemed to tick all the boxes for us, as a compact machine that would still have worthwhile working capability.
“For the Hydradig to work on line clearance, a tilt-rotator is a must. When placing the shear on tree limbs, it must be able to adapt to any angle or position, ensuring there is no damage to the cables, even though the trees and branches are growing up through them. From our rail work in the past, we are familiar with the benefits of tilt-rotators and this is just another application where they make a challenging task so much more manageable."
So happy were the brothers with their initial machine, that they decided to invest in a second, and they have not looked back. As John attests: “We are very happy with how the machines are serving us and have not regretted our decision to run these used JCB Hydradigs on our line clearance work.”
Dozer blade and stabilisers are optional on both the front and rear of the Hydradig. Superior stability allows the machine to be fitted with an extensive range of attachments to tackle a multitude of jobs. 4-wheel steer, 2-wheel steer and crab steer as standard makes manoeuvring in confined spaces around a site safe and easy and driving over tough terrains is trouble-free.
Unrivalled safety
Given that the majority of Banner Contractors’ line clearance works takes place on the edge of public roads in live traffic, safety is paramount – so too is machinery which makes the job easier and safer and minimises the disturbance to passing motorists.
The Hydradig 110W boasts best in class all-round unobstructed visibility. Low level glass allows the operator to see all four wheels plus a 1m radius around the machine at ground level from the cab. With a tailswing of just 120mm, best-in-class over-the-side stability when lifting and a turning radius of under 4m means the Hydradig can work in confined spaces and is ideal for roadworks.