Finning help drive fuel costs down for FCC Environment
FCC operators improve fuel efficiency and cut down costs with Finning ‘Don’t Be Fuelish’ training scheme
WASTE-recycling firm FCC Environment are putting their quarry plant operators and managers through their paces with Finning training experts to improve fuel efficiencies and cut fuel burn.
More than 30 FCC machine operators and plant managers have completed the Finning Eco-Drive operator training programme so far, which is part of a company-wide initiative called ‘Don’t Be Fuelish’. The scheme aims to crack down on machine idle time and minimize fuel burn, as well as improve CO2 emissions and reduce operating costs.
Launched in 2009, the Finning Eco-Drive operator training programme aims to refine plant operators’ skills to increase performance and, crucially, cut costs by giving them the skills they need better to utilize the tools and technologies available in the equipment.
Due to the popularity of the operator training, Finning recently added an Advanced Performance Training programme specifically aimed at managers and supervisors to enable them to better manage their fleet operations and deliver greater efficiency, safety, and productivity.
Bill Stone, group plant manager at FCC Environment, said: ‘We’ve been doing business with Finning for some time and enjoy a good working relationship with them. We started looking at all our operational data to identify how we could improve idle times and vitally cut fuel costs – and the training delivered by Finning was an important part of that.
‘We’ve done four operator training sessions so far and feedback has been good. Many of our quarry operators have been with us for 10 years or more, but many of them don’t typically use the technology that is fitted as standard in new Cat machines which can save them time and fuel.’
The advanced training course also addresses topics such as assessing and measuring equipment capability to optimize fuel usage, identifying inefficiencies as well as looking into best practice operating techniques and the fundamentals of machine application. Participants in the course develop their own site improvement plan, with the Finning team providing a follow-up review to provide any ongoing guidance and support.
Mr Stone commented: ‘We’ll never completely cut out zero idling, but this campaign and dedicated training with Finning experts helps the operators understand how much money is wasted in terms of fuel and repair and maintenance. Educating the managers so they understand the economic and environmental gains achieved by only having machines working when they’re needed is already yielding savings across the company.’
Jonathan Davies, industry manager of industrial and waste and paving at Finning, added: ‘When you’ve got a quarry working 2,000 hours a year every penny counts, and you must make sure you get the best per cost per tonne. While we can supply efficient and reliable machines, the greater the operator skill and efficiency the less wear and tear there is on the machine and fuel wastage, and the greater the site efficiency.’
Both the Eco-Drive operator training and Advanced Performance Training courses are Institute of Quarrying CPD accredited.
