JCB long-reach excavator provides perfect balance
Bespoke machine proves its worth on complex ground-stabilization project on the island of Jersey
GROUND stabilization specialists CAN Geotechnical have recently purchased a bespoke JCB long-reach excavator which has already boosted productivity on a complex ground-engineering project in Jersey.
Chesterfield-based CAN Geotechnical specialize in solutions for failing rock faces, soil slopes and retaining walls. They specified the JS260 LC excavator with a long-reach boom and dipper configuration to deliver a reach of 18.3m and a maximum capacity at the end of the dipper of 830kg.
Supplied by dealers TC Harrison JCB, the machine has been modified with high-capacity auxiliary piping to power CAN Geotechnical’s range of specialist drill rigs and also features safety isolation switches to disable all machine operations while drilling. The excavator is also fitted with extra-wide 800mm tracks for added stability at full reach.
The machine was immediately put to work alongside an existing JCB JS220 LC tracked excavator on a slope-stabilization project in St Helier, Jersey. The work requires the stabilization of an old quarry face which has collapsed several times over the last 10 years along with the stabilization of adjacent land behind three apartment blocks.
Over the course of the project, more than 17,000 cubic metres of rock and soil will be excavated from the slope. The JS260 LC will run for more than 2,000h on the drilling element of the project. Situated at the crest of the slope, it is able to reach down to drill soil nails and rock bolts into the slope face below.
CAN Geotechnical director Richard Nicholson said: ‘Our ever-expanding fleet of JCB plant enables us to work efficiently on a wide range of projects and stay at the cutting edge of geotechnical and ground engineering. We pride ourselves on our commitment to continual development and our relationship with JCB forms a key part of this.
‘The JCB long-reach excavator has enabled us to think differently about how we approach the pricing of new work; it will allow us to be more competitive as it improves our on-site efficiency – saving us money in the process.
‘From specification to after-sales, the whole experience of dealing with JCB has been excellent. The team was extremely helpful in discussing the modifications we required and working with us to set up the machine to meet our needs. Machine-specific loading charts were also produced to assist us when using the excavator with a drill mast attached.
‘Without the long-reach excavator we would have had to phase the works in a far less efficient and more costly way. It provides us with the perfect balance of reach and usability for our applications.’
Mr Nicholson added: ‘Transporting this machine is not prohibitively expensive thanks to its modest size and weight, yet it is capable of far more than any other standard-spec machine of equivalent size. We will use it extensively over the coming years for other soil-nailing and bolting projects on highways, railways and construction sites across the UK.’
