New Case CX700B ME for Banner Contracts

Contract crushing and screening specialists choose new Case excavator to deliver higher productivity

BANNER Contracts have increased their fleet of Case Construction Equipment machines with the purchase of a CX700B ME (mass excavation) hydraulic excavator, which is helping them to increase productivity and reduce costs.

Supplied by Cleveland-based Case dealers CJ Leonard & Sons, the CX700B ME was purchased specifically to work on a long-term contract at Lafarge’s Thrislington limestone quarry, which is being extended to the east of the A1(M) motorway.

Based in Halnaby, Co. Durham, Banner Contracts are one of the UK’s leading contract crushing and screening specialists, working across the whole of the UK and processing in excess of 4 million tonnes of aggregates per year.

The company, which already has five Case machines, including a Case CX350 excavator plus four 1221E wheel loaders, chose to replace their existing CX700 (purchased in 2007), with the CX700B ME version, which is being used to load approximately 3,000 cubic metres per day of blasted overburden into 40-tonne dumptrucks.

Banner Contracts director Joe Banner explained why the company chose the CX700B ME. ‘We needed a new high-production, heavy-duty machine. The decision to purchase another Case machine was based on a number of factors, including value for money, suitability for the job, and our pre-existing dealer relationship,’ he said.

Equipped with a modern engine and hydraulic management system, the CX700B ME is said to be one of the most productive machines in its class. Case developed this version of their CX700B excavator specifically for mass-excavation applications. It has an operating weight of 69 tonnes and a power output of 345kW at 1,800 rev/min, plus a bucket capacity of up to 4.5 cubic metres.

The machine features a heavy-duty undercarriage, based on the 80-tonne-class excavator, and is designed to work in demanding applications such as rock handling, mass excavation and demolition. With a heavy-duty 6.58m boom and a 3.0m dipper, it offers digging and breakout forces of 25,900daN and 36,500daN, respectively, for fast loading.

‘The size of the machine allows the dumpers to run more efficiently as they can be loaded quicker and in fewer passes,’ said Mr Banner. ‘We needed a large machine to allow this project to be completed in the time scales we are working to. Also, having already owned a Case CX700 for the past six years, we have had first-hand experience of its reliability and the low operating costs, so the decision to replace it with the new ME version was an easy one. We also have a good relationship with CJ Leonard, who have always been fast to respond to any issues we have had.’

He continued: ‘Choosing machines that can deliver fuel savings is an important consideration for plant owners and operators. With the previous model we were getting around 60 litres/h, but this new model is delivering 50 litres/h, which we are pleased with.’

As well as reduced fuel consumption, the CX700B ME has long service intervals (typically, 5,000 hours between hydraulic fluid changes and 1,000 hour bucket lubrication intervals), which helps to reduce maintenance costs and machine downtime.

‘Our operators are impressed,’ said Mr Banner. ‘They find this machine has loads of power, it’s also very stable and steady on its tracks, plus the cab is comfortable and has very good visibility.’