New innovations from McPhee Mixers

Concrete mixer specialist delivers ‘safest, most environmentally compliant mixer in Europe’

BRINSLEY McFarlane, managing director of family-run McPhee Mixers based in Blantyre, near Glasgow, recently revealed details of his company’s new innovation-packed concrete mixer, which he believes is the ‘safest, most environmentally compliant mixer in Europe’.

Called the McPhee MICS (McPhee, Innovative, Compliant and Safe) mixer, the new vehicle is the result of extensive research, customer feedback and reaction to current environmental legislation and safety concerns.

Speaking at Hillhead 2012, where the company unveiled the new innovations, Mr McFarlane (pictured) said: ‘We know what our customers need, demand and expect in the delivery of bespoke, customized vehicles. The McPhee mixer design team has reacted to current environmental legislation and real safety concerns within the concrete haulage industry to produce what we firmly believe is the safest, most environmentally compliant mixer in Europe.

‘To achieve this, we’ve introduced no less than five major innovations to ensure that respect for the environment, operator safety and productivity are at the heart of the designs for our mixer fleet.’

The new innovations are:

1. The McPhee Spill Stopper System – which combines the need to ensure no road spill while in transit with an effective, environmentally compliant chute wash-down system.
2. The McPhee Drum Flap – which increases the load capacity for higher-slump concretes and, in turn, will mean fewer deliveries and a reduction in CO2 emissions. A key design feature is that while it is not being used, the new flap folds outwards to a horizontal position, maintaining the batcher’s ability to visually inspect a load in the drum.
3. The McPhee MAXI Manhole – which allows quick opening, easy visual drum inspection and quick closing. Mixer operators no longer need to enter the drum – they can just look in.
4. The McPhee Kneel, Stay Safe – which reduces risks linked to maintaining the mixer drive shaft. The driver is less likely to fall or slip if he adopts a kneeling position, so a permanently mounted rubber mat, accessed via steps, gives him a more stable position before attempting to grease the prop shaft.
5. The McPhee Drum Spy – which is a cab-mounted device giving the driver direct and constant knowledge of drum movement and direction. This delivers vital information that not only boosts driver awareness, but allows the driver to keep eyes on the road, not on the drum. It is especially useful in restricted light conditions and winter.

According to Mr McFarlane, these innovations were well received at Hillhead 2012, resulting in several confirmed orders for McPhee Mixers.