have a fuel-efficient tractor capable of coping with the K-Tec box and still give us good fuel returns. What we were really looking for is a modern combination capable of moving material quickly, economically and in large amounts whilst still keeping to our company ethos of supplying environmentally friendly solutions.”
With no dealer in the UK, the team from Canada were assisted by SMT personnel in the conversion that was a straightforward affair once the body and hoist cylinders were removed. “We’ve been refining the set-up since it first went into operation. We believe we now operate one of the quickest, most efficient, cleanest and economical methods of muck- shifting in Europe.”
With additional wings over the rear axles added and the fifth- wheel bolted into position, the relevant hydraulic supplies were lengthened to support the hydraulic system on the box, along with an excavator-style joystick replacing the dump lever inside the cab. The multi-function joystick allows control over the raising and lowering of the bowl, opening and closing of the apron as well as the actuation of the ejector plate. With the scraper and ADT combination set up, the next task was to install a Trimble 3D GCS9000 grade-control system. Already operating 20 Trimble units in dozers, and more recently excavators, the company has first-hand knowledge and experience of how a 3D GPS-system can benefit them on a project.
“We wouldn’t look at a job without it being undertaken on GPS these days,” Stuart comments. “The accuracy and speed at which we can undertake a project are amazing. We no longer move too much or too little material and not having a surveyor on the ground makes the job so much safer.” The Trimble system was installed by Sitech who Stuart cannot praise highly enough for their assistance with the project. “The system is just first-class and Sitech do a good job on the install.” The addition of the machine control system now allows the scraper to be set into automatic mode to remove just the required amount of material at one time and dump it in an accurate layer where needed. “For a cut-and-fill project, it is simply unbeatable.” Power for the A30G comes from a tried-and-tested D11E diesel delivering 320hp at 2,100rpm and is seen as the ideal partner for the K-Tec 1228 box with a 21.4 cubic metre capacity. Apart from the removal of the skip and the addition of the gooseneck coupling, there were very little changes made to the truck externally.
Inside the cab, there have been numerous additions along with the joystick control lever. To the operator’s right-hand side are a trio of screens. The lower of these is the control screen for the scraper box and allows the operator to manually set parameters for the box.
The centre screen contains the brains for the Trimble system and shows the operator a real-time view of exactly where and what the outfit is doing.
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