TEST DRIVES

The Wacker-Neuson 50Z3

There was a time when Robbie McCann didn’t have a Wacker-Neuson about him – but now he’s got three mini diggers and a couple of skid steers, and he wouldn’t be without them.
Plant & Civil Engineer has been finding out why.

Terex Unveil New Compact Track Loader Range

The new compact track loaders from the Terex stable will certainly serve to strength the manufacturer’s market share, and will undoubtedly win over more from the skid steer sector. Plant & Civil Engineer’s Garfield Harrison was recently invited over to Warwick to put the machines through their paces…

The CAT 740 Articulated Dump Truck

PT McWilliams is currently working on the new Dungannon to Ballygawley dual carriageway in Tyrone. It’s a challenging project and on one site alone, the contractor has around 50 pieces of plant and equipment.
That includes 20 dumpers, among them two of five recently purchased CAT 740’s from dealers McCormick Macnaughton, so Plant & Civil Engineer’s David Stokes went along to find out what the view from the cab was...

View from the cab: The Doosan DX30Z

Doosan say their DX diggers offer the highest performance levels, improved reliability, increased operator comfort, outstanding work efficiency and the ability to adapt to any work environment. Is that so? Plant & Civil Engineer’s David Stokes has been getting the real ‘view from the cab.’

View from the cab: High Class Hino

New Hino Dealer, Northern Truck Centre in Mallusk recently invited Plant & Civil Engineer’s Garfield Harrison to try out the new Hino 700 Series Tipper, so we took the opportunity to put it through its paces, including a tough, testing session in Boyd’s Quarry.

View from the cab: Volvo EC35c Mini Excavator

A glowing picture of the new Volvo EC35C mini excavator has been painted by the manufacturer. They have hailed it as a machine that offers ‘power and efficiency that save time and cost, with ideal visibility, and controls and instrumentation right where you want them.’

View from the cab: JCB 8025 ZTS Mini Excavator

It’s claimed JCB’s mini excavators offer ‘toughness, reliability and versatility in a small package,’ but what is the reality? This issue’s ‘View From the Cab’ brings the 8025 ZTS into focus...

Fast Selling DAF Tipper does the business

DAF have taken the plunge and have not only fitted an automated gearbox box to the new CF Tipper but have also gone straight to Euro-5 emission levels. Plant & Civil Engineer’s Garfield Harrison recently had the pleasure of testing it through the Glens of Antrim.

View from the cab: The Komatsu PC138US makes its local debut

The first of Komatsu’s new PC138US-8 short tail swing 14-tonne excavators recently arrived in Northern Ireland, and Plant & Civil Engineer’s David Stokes has been talking to the proud operator to get his view from the cab…

Master muck away from MAN

MAN have been looking at a replacement vehicle for the F2000 and in the middle part of last year they launched the MAN TGA 8x4 Heavy Duty Tipper.
Plant & Civil Engineer’s Garfield Harrison has been to the MAN/ERF Northern offices at Middlewitch to try out the new 8x4 Muck Away on the roads in the North West of England....

On Board an MAN TGA 350 Eight Wheeler

Albert Parkes has been driving his MAN TGA 350 32 tonne eight wheeler for C E Stevensons since January, so is it living up to expectations? Plant & Civil Engineer’s David Stokes has been finding out

Bobcat T40140 Versatile and Reliable

The Bobcat T40140 telescopic handler, with its innovative boom incorporating the latest state-of-the-art construction, is certainly living up to operator’s expectations here, as Plant & Civil Engineer's Jonathan Bushe has been finding out...

High praise for TEREX’s new 10 tonne dumper

TEREX’s a new 10 tonne capacity site dumper, launched at this year’s SED show, has arrived in Northern Ireland, and Plant & Civil Engineer’s Jonathan Bushe was the first to see it in action, only days after it was delivered in the province

Johnston Sweepers’ new truck mounted sweeper

Johnston Sweepers, in its debut appearance at the CV Show, has launch a completely new truck-mounted sweeper.
Plant & Civil Engineer's Jonathan Bushe got a recent preview.

Axor Eight wheeler makes its mark

Despite its considerable success in the tractor unit, middleweight and, with the Sprinter, the 3.5 tonne van segment, Mercedes-Benz has always proved to be something of an also-ran in the UK construction sector.

ERF ECT - Tipping the light fantastic

ERF are coming back strongly into the tipper market with the ECT 8 x 4 chassis and the impressive 10.5 litre D20 Common Rail engine. Plant & Civil Engineer’s Garfield Harrison got behind the wheel to put it through its paces. . .