One of the UK’s leading demolition specialists has purchased five JCB skid steer loaders for the unrivalled health and safety features they bring to the demolition environment.
Midlands-based Coleman & Company Ltd initially ordered a single JCB 135 skid steer loader to work on its intricate demolition projects where space is confined - such as within tight city centre sites – or where there are weight restrictions on suspended floors.
The customer has been so impressed with the machine that they have now purchased a further four JCB skid steers – a 155 and three 135 models.
All have been put to work on high profile demolition projects across the country including Didcot Power Station, St David’s Shopping Centre in Swansea and Birmingham New Street Railway Station. As well as the performance of the machines, the customer highlights the Health and Safety features of JCB skid steers compared to competitive models as fundamental to the purchasing decision.
Coleman & Company Contract Support Manager, Malcolm Hurst said: “We work in increasingly hazardous spaces, so ensuring our operatives can work in safe conditions is of primary importance. As such, we continuously look to manage and mitigate risk where possible. The JCB skid steer models have a number of positive safety features that impressed us. These include far better all round visibility and safer access to the cab which in turn allows a demolition guard to be fitted at the front of the cab. This is something unique to JCB’s design, it is very different to any other skid steer on the market.
“We are also very impressed with the build quality along with the flexibility of the JCB skid steers. Given the complex, technically challenging and high-risk nature of the work Coleman & Company undertakes, we felt JCB was best placed to meet our needs. The machines have excelled in these conditions and the support we receive from our dealer Gunn JCB is superb. We are also proud to support a fellow Midlands and UK-based firm.”
As the only manufacturer to produce a single-sided Powerboom loader arm, JCB provides operators with a full opening door on the side of the machine. This means that there is never a requirement to climb over large, cumbersome attachments or tools, improving safety for the operator. This design also enables the JCB models to be fitted with a level of cab protection that surpasses any other skid steer.
The Coleman & Company skid steer loaders have been further adapted to the demolition environment with additional features including: an alarm that is triggered if the door opens whilst the engine is running, solid puncture resistant rubber tyres and a grapple bucket that ‘clamps’ a broad range of materials moves from its sites.
The skid steers will be used on a wide variety of tasks and locations including: working in tight and compact areas such as confined spaces in variety of environments where Health and Safety considerations are paramount.
Typically the machines are used in the early stages of the demolition process removing soft strip materials from within buildings. It is essential they are safely manoeuvered in and around confined spaces where floor loading needs to be kept to an absolute minimum.
Established for over 50 years, Coleman & Company Limited is a third generation-run family business. It is one of the market leaders in the provision of demolition and associated specialist services to blue chip, high profile companies, public sector organisations and strategic partnerships.
It is part of the multi-faceted Coleman Group which specialises in a full range of ancillary services including engineering, remediation and specialist cutting. It operates nationally and internationally with projects throughout the UK and as far afield as New Zealand.