A Scottish haulage and timber contractor is using a unique truck-mounted JCB excavator to speed up timber handling tasks – with the solution proving 50 per cent more productive than a conventional lorry crane.
The upper structure of a JCB JS220 excavator - complete with hydraulically raised cab and extending timber crane boom - has been mounted on a Mercedes Arocs 8 x 8 commercial vehicle.
Campbeltown-based firm, Peter McKerral & Co Ltd, devised the machine when searching for a more powerful and productive alternative to traditional truck-mounted cranes.
The company enlisted the help of dealer Scot JCB Ltd and PM Forest & Field Engineering of Blairgowrie, Perthshire to create the ideal combination of road and materials handling performance.
Capable of accessing remote forestry locations, the machine is used to load timber lorries at the point of felling. Due to the performance of the JCB, it is able to handle in excess of 1500 tonnes of timber a day. Previous alternatives could only achieve a maximum of 1000 tonnes in the same period.
Peter Mckerral & Co Ltd Director, Donnie McKerral said: “We are extremely pleased with the new addition, it is achieving everything we had hoped for. The JCB has better hydraulics than we are used to - delivering more power and a far quicker slew speed. Compared to previous solutions it is also more stable and has a better reach. As a direct result we can load a larger volume of timber each day – which is obviously beneficial to our business and to our clients.
“The machine is supported by Scot JCB who are extremely helpful and deliver excellent service.”
The 8-wheel drive Mercedes Arocs is fitted with working stabilisers along with rubber buffers at the front and rear which it uses to push timber lorries when ground conditions are difficult.