An Isle of Wight construction firm is powering ahead of its peers - thanks to major investment in a fleet of compact electric construction equipment from the JCB E-TECH range.
In the dynamic world of construction, staying ahead of the curve means more than just mastering the art of building. It involves a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and efficiency.
Isle of Wight-based MCM Construction, has epitomised this ethos with a ground-breaking move towards electrification.
Founded in 1994, MCM Construction has grown to become the largest building company on the island. It has invested in a comprehensive range of JCB electric equipment, including: the JCB 19C-1E electric mini excavator, 1TE electric site dumper, 525-60E electric telehandlers, HTD-5E electric Dumpster and a Powerpack for quick charging these machines. These are complemented by battery powered tools and site equipment including compaction plates, rammers, concrete pokers and cement mixers.
The new electric machines join an impressive range of existing JCB machinery in the MCM Construction fleet - including a JCB 6T-2 dumper, 220X and 140X tracked excavators and a Loadall telescopic handler. All new and existing models are supplied and supported by dealer Greenshields JCB.
Sustainability and performance
Where projects dictate, MCM Construction can now deploy a fully electric fleet with zero emissions at the point of use. These electric machines offer performance on par with their diesel counterparts, while significantly reducing noise levels - a crucial aspect for projects in noise-sensitive areas such as MCM Construction's school, hospital and prison applications. Their design enables a full day's operation on a single charge - emphasising JCB's commitment to green technology innovation.
Director of MCM Construction, Brendan McMahon, said: "We've used JCB equipment for years and always had good service, so turned to them again for this purchase. As a company, we need to look towards the future, and electric is the way to go. We already have a number of JCB electric machines and are investing in electric hand tools too. We have bought the electric variant of every machine JCB offers, and they have proven perfect for our projects in sensitive areas."
JCB's Road to Zero
The E-TECH range is part of JCB's broader commitment to sustainability and innovation. With the ability to reduce emissions and noise pollution, these electric machines offer a compelling solution to the pressing environmental concerns that the sector faces.
JCB's commitment to reducing emissions goes back almost 25 years and the latest diesel engines designed to comply with European Stage V regulations have already delivered a 97% reduction in NOx emissions since 1999 and a 98% reduction in particulates. In addition, JCB's drive to reduce fuel consumption means today's JCB machines use 50% less fuel on average than those manufactured more than a decade ago. This has saved 16 billion litres of fuel - equivalent to 53 million tonnes of CO2.
JCB has also been at the forefront of electric technology development to meet customers' demands for zero-carbon products, pioneering the world's first electric mini excavator and telescopic handler models. Battery electric is suitable for smaller machines which typically use less fuel, so perfect for the roles MCM Construction requires. As a result, JCB has concentrated its development of electric machines on its compact range. Read more about JCB's electric range of machines here.
However, for larger machines with a higher energy requirement this would result in larger batteries, which would take longer to charge, making them less suitable for machines which work multiple daily shifts and do not have the available downtime to recharge. For these applications JCB has invested heavily in the development of a hydrogen solution - you can read more about this here.
A blue print for success
As the construction sector grapples with increased demand for infrastructure and stricter environmental standards, Brendan McMahon's decision to electrify his fleet with JCB machines is a shining example of how the construction industry can embrace sustainability without compromising performance. With this forward-looking approach, driven by the company's commitment to a greener, more efficient future, MCM Construction is truly leading the charge on the Isle of Wight and beyond.
