Capital Equipment News November 2020

for improvements in efficiency, which improve their bottom line. This has led to many businesses looking for versatility from their machines – machines that can perform multiple tasks. The key to this is a vast selection of attachments.” Maximum Equipment MD Vaughan Ellis sums it up: “It is about getting the best use from your machine investment and reducing labour costs in order to maximise productivity and efficiency”. Innovations In terms of attachments brought to market in recent years, Freeman refers to Bobcat’s planer, which is used for milling asphalt or concrete and features hydraulic side-shift for planing close to walls and curbs. “This attachment is designed in such a way that the operator has clear visibility of the skis and depth gauges from the cab.” He says the bits mounted on the planer’s revolving drum are carbide tipped, enabling them to pulverise through tough materials. “The attachment can even taper roadway edges, cut drainage in concrete and mill around manholes, and the operator can set and maintain every aspect of the job, including slope control, width and depth.” The planer is available in four models, with several drum options. Each of these models provides a choice between standard flow and high flow, enabling the attachment to be customised to suit the job at hand. The milling process involves low- angle, high-velocity blows in a controlled pattern that chips pavement uniformly. The operator sets and maintains depth, width and slope control and the milled material can be recycled immediately. “Today’s technology is ever-evolving,” says Freeman. “That, together with the fact that the materials used nowadays are much tougher than before, makes attachments so much more viable.” Dube says Barloworld Equipment’s attachments for the CAT D3 series skid steer, compact track and multi-terrain loader are considered smart because of their plug & play functionality. They feature a special display screen and feature “tailored machine controls”. “These machines feature optional plug & play attachment recognition which integrates the attachment and the machine for a seamless user interface.” She says the electronic display on the loader includes a dedicated attachment screen to identify the attachment type in use, while the machine controls have

A Bobcat dumping hopper from Goscor Earth Moving

The development of attachments is a customer cost solution targeted at solving and improving machine versatility and utilisation

The use for attachments has grown because of the numerous applications in which tool carriers are used

Hammers are becoming more powerful and reliable, with longer service intervals

Flat top or top-mount hammers provide a larger work area and improved operator visibility

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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS NOVEMBER 2020 21