Modern Mining June 2016

PRODUCT News

Dozer specialist adds Cat machines to its fleet mining sectors and recently expanded its fleet with the addition of four new Cat D6Rs. Five D8Rs were also acquired towards the end of 2015 for deploy- ment within the mining segment.

Expertise comes with tried and tested experience, which for Cat mid-sized track- type tractors makes Rail Plant Hire an expert in this field as one of the southern hemisphere’s largest dozer fleet owners. “In fact we’re even more specialised since our fleet predominantly comprises Cat D6R units,” explains Chris Barclay, MD of Rail Plant Hire, which currently owns and operates more than 62 dozers. The company has a well-established contractor base in the construction and

As Barclay explains, the company caters for both short-term hire as well as longer term contracts for proj- ects ranging from new power station developments to national highway construction. “Historically we’ve worked nationally

One of Rail Plant Hire’s recently acquired Cat D6R units adds to the expanding dozer fleet. and internationally, and continue to support our customers on cross-border projects.” Alongside its mainstream activities, in the past 12 months Rail Plant Hire has also partici- pated in two Caterpillar pilot programmes in conjunction with Southern African Cat dealer Barloworld Equipment. The first is the field testing of a new type of Cat undercarriage sys- tem, and the second a performance trial on a Cat D6R Series 2 track-type tractor. As Barclay points out, when it comes to testing and real-life application, machine site matching and operator proficiency are espe- cially important for dozers. This is particularly the case when it comes to the longevity of their undercarriage systems. Simply put, the average cost for track maintenance over the life of a dozer will typically equate to around 40 % of its original purchase price, assuming correct utilisation. In the wrong hands, it will end up costing a lot more. Underscoring these statements, Rail Plant Hire employs a specialist technician who focuses exclusively on undercarriage inspec- tions and assessments across the company’s dozer fleet. “We monitor our overall availability closely, but in the event that a machine does go down in the field, we have back-up units in place and prefer to change-out rather than conduct in-situ repairs,” says Barclay. Leveraging off Caterpillar’s second and third life rebuild design philosophy, Rail Plant Hire’s maintenance team is fully equipped for machine overhauls and follows the latest Cat maintenance handbooks. All Cat units are also registered on the Cat S·O·S™ fuel and wear analysis programmes. “Overall, our machines deliver excellent mechanical availability and the D6 remains a versatile dozer well-suited for the plant hire industry,” Barclay adds. Barloworld Equipment, tel (+27 11) 929-0000

ABSOLUTE MATERIAL FLOW CONTROL

Coralynne&Associates+27 (011)849 3142

ABSOLUTE MATERIAL FLOW CONTROL

• Optimum material flow • Up to 80% decrease in material degradation • Reduced dust and noise levels

• Virtually maintenance free • Greatly reduced spillage • Significant reduction in belt damage

TM

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Phone: +27 (0) 11 827 9372 Email: info@webachutes.com

56  MODERN MINING  June 2016