Kier | Launch of the UK’s first surface dressing innovation

Date: 13 November 2018

Source: www.kier.co.uk

Kier and Rory J Holbrook Ltd have worked collaboratively to launch a brand-new surface dressing innovation used for the first time in Norfolk. The team is the first in the UK surface dressing industry to introduce this type of truck, which negates the need for the use of tipper trucks. Instead, the new truck uses a conveyor system to dispense aggregate into the Phoenix Chipping machine; meaning that stopping to reload the chipping machine from a tipping truck is no longer needed.

Traditionally, tipper trucks have posed a number of issues for highways teams. In areas with a high density of overhead cables, teams need to leave the area to refill the spreading machine, slowing down the works; the new technology will make the operation 25% more efficient in areas with a high density of overhead obstructions. This means that road repairs will take less time, road closures will be shorter and delays for the travelling public will be reduced.

Surface dressing teams have had issues with tipper trucks striking overhead cables, with some areas having up to 100 cable crossings. When these are struck they cause disruption to the road works and inconvenience to the impacted homeowners and businesses. The truck conveyer belt system means that surface dressing crews can carry out their work without the concern of striking overhead cables.

Andy Mayos at Kier, commented: “As a company we’re committed to working collaboratively with our supply chain and when Rory J Holbrook came to us with this idea, we knew we wanted to work with them to reach the optimum solution.

“Not only will this truck be cost-effective and efficient, it will also provide our employees with a much safer work environment, something we are always striving to do at Kier. Currently, we have 14 trucks in our fleet and we aim to be tipper truck fee by the end of 2020.”

Rory Holbrook commented “We have worked closely with Kier & Fruehauf to develop this conveyor system with Health and Safety being our number one priority. The conveyor system is placed onto two types of chassis. A safe construction vehicle for inner city operations with low entry 360 vison cab and a lightweight chassis, both of which has rear wheel steer and air suspension to provide us with a payload of 19.5 tonnes. We are close to completing the articulated version of the conveyor system which will provide us with a pay load of 29.6 tonnes. Not only are these bodies capable of carrying surface dressing stone, being fully insulated, they are the perfect solution to every application.

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