Features

A world-renowned collection of 36 rare and historic Caterpillar machines is to stay in New Zealand. This has been made possible by Ben Gough, executive director of Gough Group, and his sister Gina Satterthwaite. The Canterbury-based brother and sister have secured a deal which will see the machines and associated equipment remain in New Zealand following the sale in Rotorua of the privately-owned New Zealand Caterpillar Experience. The Experience has operated for the last seven years, and is well-known worl

Roads, wherever they are, represent major public investment and for this reason are expected to last for a long time. Rapid increases in the number of vehicles and thus a rise in traffic volumes and axle loads produce congestion, wear and tear on structures, along with air pollution and noise emissions. The materials used to construct modern roads, from the sub-base upwards to the asphalt or concrete wear surface have improved vastly over the years, as has the equipment involved. In the Netherlands, Kuiken,

Rigid dump truck design has come a long way, writes Mike Woof. The rigid dump truck was a US development, with the Euclid Trac-Truk of 1931 being the world’s first, purpose-built off-highway dump truck. Prior to WWII, US firms such as Euclid, as well as Dart and Mack, were the undoubted pioneers of the rigid dump truck sector. The Trac-Truk was small and crude to modern eyes but was quickly followed by larger and more powerful vehicles, with these three manufacturers leading the way.

Special high-strength steels can be light, and have built-in energy efficiency. It is estimated that transportation uses 20-25% of the world’s energy and generates 26% of the world’s CO2 emissions. Add to this the relentless increase in fuel costs, and it is clear that hauliers face both significant environmental and commercial challenges. Continuous improvements in the fuel efficiency of engines have gone some way to addressing these issues. But a more fundamental review of all the materials used in the co

The correct personal protective equipment in quarries saves lives. Ensuring the protection of employees’ health and safety is now the first priority at quarry sites. Indeed it has become the guiding principle for employees starting from the highest levels of responsibility, and the aim is to achieve a zero accident rate and certainly a zero fatality rate. All the major companies in the sector, and probably most of the smaller companies, have rigid, well documented policies that have to be adhered to. Indeed

A Turkish marble producer tests a used dump truck before buying it for his quarry. Ermas Mermer, a Turkish marble producer, operates five quarries from its headquarters near Yatagan in western Mugla province. Two are in the Yatagan area and three are further south, near the city of Antalya. Three associated factories handle the output from the quarries. In business since 1985, total annual production of marble runs to 150,000tonnes/year, which, thanks to its high quality, is in growing demand worldwide. Of

An old-established Belgian quarry has invested in new equipment to improve efficiency. The family business Bertrand has been an established name in the Belgian Ardennes region for generations. The quarry in Bra sur Lienne is known for its blue and brown slate, which is used in the construction of walls, roofs, terraces, floors and dry walls (without mortar). The slate is also used for monuments. For over 50 years, mining at the quarry was usually done manually as the quarry operates in a niche market where