Blackwood Plant hire has recently made two innovative new additions to its 57-strong fleet by purchasing a Terex TC125 midi-crawler excavator, the first of these models in Scotland.

The 10.9-tonne TW110 purchased by Blackwood will first be put to work on a new road and sewer project led by RJ McLeod in Cambuslang, and will also be used for road maintenance duties. The machine, which has a digging depth of 4,310mm, was selected for its minimal tail swing, which has the major benefit of allowing the road to remain open to traffic whilst the construction work commences. Despite the reduced envelope, the TW110 shows incredible stability because of the optimal weight distribution.

"The operators love the TW110," commented Thomas Blackwood, managing director of Blackwood Plant Hire. "It's a strong digging machine with a great ripping force and power comparable to that of a far larger excavator. The front-dozerblade and the offset feature of the boom on the TW110 allow operators to swivel the boom from side to side, without slewing the cab. This allows optimum use of the restricted space we often have on the road and has a big impact on the amount of material that can be shifted each day."

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The lateral parallel adjustment of the boom at full digging depth gives the operator 130 degrees articulation.

Blackwood also purchased a 12.5-tonne Terex TC125 crawler excavator, another first for the Scottish construction industry. The TC125, which has an engine output of 69 kW (94 hp), will be based in Edinburgh, operating a drilling rig on the railway. The size of the machine and its short tail swing was a central influence on the purchasing decision.

Mr. Blackwood, who already owns a Terex HR42 (the predecessor of the TC125), commented: "The HR42 has been a favorite with the operators and has been extremely reliable and productive over the years. Its robustness and productivity levels were the main reason why we chose the newer TC125 model as the latest addition to our fleet."

Blackwood Plant Hire has been in operation for six years and has a fleet comprised of more than 50 excavators.

(JM)