Pole position for JCB as they pile on the pressure

by Nick Drew | Tue 15 Sep 2015

Pole position for JCB as they pile on the pressure

Amongst a raft of new products launched at the recent JCB press event were two new variants of the company’s backhoe loaders the 4CX Polemaster + and the 4CX PilingMaster.

The 4CX Polemaster+,is according to JCB, the most versatile, cost effective and complete off-road pole-placing machine that the company has developed. Able to dig, power an auger or a breaker and to carry, rotate and place wooden poles up to 750kg, the Polemaster+ is described as the ideal off-highway pole-planting machine.

The machine is capable of handling a variety of wooden pole sizes up to 16m in length and features a JCB Rotaclaw bucket which offers up to 3 tonnes of clamping force and delivers precision and control. Built in internal check valves and accumulator provide fail safe operation. JCB has been present in the pole handling market for some time, but the 4CX Polemaster+ takes the versatile and powerful 4CX to a new level of versatility and productivity. Designed and engineered with input from existing customers, the 4CX Polemaster+ comes as standard with the JCB Rotaclaw bucket, a high-powered auger, side-mounted pole carriers, high flotation tyres and a handheld tool circuit, making it the most competitive machine in the power generation distribution marketplace.

The JCB Rotaclaw 5-in-1 bucket can dig, grab, grade, backfill and rotate. It can handle a range of wooden pole sizes up to 16m and offers 93 degrees of anti-clockwise rotation, allowing the operator to accurately place the pole particularly on uneven ground. The side-mounted pole carriers can handle two 14m 13m poles or a single 16m stout pole in off-road applications, reducing the need for a second machine on site. When used on the highway the pole carriers can be easily stowed in situ to reduce machine width.

With all of the operations carried out at the rear of the Polemaster+, digging the hole, positioning the pole and reinstating the surrounding area, plus the machine’s ability to carry two poles rather than one, there is less chance of damage to the field, cutting claims from land owners. Standard Powerslide excavator repositioning reduces movement of the machine, while high flotation Michelin Xeobib tyres are standard, further reducing possible damage to soft ground.

As all of the work is completed at the rear of the machine, the handheld hose reel has been repositioned through 180 degrees to allow hydraulic tools such as tampers, breakers and saws to be easily operated at the rear of the Polemaster+. This reduces the need for on-site powerpacks and generators, providing a single machine solution for contractors. Another big surprise at the launch was a machine which has been designed as a single machine solution for the piling industry, the 4CX PilingMaster is a road legal, rapidly-deployable machine with the ability to rotary bore piles to a depth of 14m. However as the 4CX is not limited to piling operations, it provides the customer with a versatile multi-functional machine to achieve improved levels of plant utilisation ; capable of digging, loading, excavating and operating with a host of powered attachments.

Key features include: A head torque of 13 kNm allows pile depths of 14.0 m 165 litres/min full flow sharing hydraulics Minimal piling mat required. Close piling access to centre line of pile, providing greater accuracy to existing structures. Hydraulic 2t capacity winch with automatic brake. Below 4m travel height for on road conditions. Verticality and depth monitoring via in cab instrumentation. 11t Capacity total operating weight Servo controls as standard Hydraulic tools circuit for hand tools Safe accessible mast & rotary maintenance for daily checks at ground level. Inclined drilling capability.

The 4CX PilingMaster is based on the versatile 4CX backhoe loader, with a detachable piling facility in place of the standard excavator dipper arm. Equipped with a high performance rotary head delivering a torque of 13kNm, delivering an effective drill force for pile diameters of 350mm to 600mm. The machine has the ability to construct 450mm diameter piles to a depth of 14 metres. Look out for more in depth detail on these and other new models launched at the event in a future edition of Earthmovers Magazine.

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