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Digger Man

Digger Man Blog

by Nick Drew  |  Thu 13 May 2021

The Builders of Penzance

Taking a look back at another one of my articles previously published in Earthmovers, bringing it to life on the internet with alternative photos and video footage.

Based down in Penzance, Taylor Build Cornwall is the brainchild of Managing Director Simon Taylor. We took a trip way down west to find out more about this exciting and forward thinking business.

The Builders of Penzance

Simon (41) who is also a fully trained stonemason, bricklayer and plasterer by trade, formed the business some 15 years ago, initially starting out as a sole trader. The business grew quickly and it saw them take on more new build and construction projects. Since those early day’s things have snowballed and led to them becoming a Ltd company 5 years ago, they are now taking on whole groundworks packages and provides ongoing work for 10 regular members of staff who work on a subcontractor basis. 

They have now developed into a full-on construction company, constructing from the ground up, including specialised works up to DPC level, to all the finishing works, including landscaping, a real one stop solution, mainly opting to work for private developers.

We caught up with Simon and the team at the West Cornish coastal village of Gwithian Towans where they are working on the Three Mile Beach development, a holiday complex consisting of 15 high end, four bedroom dwellings with hot tubs, luxury kitchens, 3-metre-deep wine cellars, with spiral staircases, dynamic landscaping and eco-grid car parking to complete the job, all in all it will be a stunning place when completed. 

The company also undertakes challenging main structure works on cliffs along the dramatic Cornish coast, it’s difficult work, and work that many don’t like to tackle, so its quite a niche sector to work in. 

As the business has expanded and diversified, Simon has invested in plant and machinery to undertake the work. His first machine was a Kubota U27-4 which he purchased from his local dealers Vincent Tractors & Plant who he does a lot of business with. The next Kubota addition was a KC250HR-4 tracked dumper, which has proven to be a great little investment for the firm, especially when working on some of the cliff edge jobs, where, with its low profile and low ground baring pressure, its really come into its own. 

All set to continue his allegiance to the Kubota product, most recently Simon was looking at his options for an 8-tonne class machine, naturally he looked at the manufacturers KX080-4 model, but he had noticed the arrival on the market of the Next Gen Caterpillar models. He weighed up his options and it soon became apparent that what the Cat product offers at the moment cannot be equalled by the Kubota offering.

They also had experience of Cat’s older 308E 2 CR model, an example of which they had had on hire for many months from a well-known local hire company, so they were very familiar with the product.

Talking about the 309 CR Simon said, “We looked closely at both machines, but quickly realised that with the Cat we would get a machine with a longer and wider undercarriage, a really long dipper stick, and the High Flow option as standard which is great for running the attachments that we have added to our portfolio. In addition, the machine has a cab equal in size to a 13-tonne machine so there is plenty of room inside for the operator, especially those of us with a taller stature”.

Having evaluated his options it was really a bit of a no brainer, and as such a deal was done to purchase the 309 CR, one of only 10 examples of the model currently out in the UK market, which was delivered just over 12 months ago.

Other recent additions to the fleet of kit are 3 x Mecalac dumpers, including a 6-tonne fully cabbed model, 3-tonne swivel skip and a 1.5-tonne high tip model, all of which were supplied by Kellands Plant Sales from Camelford, and a Wacker Neuson trench rammer supplied by M&M Plant Sales of Launceston.

At the time of Earthmovers visit to site Simon also suggested that he is now in the market for a 6-tonne hydraulic excavator, and he is once again doing his research and waiting on a demonstration of Kubota’s new KX060-5 model, or with the great experience they have had with the Next Gen Cat, he’s looking at the new 306 CR model which would pair up nicely with the 309 CR.

Simon said, “We have a lot of new projects coming up next year, one for 25 houses and another for 15 properties with all associated groundwork, so I am expecting to be purchasing a Next Gen Cat 315 too, which will be a great size machine for us as our workload continues to expand”.

At the time when Simon was doing the deal for the 309 CR there was no Cat sales rep covering the South West, although that role is now being undertaken by Lee Blewett of Finning UK & Ireland. The deal was organised at the time by Sue Deary, who was working out of the Llantrisant depot in South Wales.

Some six months ago Simon decided to have the machine fitted with an Engcon tiltrotator, the unit, which was the first to be mounted on a Cat 309 CR model, was ordered through Vincent Tractors and fitted by Engcon UK.

The set up consists of an EC209 tiltrotator, QS45 top and bottom hitches, both with EC-Oil for fast changing of hydraulically driven attachments. The tiltrotator is also fitted with Engcon’s ePS (engcon Positioning System) a rotation style sensor that communicates with the dig system to give the rotation position.

He has also opted for the GRD10Q quick release gripper cassette system, and has invested in a complete set of Engcon work tools including the PP3200 compactor plate, the GRB2000 (2m) grading beam, selector grab as well as a full set of dedicated Engcon buckets.

Of course, the Next Gen Cat mini excavators feature the unique stick steer system and this has been integrated into the Engcon MIG2 joysticks and DC2 controls, so it really is an all singing all dancing set up.

Talking about his decision to invest in a tiltrotator Simon said, “Well for me personally, we want to try and be a little bit ahead of the game, and we see it’s the way everyone is starting to go and the fact that we have the services of a very experienced operator on it in Carl Tresidder, we feel it’s a great move of our business and a real gamechanger in how we do things.

We also find that even though it’s a larger machine, having the “tilty” on allows us to work in really tight spaces, where we at one time would have had to use a smaller machine, its just gives us so much more flexibility, scope and capacity to work more efficiently”.

As previously mentioned, the regular operator is Carl Tressider who has been operating machines for over 30 years, unfortunately Carl was off recovering from an operation at the time of our visit, but I did speak to him via the phone where he told me a bit about his background and the new machine.

Carl said, “Over the last 20 years I have operated a wide variety of plant including 180o and 360o excavators ranging from mini’s up to 20 tonners.

You tend to get a feel for the machine that you are operating, but with some of them you think, I’ll be glad when I've finished with this one!

When Simon asked me to come on board for him as he was getting his own machine, I was surprised that he opted for a Cat as he generally likes the Kubota, but I must say I am glad that he did.

The Cat 309 CR is a joy to operate, with its bit wider stance and longer carriage its exceptionally stable, it doesn't matter whether you are loading over the blade, behind or cross track it remains a very stable and capable machine.

The only fault that I can find at the moment is with the Engcon on at full reach and a loaded bucket is that she does twitch a bit now, but nothing that a bit of extra counter weight would sort out and it won't take much.

There is always plenty of power when you want and is excellent on fuel, she's a smooth machine to drive.

I think cab wise the Cat is probably one of the comfiest machines I've used, lovely set up inside with everything to hand, and the visibility is excellent.

The reach is impressive too, as I can sit on the deck behind an 8-wheeler tipper and load right up to the neck, blade wise it has plenty of push and with the float system on it its excellent for back blading, all in all the Cat is one of the best I've used.

Simon quite often asks me if everything is OK and am I happy with her, and every time I will say she's a beauty! I think that you would have got to go a long way to beat her. And with the extra benefits of the Engcon she is some machine”.

What Simon is trying to achieve by buying the new machines is the old tried and tested method of allocating one man, to one machine, meaning that one operator has sole responsibility for his machine, keeps it greased, tidy and clean and have a personal attachment to it, something that we all know from experience works in the main.

In the absence of regular operator Carl, Simon has been operating the 309 CR himself until Carl is well enough to return to work, summarizing about the machine Simon said, “I love the Cat, its been amazing so far and its just a brilliant piece of kit, I’m so glad I went for it, and specced it out the way I did, with the long and wide undercarriage and the Engcon, its just awesome! Compared to the old 308E we were using previously, this model is in a different league, so much power and the stability is incredible.

Going forward I am already in talks with SITECH about fitting the Trimble Earthworks GPS system, which should help to keep us one step ahead of the game

Cat 309 CR

The Cat 309 CR is one of the 10 model range of Caterpillar Next Generation mini/midi excavators which were launched towards the end of 2018.

The 309 CR has a maximum operating weight of 9,403 kgs, however Simon’s example is nudging towards the 10,000 kgs mark, with the optional long and wide undercarriage. The machine is powered by Cat’s in-house C3.3 diesel engine which offers a power output rating of 52.4 kw (70.3 hp) and meets the current EU Stage V emissions regulations.

Like all the other mini excavators in the Next Gen range, the 309 CR comes fitted with industry first technology, like the new “Stick Steer” function which with the flick of a button enables the operator to travel the machine using just the left-hand joystick, similar in function to a skid steer loader.

For those who need to travel long distances the “Cruise” function can be selected using another button located on the left-hand joystick.

This long stick example sits on the 3,200mm long and 2,470mm wide undercarriage and sports 450mm wide track shoes with rubber street pads. Maximum dig depth is 4,593mm while reach at ground level is an impressive 7,449mm, probably even more with the tiltrotator fitted.

The 309 CR’s High Flow load-sensing hydraulic system with an electronically controlled variable-displacement piston pump is capable of delivering a generous dedicated oil flow of 140 litres/min to the auxiliary circuit which as previously mentioned makes for superb running of oil hungry attachments.

Watching this machine go abouts its business, I could not fail to be impressed, it really looks like a well-balanced beast with the long undercarriage, and the smile on Simon’s face as he ran it said it all, one very happy owner and an even happier operator I’m sure!

Checkout our video from the day. 

 

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