Operators dig in at Holt JCB Dig Day

Wed 20 Jun 2018

Operators dig in at Holt JCB Dig Day

Machinery Dig Days are becoming more and more popular these days and are much more cost effective than putting machines out to individual customers over and over again with all the associated transport costs to contend with. The latest of these was held by Holt JCB who work closely with Duchy College’s plant training establishment at its locations across Devon and Cornwall, this then was the logical venue to hold the event.

As you might expect interest in the new JCB X Series was high with plenty of people keen to gain some “stick time” to see first hand what all the fuss is about. I was equally as keen to have a second shot at operating the X220 and it didn’t fail to put a smile on my face. In this video one of the plant training students is having a test drive in this example which was one of the prototype models.

For the time being excavators from 13 tonnes upwards and at the other end of the scale from the X220 are still the JS range and this latest JS130LC Plus model was being put through its paces by a visiting potential customer, coming out of the working area he said he thought it was a cracking machine and as he is in the market for a 13-tonne machine its one he would be considering especially if there is a good deal to be done.

JCB’s 10 tonne offering the 100C-1 conventional tailswing model was gaining a lot of friends amongst the students. Duchy College training Team Leader Glen Miller said this machine had proven to be very popular with the students during the dig day, they especially liked the machines power, smoothness and the float function on the blade.

The Friday of this event had a steady flow of customers and potential customers but the Saturday was expected to be a busier day with people who were too busy on a working week day popping along for a spin and a chat with the Holts team. But as a training facility the students are never far away, eager to get hands on with the JCB machines, in this shot we see one of them at the controls of the 8-tonne class 86C-1 Eco model.

Holt JCB had a couple of machines on static display at this event, the new JCB 7T-1 Hi Viz dumper and the unique 4CX Eco Piling Master backhoe loader. This dedicated piling unit can save the end users a fortune as it can travel too and from sites under its own power, is faster, more mobile and can work on sites without the need for an expensive piling mat to be laid down prior to the work commencing.

All in all a great time was had by everyone who attended the event and I would like to thank the team at Holt JCB and Duchy College for the kind hospitality we were shown on the day.

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