Scrapers in action in France

Sun 17 Aug 2014

Scrapers in action in France

Valentin Vuillemenot is a well respected and very keen member of top French machinery forum Photostp (Photos d’engins de travaux publics) photos of earthmoving equipment. Like many of us with a passion for plant & machinery, Valentin spends many hours out and about on sites taking photos to share with like-minded individuals on the internet.

These shots were taken in 2010 on a major business park job which is located in Franche Comte’ in Eastern France, and is expected to last for 5 years. Vinci Construction and Climent TP, were the major earthmoving contractors on site and brought in an impressive line-up of heavy machinery to tackle the job.

Vinci Construction’s fleet of motor scrapers on site consisted of 2 single engined Caterpillar 631E and 3 newer Caterpillar 631G models, which were to be push loaded by a Caterpillar D10T specially adapted with a cushion blade and a Caterpillar D8N which was sporting Vinci’s corporate white livery.

In support of the scrapers and dozers were two Caterpillar motor graders in the shape of a 14H and a 16H, which were deployed to keep haul roads clean and involved in fine trimming works and a Caterpillar 825G “sheepsfoot” compactor was also deployed in the fill areas.

Phase 1 of the Technoland Belfort/Montbeliard development was started in May 2010, and major earthworks were expected to be completed by the following summer. Phase 1 covers an area of some 45 hectares and it was estimated that some 600000m3 of material would need to be excavated and levelled.

Stars of the show were the Caterpillar 631G scrapers. G series motor scrapers were introduced by Caterpillar in 2000. Some scrapers in the Cat range have recently been upgraded to K series status including the 621K and 627K models, larger models are still being manufactured as G series machines including the 631G, 637G and 657G models.

The 631G is powered by Caterpillars C18 Acert engine with a net power output of 500hp, it has a heaped bowl capacity of 26m3/34cu yd and can manage a top speed of around 33.2 mph, and with a total operational loaded weight of 184658.97lb that’s one heavy piece of kit shifting down the haul road!

A machine that in favourable weather conditions, can cut and load itself in the excavation, close up its bowl and travel to the discharge point with speed and power, and then level its contents at the other end, quite simply awesome!

It’s just a shame that we don’t see that many in the UK anymore, but there are still plenty of places in the world where scrapers are still popular and in regular use despite the rise of the excavator/ ADT combination. Australia, USA and Canada are among some of the top users of motor scrapers as well as many areas in Central Europe. Having said that, a little bird tells me that a number of these French owned, white cabbed scrapers, have made the short trip across the channel and are currently working somewhere in the East Midlands at the moment. A site visit for Earthmovers could be on the cards! Watch this space. A big thank you to Valentin Vuillemenot for sharing his superb photos with the Digger Man Blog.

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