Training from a different angle

Thu 01 Dec 2016

Training from a different angle

With the current skills shortage on every ones minds at the moment, it’s reassuring to know that some of the biggest names in the British construction machinery manufacturing business, like JCB, are getting behind a newly formed training business, which operates from its head office in Doncaster and an ever expanding network of regional centres around the country. Construction Training Academy (CTA) is the brainchild of Company Owners David Stevens, Nigel Hooper and Kevin Barker, who had spent their entire careers as plant operators. Talking about the venture David said, “The idea initially came from us having worked in the plant game for a long time and then moving into training and assessing. We felt our next move was to develop a training centre, putting something back into the industry by training others. We have been training people now for around 18 months and have a hand-picked team of highly qualified and experienced trainers/instructors & testers on board with us”.

CTA have formed a working partnership with JCB dealer TC Harrison, which also has the backing of JCB itself. TC Harrison will supply JCB machines to the centres including tracked excavators, wheeled excavators, forward tipping dumpers, ride on rollers and telehandlers, with all the machines being changed on a 6 monthly basis, enabling the company to provide clients with the most modern and up to date machinery to learn or further their skills on.

Add into the mix Swedish attachment manufacturer Engcon and their re-formed Engcon UK set up, headed by CEO Robert Hunt. Mr Hunt had been looking for a venue where Engcon could hold demonstration days and test drives of the company’s tilt-rotators and attachments for some time and joining forces with CTA and TC Harrison seemed to be the ideal solution. Robert Hunt explained, “Prior to Plantworx it was suggested that we talk to CTA and TC Harrison about using their venue not only for demonstrations of Engcon products but also to run tilt-rotator courses in the future as the rise in uptake of the systems continues. As it happened Dave and Nigel were thinking along the same lines too, as nobody else offers any form of training for tilt-rotators and this arrangement would certainly give them the edge over any training competitors in the future, so it quickly became apparent that this was one of those beautifully circular arrangements where everyone involved would see some benefit”. Rob continued, “It has long been in my mind that its essential that potential customers need to be able to try out a tilt-rotator system before they take the plunge and invest in one, after all nobody buys a car without having a test drive first, so for me it was important to establish a base where people can come and get up close and personal with the concept”.

Whilst the idea may ruffle a few feathers with operators who already feel overwhelmed with the need for new categories on their cards, CTA are currently working with NPORS to develop a separate operator category to cover tilt-rotators, which at present have no specific category on any of the plant skills schemes. The first JCB JS130LC Engcon equipped machine was delivered to the CTA centre in Doncaster direct from its star appearance on the Engcon stand at Plantworx, complete with a comprehensive arsenal of attachments. The machine features Engcon’s Q-Safe and EC-Oil systems. This allows for the tilt-rotator to be dropped off enabling the machine to be configured with a conventional UK bucket set up for those that don’t want to be trained with a tilt-rotator mounted on the end. With the EC-Oil system the operators can pick up and use at the flick of a switch any one of a range of hydraulic tools including selector grab, hydraulically adjusting forks, compactor plate and a rotary sweeper brush. Other non-hydraulic Engcon work tools include tarmac cutter, ripper tooth, grading beam and dedicated Swedish style excavator buckets. The machine also features a Prolec safe load indicator system which is also used by the centre for safe load operation practical tests.

Although many manufacturers are now offering proportional controls as a factory fit these days, most tilt-rotator manufacturers recommend fitting of genuine controls that are matched to system, however this is often down to personal preference of the end users. This JS130LC is fitted with Engcon’s MIG2 proportional servo controls, I have these same controls on my Takeuchi and I must say they are a very comfortable joystick to use and the control over the tilt-rotator is excellent. This partnership works well for TC Harrison too, as used equipment manager Karl Charlton explained, “Basically how it works is that CTA hire the new machines from us for the 6 month period, after which time we then offer them for sale as a low houred used machine, if the customer wants to take the excavators with the Engcon as a complete package that’s fine, if not then it can be taken off and sold separately, this arrangement works well as it gives us a good supply of relatively light worked used equipment after the 6 months. It also gives people a good chance to get behind the controls of a JCB machine to evaluate them for themselves which can only be a good thing, plus the candidates are always using brand new kit for training on so every ones a winner”.

CTA centres are now springing up across the country, with venues in Maidenhead, Dereham in Norfolk, Dartford in Kent, Redditch and Manchester to name a few. All feature excellent classroom facilities designed for theory work and health and safety testing as well as the extensive custom built practical training grounds outside.

I can honestly say this one in Doncaster was one of the best training venues I have seen so far, there are plenty digging areas, and sections devoted to roads and street works courses, a large scaffold tower dominates the non-digging area and on the day of our visit a telehandler candidate was being accessed on loading and unloading from it by one of the highly experienced trainer/instructors Clair Pritchard. In another section of the plot there is a series of slopes for telehandler and dumper training.

A wide range of courses are available 7 days a week and in addition to the plant categories listed earlier also include health safety & fire, piling, rail, slinger/signaller, crane supervisor, CSCS, CPCS and NPORS.

On the day of my visit I got a real sense that this would be a great place to learn new skills and brush up on previously acquired skills too, the whole team had a very friendly approach to training with none of the patronising “Captain Clipboard” style instructors that many of us have encountered at some venues. By making the whole experience enjoyable and productive I’m sure that more people will be attracted to attend courses and join the wider industry as a result of their experiences on CTA courses.

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