Page 8 - CEN 13 Apr.indd

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APRIL 2013
cover storyChivers Construction, a niche construction company
in the steel-pipe laying industry since the 1980s,
and which has more recently diversified into the
plant hire business, is soon to take delivery of its fourth
Terex ® backhoe loader, a TLB840, from ELB Equipment
Limited (ELB). ELB is the licensed distributor for southern
Africa of the internationally-renowned Terex® range of
backhoe loaders, mini crawler excavators, and compact
wheel loaders.
Having acquired its first Terex® backhoe loader in 2003, a
Terex® 860SX, Peter Chivers, owner of Chivers Construction,
says that the decision to purchase his first Terex® machine
was based both on the excellent service he had received
from ELB when purchasing other equipment from the
company and on the reputation of Terex® machines for
robust and reliable performance. “The Terex ® backhoe
loader has certainly lived up to my expectations. My first
machine has done over 13 000 hours, while the 820,
purchased in 2007, has clocked up over 10 000 hours,
both at machine availabilities of well above industry
average,” he notes.
As a result of the performance delivered by the Terex®
860SX, Chivers Construction has remained with the Terex®
brand in subsequent purchases of backhoe loaders. “Terex’s
commitment to innovation and the ongoing improvement
of their machines means that I can be confident that I
will receive the latest technical developments, available
worldwide, in backhoe loaders,” says Peter. The side shift
840, ordered recently by Chivers Construction, is the ninth
generation backhoe loader from Terex Construction and
incorporates a number of new and enhanced features.
Chivers Construction, based in Boksburg, Gauteng,
commenced operation servicing the municipalities and
as a sub-contractor to South Africa’s major construction
companies, working locally, in the Western and Northern
Cape and further afield in Botswana and Swaziland,
often in remote areas. This has meant that it places a
high premium on the dependability, as well as the high
performance of the Terex® backhoe loaders.
Terex® : Digging deeper on southern
Africa’s construction sites
A powerful workhorse for digging, backfilling, grading or loading, the Terex® backhoe loader has become
a staple in the South African construction industry – whether it be for laying pipes, fencing, lifting,
reaching or trenching, with customers praising its many features aimed at increasing versatility, precision
and productivity, enhancing comfort and reducing driver fatigue.
backhoe loaders have performed exceptionally well, with
only minor breakdowns, if any, experienced. For example,
in 2012, the backhoe loaders operated at machine
availabilities in excess of 90%, working six days or even,
when required, seven days a week.”
Dependability
Terex® backhoe loaders are also easy and safe to
transport from site to site, with the stabiliser posts folding
up inside the width of the tyres and automatically locking
up to prevent them floating down. “The backhoe loaders’
rugged construction and components have meant they
can cope with the wide range of sites to which we send
them, while their high transport speeds enable them to
move quickly between jobs,” Peter asserts.
Continuing, he adds, “In the difficult conditions of
many of our construction sites, the manoeuvrability
of the Terex® backhoe loaders is also a significant
advantage.” TLB840’s tight turning circle of 7.9m and
long surface reach of up to 6.7m makes it able to work
in the tightest and most difficult access spaces, without
the need to use additional machines. In addition, the
TRAC rod steering system is mounted on the rear side
of the axle, high enough to maintain significant ground
clearance (some 480mm). This, together with the
heavy-duty frames and undercarriage, means that the
backhoe loaders can work in rocky conditions without
the fear of potential damage to the undercarriage. In
soft ground conditions, a rear axle Diff lock helps to
keep the machine moving.
“The operators of our machines find them to be
exceptionally stable,” Peter claims, “even in the most
arduousof terrains.” This stability isprovidedbyastandard,
solid cast nose counterweight, which provides improved
weight distribution and also protects components in the
front of the machine.
High-performance
“The highly capital intensive nature of the industry
we operate in also places considerable importance
on maximising productivity levels,” he observes. The
exceptional bucket breakout force and lifting performance,
and the ‘return to dig’ at the touch of a button, are features
that increase efficiencies of the TLB840.
To further increase productivity, the 70kWair-cooled engine
provides quick cycle times, while the compatibility of the
engine, gearbox and tandem pump hydraulics enables fast
bucket filling, more controlled power and a quicker and
smoother machine operation. Achieving high productivity
levels is also assisted by the increased bucket rotation, with
the bucket linkage design allowing operators to drive into a
Peter continues, “Our diversification into plant hire in 2006
highlighted the reliability of the Terex® backhoe loaders.
Our machines are hired out through D&E Earthworx and,
as a plant hire company, neither Chivers Construction nor
D&E have control over site conditions or how our machines
are handled. In these challenging conditions, all our Terex®
“Spare parts are readily available from ELB
Equipment, as the company maintains a
comprehensive stockholding in South Africa.”