Aylesbury builder Phillip Gollins has added a Kubota U145 crawler excavator to a rapidly growing rental fleet, that now includes more than 100 machines. Though operating as a general builder and construction specialist for more than 30 years, Mr Gollins also runs a successful plant hire division, though with a slightly different focus to many of his competitors.
Rather than establishing multiple depots and marketing the rental side as a standalone outlet, much of the company’s business comes through cross-hire from other plant hire firms. With as many as 60 excavators from 1-13 tonnes, site dumpers, telehandlers, compressors and a selection of mobile crushing machinery, all of the equipment is sent out on a self-drive basis. In many cases, the company supplies machinery on longer-term contracts, particularly to utility customers.
The latest addition to this fleet, a Kubota U145, is typical of this approach. The 14.6-tonne machine has replaced a similarly sized older competitor on an extended Southern Utilities contract in Hertfordshire. The utility company has a crushing and storage facility, where up to 15 road teams bring in excavated soils, concrete and asphalt from sites across the region. The Kubota is initially used with an Allu hydraulic riddling bucket, to sort loose soils from larger material. The operator then swaps to a regular bucket to load the larger waste into a mobile crusher, creating a reusable fill material, that can then be loaded onto trucks and taken back out to site.
Supplied by local Kubota dealer Shellplant, the U145 is the latest and largest model to come from the manufacturer. Built in cooperation with Sumitomo Construction Machinery, the short tailswing excavator is powered by a 78.5kW (106.7hp) Stage V diesel engine. Available with or without a dozer blade and with a choice of monoboom of two-piece articulating (TAB) main boom, the U145 boasts powerful performance within compact overall dimensions. Mr Gollins has opted for the monoboom with the dozer blade, which is used to level material on the stockpile where the Kubota is operating and for additional stability when loading into the crusher.
There are three working modes available to the operator and the Auto mode has six levels, to tailor the machine to the task. Power Save Control automatically adjusts hydraulic pump flow when idle, to reduce fuel consumption and Spool Stroke Control automatically regulates hydraulic pressure to further optimise fuel efficiency.
The majority of the company’s excavators are now Kubotas, supplied by Shellplant and it is the firm’s relationship with the dealer that led to this latest addition to the fleet.
“It’s a brilliant brand and the back-up from Shellplant is excellent,” said Mr Gollins. “The residuals are always good with a Kubota and everyone loves the machines, they are no trouble.”
Initial impressions of the U145 have been positive. Mr Gollins highlights the way that the cab door folds back within the swing radius of the machine, to prevent damage, the audible warning when the machine is tracking and the proportional auxiliary thumb controls on the hydraulic levers that all come as standard. He would like to see an AdBlue gauge as standard, but appreciates the size of the cab and the smooth feel of the hydraulics.
“Shellplant is a first-class company, they are a pleasure to deal with, their knowledge and customer service, which always comes first with them,” said Mr Gollins. “Also, the new machine is carrying the Kubota badge, so it fits in with the rest of our fleet.”
