SIZE MATTERS

Since it was established almost nine years ago, National Tracked Dumper Hire Ltd, through ongoing investment, has today one of the most impressive and biggest range of tracked dumpers available for hire anywhere in the UK.

NTD have been accredited as being instrumental in the reintroduction to the UK market of modern 360˚ rotating tracked dumpers. It recently added two new 25 tonne Morooka MST-4000VDRs to its fleet, the largest in the manufacturer’s range and the first units in the UK.

Hosting an impressive carrying payload of 20,000kg, it is also the biggest 360-degree rotator in its class. Powered by a Stage V Caterpillar 9.3B engine producing 420HP, the MST4000VDR is always going to be in a class of its own. Having joystick controls and an extensive array of safety equipment, work is made easy on environmentally challenging job sites.

Sitting on 850mm wide rubber tracks it is impressive how a machine of this weight, fully loaded at 11.8 psi ground pressure, creates minimal damage to the ground and surrounding environment as it does. To put this into perspective, an average human is 16 psi.

Considering one of these can do the work of two smaller dumpers with one operator, less fuel burn, lower emissions and only one delivery and collection charge, it really is a cost-effective solution when bulk material needs moving in the toughest of conditions.

“These are the biggest rotating tracked dumpers in the world, currently there is nothing else in the market comparable in this class and size, and we are the first in the UK to offer this model,” says Jim Booth from National Tracked Dumper Hire which operates from six locations nationwide.

Although featuring a high level of standard specification including a factory fitted 360 camera system, NTD has added even more safety features, including HFR (Human Form Recognition) visibility aid systems with ‘thumbs up’ that will detect the human form, essentially providing the operator with a ‘third’ eye; an alert is sounded externally and internally if an encroachment is imminent.

“We make safety a priority, so we have also replaced the conventional offside mirrors with a dual camera monitor HGV system in the cab which gives the operator an even wider view of what is happening around the dumper and helps eliminate any blind spots. It is easy to keep clean, adjust and has massively improved visibility in bad weather, also eliminating hazards when needing to fold in mirrors. The introduction of this system has been very well received by operators and will be a standard for all NTD large dumpers going forward,” says Jim, who adds that all NTD machines run on biodegradable oils.

These new Morooka MST-4000VDR rubber tracked dumpers were acquired from Cautrac, the UK and Ireland’s exclusive importer and distributor for Morooka.

Morooka Dumpers have come a long way over the years in regard to improving operator comfort and visibility from the ROP’s cabins, now with joystick controls in place of the old twin lever design from the past. All new models are now using the latest Stage V engines, generally from Caterpillar, Cummins, or Kubota, offering unlimited power to tackle the tough conditions these machines are capable of working in.

After a recent visit to the factory in Japan, Directors of NTD, Richard Maclean and Jim Booth, accompanied by Craig Taylor, Managing Director from Cautrac, were quick to see the value in adding the MST4000VDR’s to National Tracked Dumper Hire’s ever-growing fleet.

“It wasn’t long after the journey from the Land of The Rising Sun to arrival in the current sodden UK, before these machines got the opportunity to prove that they are more than capable of doing what they are designed to do,” says Craig.

The new 25 tonne Morooka MST-4000VDRs dumpers delivered to National Tracked Dumper Hire went straight out to work on what is one of Gloucestershire’s biggest road schemes in decades, the £460 million A417 ‘Missing Link’ upgrade to improve congestion and safety on this key route linking the M5 with the M4 in Wiltshire.

Main contractors for the scheme, Kier, were appointed by National Highways in 2022, having built up an extensive track record delivering large-scale infrastructure projects. Kier Works Manager for the scheme Nigel Weaver says they have been impressed by the performance of the two Morooka dumpers which offer many benefits over standard wheeled dumpers due to the very low ground pressure and the upper structure rotates 360 degrees on the tracks, so there is almost no need to reverse the machine.

Thanks to their low ground pressure, these tracked dumpers are ideal for working on soft and environmentally sensitive terrain…

This offers significant safety and environmental benefits as the operator can always see clearly where they are going – and are particularly useful on river banks, haul roads and tracks, where the operator may not have space to turn – or where turning increases risk.

Not only that, because they minimise the damage to ground conditions when travelling, especially on soft and environmentally sensitive terrain, they will cause a lot less damage to the site compared to a conventional wheeled dumper, meaning you reduce reinstatement costs after the job is finished.

“These dumpers have been a godsend,” says Nigel, who adds that the 5.5km upgrade from single carriageway to dual carriageway will necessitate the provision of 33kms of drainage and 1.6m3 of earth moving. “We’ve been able to use the Morooka dumpers right through the winter because they can get in where ordinary dumpers wouldn’t, and we have achieved so much more with them because of their versatility.”

Powered by a Cat C9.3B Stage V fuel efficient engine and with a travel speed of up to 11 km/h, the MST-4000VDR’s high strength Bridgestone rubber tracks and reinforced undercarriage offers outstanding stability and durability, while its hydraulic drive transmission provides smooth movement.

The ROPS/FOPS cab of the machine has clearly been designed with the operator in mind, offering greater comfort and safety. On these new machines, an electric control travel lever has been introduced. Intuitive operation is possible with only the left-hand joystick for driving.

Driving posture has also been improved compared to conventional machines, reducing operator fatigue.

“These dumpers have been a godsend...”

In addition, operation systems such as super slow mode, auto cruise (option), horn, spin turn and high speed/low speed switching are integrated into the travel lever, allowing the vehicle to travel as the operator wishes.

Engine speed is reduced by 10% in eco mode to reduce fuel consumption. Eco mode can be activated / deactivated on the monitor by the operator seat. The “Auto Decel” function automatically lowers the engine speed when idling for a certain period of time, improving fuel efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions and noise.

The dumper is also equipped with a safety lock lever on the left side of the seat, in addition to the parking brake, thereby greatly improving safety and helping to avoid accidents that could be caused by unintended movements.

A large LED headlight placed on the upper part of the cabin, making it safer to work at night or in dark places. Caution lamps and a monitor display have also been centralized on the right-hand side of the driver’s seat, providing vital machine status.

Morooka have made daily checks and standard maintenance easier and safer. Each component is arranged for efficient inspection. The front grille’s large opening also makes it easy to carry out any required maintenance.

The National Tracked Dumper Hire fleet since 2015 has grown substantially. “We started off with about six dumpers and today with the addition of these two new MST-4000VDRs the fleet comfortably exceeds 50 units, all backed up by what is the UK’s most comprehensive tracked dumper depot network and field service team to ensure the highest possible levels of support is provided to our customers no matter where they are in the country,” comments Jim.