DEMOLITION SQUAD

Since their arrival on the UK shores in 2012, Liugong excavators have impressed the country’s demolition community.

Providing a machine capable of withstanding the rigours of this particular industry, Liugong models have featured in many of the UK’s demolition fleets both large and small with a variety of both compact machines up to the 995F providing excellent service to their end users. Whilst many of these machines have been DM (Demolition Machine) factory versions, several conversions including high reach models have been supplied through Ipswich based Kocurek.

With the launch of the new F series models, the manufacturer has decided to offer a range of factory made options on their new DM range including options such as straight booms and hydraulically rising cabins.

One of the first machines of this style has been supplied to Burnley based Howard Stott Demolition. Howard Stott Demolition Ltd was founded by Howard Stott in 1977 and has built up an enviable reputation based on integrity, professionalism and pride - values which continue to guide them through to the present day. With a proven reputation for the seamless delivery of all aspects of de-construction projects for our blue-chip clients and public sector services, from the pre-contract planning and demolition design stage through to safe site handover.

Stott Demolition have operated a variety of machine brands over the years and run a fleet from micro excavators right up to 70 tonne high reach machines allowing them to undertake every demolition project with their own in-house fleet.

Recent years have seen several Liugong excavators added to the fleet including a new 924F, one of the first in the UK to come with a factory built hydraulically raising cab.

Based on the standard 924F excavator, the hydraulically raising cab option is usually found on material handlers and some high reach demolition machines. Traditional excavators are few and far between with this option but for the work undertaken by the Stott teams, the option makes sense.

While the standard 924FDM tips the scales at around 25 tonnes, Stott’s machine gains a few kilos extra thanks to its Lehnhoff Lehmatic hitch and the raising cab. Built on the same platform as the 922F, the 924F uses the same fuel-efficient Cummins B 6.7, 6-cylinder, Stage V diesel delivering 156hp, a 5% increase over the previous generation. Demolition attachments require ample hydraulic pressures and flow to ensure attachments work as they are supposed to and the Liugong meets these needs with ease. A pair of 228 litre per minute variable displacement pumps allow the operator to control both the standard machine functions and hydraulic attachments to operate without any issues. The DM variant utilises a standard case drain to ensure oil is returned to the tank as rapidly as possible.

As part of the DM package, the 924F comes with additional bolt-on protection for the lower edge of the upper structure. Designed to reduce potentially expensive damage to the main chassis rails, the sectional pieces are shaped to follow the contours of the main frame and come in three pieces making them easier and more cost effective to replace should they get damaged. The package also includes additional guarding to the stick cylinder and full FOPS guarding to the cab.

Lance Miller Operator Howard Stott Demolition

The F Series cab has certainly raised the bar for other manufacturers with a well appointed interior fitted out with all of the usual refinements operators demand from a modern machine. Lance Miller is Stott’s experienced operator tasked with handling the new arrival and is very appreciative of the new cab. “It’s a great place to spend a day.” He commented. “Everything is simple and easy to use, changing the flows and pressures for the attachments is very easy and we can save almost all of the settings for the attachments we use on a regular basis within the system making attachment changeovers easy.” With the added benefit of the raising cab Lance says it makes his life a lot easier when dismantling buildings. “Before this machine turned up taking a structure down above you meant you had to arch your neck to see the attachment in some positions. With the cab raised, my eyeline is now over 4m above the ground making my job easier and safer letting me see everything in front of me.”

The front-end equipment is the same as the standard machine with a reinforced 5.79mm gooseneck boom married to a 2.9m stick. Carrying a full suite of additional hydraulic services, the equipment offers a dig depth of 6.7m but more importantly for Stott is the pin height of 7m. The working height will increase slightly depending on the attachment being used.

One of the first projects for the machine was in Huddersfield where Lance had already knocked the building down and was working his way through the reinforced concrete using a Rotar RDP processor. The Rotar, like the Lehnhoff, was supplied through Worsley Plant who have been supplying Stott with a range of hitches and attachments for several years with the site teams enjoying the ease of use of the hitch and the robust build quality of the attachments.

Whilst Lance was working elsewhere, the first few hours clocked up on the machine were done by owner Howard Stott. “When the machine first came onto site, I was the first one on it!” Howard commented. “I don’t just buy machines and say to them there you go, get on with it. I still operate whenever I can, and still enjoy it and I can tell the lads exactly what I think of any new purchase. I was really impressed with the machine after using it for two weeks, it was that good I couldn’t find any faults with it.”

The deal for the machine was concluded by Steven Wilson, Liugong’s Northern Head of Sales. Steven is held in high regard throughout the demolition community for his open and honest attitude and according to Howard, ‘was very keen on pushing the deal over the line.’ “Steven has delivered us a great package on both the cost and the warranty we have received.” He commented. “We have that peace of mind knowing that should anything untoward happen, we are covered.”