Unquestionably, Rototilt rules at Hooper and Sons Ltd, a family run company that covers the South East of England, London and Essex, specialising in commercial, industrial and domestic groundworks, including site clearance, excavations, drainage, foundations and brickwork, as well as hard and soft landscaping.
Directors Richard Hooper and his brother John took over the company in 2008 from their father who originally started the business in 1972, and together they have worked hard to further grow it into an even more highly successful and well-respected groundworks contracting concern.
At the heart of the business, based at Gravesend in Kent, are its customers and its hard working and focused team of employees and sub-contractors who are regarded as part of the Hooper family.
While expanding their client base that includes all kinds of businesses, councils, developers and homeowners, the brothers have invested heavily in plant and machinery over the years, placing great store on leading brands such as Rototilt.
“It’s the only brand of tiltrotator that we use on our fleet of excavators,” says Richard Hooper. “Currently we have around 12 Rototilt tiltrotators, the latest being an RC4 which has been fitted to our new 18-tonne Liebherr R914.”
“IT’S
THE ONLY BRAND
OF TILTROTATOR THAT WE USE ON OUR FLEET OF EXCAVATORS.”
The wide tracked Liebherr, which has a two-piece boom and has also been fitted with a Leica 2D machine control system, is the first in the company’s mixed and growing fleet of excavators which include Kobelco and Takeuchi machines.
It has proved to be a perfect match for the Rototilt RC4, as we heard from operator Shaun Abrey when we visited one of the company’s ongoing projects at St Margaret’s Farm in Kent where they were preparing the ground ahead of laying a concrete base for a recycling and waste management facility.
Shaun, who has worked with Hooper & Sons for the past 10 years, says the Rototilt RC4 tiltrotator, with its 360 degree rotation and 45 degree tilt, has made a big difference in transforming the Liebherr R914 into an even more versatile machine.
A Real Gamechanger
“With the Leica 2D machine control incorporated into the Rototilt, my job as a driver is a lot easier on the site,” he says. “The Rototilt tiltrotator is so precise and smooth to operate. It is a real gamechanger, in my opinion, making my work so much more efficient and productive.”
With the Rototilt tiltrotator, Shaun finds that he doesn’t have to move the excavator around or shift position as much which not only saves time but also fuel, as well as minimising track wear. He’s also full of praise for Rototilt’s QuickChange system which gives him the ability to switch over hydraulic tools without the need to leave the cab, again saving time while also improving safety.
The RC4 was also supplied with a gripper module, an efficient picking and handling tool which enables operators to safely move materials and other bits and pieces around the site, also without leaving the cab.
Robust & Reliable
The Rototilt design incorporates a cast housing which holds the rotation unit. This oil-filled rotor housing cast results in a strong design which sets Rototilt tiltrotators apart, making them robust and reliable as well as stronger, lighter and longer lasting than welded alternatives.
“I would say to anyone out there thinking of investing in a Rototilt to make the jump; just do it – it is an unbelievable piece of equipment,” says Shaun, and his fellow excavator operators at Hooper Sons readily agree.
Despite its low weight and compact format, the RC4 can handle breakout torques of up to 163 kNm and with its pressure-compensated hydraulics, operators like Shaun can use the tiltrotator’s functions independently of each other to provide precise control of tilt and rotation, even if you want to operate these at different speeds.
This becomes even clearer when you are using both functions at the same time. When the tilt function is operating in the maximum position, rotation can continue at the same speed as before and as a result, this provides optimum parallel operation, as there is no need to take the speed of rotation and tilt into account. This means undertaking tasks become smoother and more controlled, allowing greater precision and better results.
Adds Shaun: “Yes, it does take a while to master the controls, but once you do, it becomes second nature. For me to go back to a standard set-up I think I would struggle.”
Versatility Key to Success
Taking on such a variety of projects for a range of different customers, it is easy to understand why Rototilt tiltrotators play a pivotal role in the Hooper & Sons excavator fleet where versatility is key to the company’s efficiency and productivity.
“We’ve always been big fans of the Rototilt brand ever since we invested in our first tiltrotator some years ago,” says Richard Hooper, “and they have always delivered for us. They are robust and reliable which keeps any potential for downtime to a minimum.
“Our operators love the Rototilts which are perfect for our kind of work, and they help us save on labour costs, eliminating the need for a second man on the ground in many cases and thereby further contributing to safety on the site.”
Another major bonus is the aftersales support and service provided by Rototilt and more recently by Road Rail Plant, a family run business appointed at the beginning of last year as dealers for Rototilt’s product sales and service for Kent and surrounding areas.
“Over the years, we have built up a very good relationship with Rototilt’s engineers who can always be relied on,” says Richard, “which is another reason why we will continue to remain with the Rototilt brand.”
“I WOULD SAY TO ANYONE OUT THERE THINKING OF INVESTING IN A ROTOTILT TO MAKE THE JUMP;
JUST DO IT
– IT IS AN
UNBELIEVABLE
PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.”