The Van Polen family has specialised in storm water drain construction for the past 40 years and operates out of Cranbourne 40km south east of Melbourne.
Its company runs two excavators, one of which was recently replaced with a JCB JS220LC auto tracked machine.
Bill Van Polen said the 22t long carriage (LC) model, had superior stability to other machines on the market, and its long reach boom and dipper meant easy access to inaccessible areas.
He said the company bought the excavator sight unseen – and without a test drive – based on the solid reputation of JCB in the marketplace, and the excellent deal negotiated with Rick Macaulay of JCB Construction Equipment Australia in Melbourne.
Mainly pipe work
“This model is ideally suited for the type of work we need it to carry out – mainly digging and lifting storm water pipes,” Bill said. “We can be digging to depths of 4.5m, but we are usually digging down about 2m and have found the new JCB excavator can handle that easily.”
The JS220LC has a 103kW Isuzu turbo-charged engine, which is renowned for power, reliability, durability and fuel efficiency.
Its main hydraulic components are Japanese designed and engineered to provide increased flow and pressure. This boosts available power and speed for improved dipper and bucket dig force, drawbar pull, and work equipment speeds.
Bill said because of this, the excavator was very quick and efficient to operate, coupled with being far more fuel efficient than the machine it replaced.
The undercarriage of the JS220LC, is made up of a heavy-duty X frame, designed to perform in the toughest conditions. Also, it provides higher tractive effort for climbing and manoeuvring in rough terrain and soft ground.
Operator comfort
Bill said operator comfort and ease of use had been a major factor when choosing a new excavator and the JCB models were superior to many others on the market in this regard.
“All-round visibility on this machine is excellent, as there are no obstructions near the windows,” he said. “The cab is very roomy and comfortable and it has been very easy for my son to get to grips with using the controls.”
JCB’s JS and JZ excavators have a standard Advanced Management System (AMS) controlling all of the machine’s major functions.
Bill said this meant the operator could flick easily between auto, economy, precision or lifting mode on the joystick, depending on the type of job they were performing.
“It is especially good when we are lifting pipes, because we can slow the boom down with the touch of a button.’’
The AMS system, also alerts the driver if there is ever a problem on the machine, and records all of its key operating data.
Cushion control
JCB’s JS and JZ excavator models have cushion control to the boom and dipper services, to cushion shock loadings, and ensure smooth operation. This function can be disabled, if required, to increase cycle times and maximise productivity.
Bill said his company had received excellent sales support and back-up service from JCB Construction Equipment Australia.
“We haven’t used JCB machines before, but we are impressed with this excavator, and we expect the machine will prove to be very reliable,” he said.
More information: A JCB Construction Equipment Australia branch or 1300 JCB CEA.
