CPA Bulletin

Nick Johnson’s tail piece Nick Johnson nick.johnson @ constructionplant.info Tail Piece www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > May 2018 63 I am all for measures that help promote seat belt wearing but officially the use of a rotating green beacon on the public highway is only allowed (under The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989) for doctors (of the medical type with a GMC registration). So does this mean that a mini excavator working on the road with a green flashing beacon in action is illegal? But seriously, as the use of these seat belt indication lights really proliferate, would it not be better to display a solid green light when the seat belt is secure rather than a seemingly illegal flasher than should only signal the approach of a doctor? Within The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, blue lights are rightly reserved exclusively for the emergency services (including youngest son!). But, having first appeared on plant in quarries to warn of vehicle reversing, I am told that blue flashing rear lights are now becoming more common on other types of plant in other locations. I am sure that the Police will not be slow to act if plant with blue flashers appears on the road - they will want to preserve their all important right of passage! FORWARD THINKING At a recent high profile press launch, JCB became the latest plant maker to unveil an electric mini excavator. As more authorities clamp down on the noise and emissions that construction equipment can produce whilst working in city centres and urban areas, going electric seems a good green way forward. And the marketing might of JCB might well be just what is needed to help accelerate the change. As the construction of skyscrapers continues in London at an unprecedented pace, the number of very high freestanding tower cranes is also very clearly on the increase. So I was pleasantly surprised to see a tall Liebherr 630ECH tower crane fitted with a Geda operator lift on the London City Island site in east London. It seems that this crane comes from Holland so the Dutch are clearly now raising the stakes. High cranes are a feature of one of my favourite UK shows - Vertikal Days. Last year saw this popular display of cranes and access platformmove south to the Silverstone motor racing circuit from its previous home at Haydock Park race course. VERTIKAL CHALLENGES I have to say that I really liked Silverstone but it appears that difficulty in agreeing a mutually acceptable date for this year has seen Vertikal Days move on again to Donnington Park. However, the proximity of the end of the runway at East Midlands Airport has meant a vertical height restriction of 28.0m so, unfortunately, the show skyline this year will not look as impressive as in the past. Another show switching sites is the biennial Plantworx. Having started at Stoneleigh Park in 2013 and then being staged twice at Bruntingthorpe aerodrome, Plantworx 2019 is destined to be held at The East of England Arena and Events Centre at Peterborough. Despite rumours that the Peterborough site is to be developed for housing, the Plantworx team state that they have secured this location close to the A1 until 2023. So at least three Plantworx shows should be there where visitors adverse to mud will appreciate the greater amount of hard standing and permanent walkways. Working demonstrations will continue to be a prominent feature of Plantworx and the 2019 event will gain a new dimension with the addition of an adjacent rail industry show. Called Railworx, this new event is very separate from the established Rail Live show and so it will be interesting to see if the rail sector, even given the impetus from new projects like HS2, will back both. Nick Johnson