CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > May 2020 33 NEWS FROMCPA MEMBERS: 1 News from CPA Members To submit news for consideration for future issues of the CPA Bulletin, please email lisa @ lisacollinscommunications.co.uk There is widespread and growing knowledge and concern about the potential harm that can be caused by diesel exhaust fumes. The London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory discovered that construction sites are responsible for approximately 7.5% of damaging nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, 8% of large particle emissions (PM10) and 14.5% of emissions of the most dangerous fine particles (PM2.5). While a small amount of this (about 1%) is dust from site activities like demolition, most comes from the extensive use of diesel powered machinery such as generators, lighting, excavators, etc. Given these facts, it should be no surprise that progressive producers of construction equipment are seeking new ways to power their machinery. One major supplier to the UK equipment hire industry, MHM, is already at the forefront in the use of renewables and non-fossil fuels. However, to continue their advance into using environmentally acceptable power, MHM has entered into a partnership with MIPV, a South Wales based manufacturer of innovative thin-film solar panels. This exclusive partnership is set to develop bespoke solutions to meet the sustainable energy needs of mobile welfare, site lighting and temporary security applications, using thin film solar PV technology to generate the required power. MHM has now become the global distributor for MIPV’s renewable solar thin-film CIGS technology in all of these market sectors. Commenting on this partnership, MHM Managing Director, Mat Llewellyn said: “Our aim is to limit and possibly eliminate the use of diesel entirely by concentrating on renewables, hybrid and battery powered systems. We believe that MIPV has made exactly the right product for the markets we supply. Our commitment to the application of renewables is steadfast. We anticipate that the use of MIPV thin- film panels will help us achieve our ultimate goal of zero carbon efficiency.” Mulholland Contracts, one of Scotland’s largest privately owned construction companies, has purchased the firm’s first ever bulldozer from Komatsu. The company, which has a fleet of 60 excavators, had previously been using a hired bulldozer but demand for use of this type of machine led to the purchase. Mulholland Contracts specialises in construction works for the house building sector - from civil engineering and bulk earthmoving to multi utilities services. The machine purchased was the Komatsu D61PXi-24, a mid-size bulldozer which has a super slant nose design to enhance the operator’s visibility. The dozer is also integrated with Komatsu’s machine control system allowing it to complete automated operation from heavy dozing to fine grading, enhancing work efficiency and productivity. The machine has already been put to good use at a new housing estate in Midlothian where it has been creating landscape bunds and it is being moved to a large housing estate project in Edinburgh where it will be spending the next few years. Another company in Scotland - Dunbar Plant - has also purchased a Komatsu machine, this time a used bulldozer. Dunbar Plant provides additional plant support to Forth Resource Management (FRM) which offers sustainable recycling solutions for garden waste across South East Scotland. Since being formed, Dunbar Plant has always kept a fleet of three machines which together can perform a broad range of tasks across FRM’s recycling and manufacturing process. When it came to replacing the firm’s existing bulldozer, Dunbar Plant considered both new and used equipment fromMarubeni-Komatsu. After taking into account utilisation and capital costs, Dunbar Plant opted for a used 2015 Komatsu D61PXi-23 bulldozer fitted with a folding dozer blade which reduces the width of the blade when it is being transported which is an advantage when moving frequently between job sites. On the Quest for Zero Carbon KomatsuMachines for Scottish Firms