“Building Tomorrow, Today: Shore Hire’s Australian-Made Legacy

February 25, 2024

Whenever we choose products that are Australian made and owned, we aren’t just making a personal choice. We’re supporting local jobs, strengthening the economic backbone of the country, reducing our carbon footprint, ensuring quality and safety, and encouraging innovation.

You’d be hard pressed to find a better example of all that in action than Shore Hire.

These days, the name is synonymous with premium, tailored shoring, propping and traffic management solutions. But since the very beginning, back when patriarch, Peter Geelan, was hand painting and renting out barricades, their ethos has always centered around customer-driven product development. So, as CEO, Ashley Lancaster points out, it has always made sense to maintain complete ownership of the end-to-end process.

“Keeping it all in-house wherever possible means we can rapidly innovate, and respond to feedback,” he explains. “That’s only possible thanks to our exceptional engineers and innovation team who close that loop by getting out there and listening to what the market, our customers, and our people are telling us.”

Having expanded into key locations along the eastern seaboard, walking their talk on ‘local’ means the Australian Made promise is baked into everything they do.

“Our customers need very high-quality products. But they also need us to have the capability to move quickly,” Ashley explains. “You just can’t do that with an overseas supply chain.”

And when they say they do the lot, the Shore Hire team aren’t joking. “We run the whole show, from manufacture right through to asset management, and even the delivery,” Ashley says. “The vast majority of production is done by our own tradesmen in our own facilities, and our in-house engineers do the quality checks. Yes, that’s about quality control but it’s also about speed. We’re not waiting months and months to get products up to standard. I mean, it can literally be just a matter of days between an idea and a prototype.”

With innovation at the core of Shore Hire’s commitment to local design and manufacturing, it’s no surprise their catalogue of product offerings expands year on year.

“When they first went into shoring, obviously the business had Peter Geelan’s 50-odd years of experience to draw upon. Then, as time went on, they looked internationally at all the shoring products on offer and set about creating world-class solutions that could stand up to Australian conditions,” Ashley shares. “Listening to our customers has always been a huge part of our product development strategy. We’re constantly using customer feedback to help tailor products to suit new and niche applications.”

That laser focus on customer experience – the Geelans call it delivering the “wow factor” – also underpins Shore Hire’s famously empowering workplace culture.

“That’s critical to our success.” Ashley says. “Every member of the team really is proud to be part of the Shore Hire family. And that comes from Luke and Peter being so approachable and hands-on at every level.”

As the business has grown to some 170 staff and expanded well beyond the Sydney HQ, the secret to scaling that culture has come down to great communication. “We’re rolling out new initiatives, like our Town Hall meetings, where the executive team will go around each brand and update everyone on what’s happening in the business, locally to them,” Ashley explains. “Because at the end of the day, it’s important to us that everybody knows they’re part of the solution.”

When you’ve got that strong culture, staff retention tends to look after itself. Which, Ashley says, has flow-on benefits. “We have people that were with us from the first day and many who were there in the very first or second year still working for us,” he shares. “That adds up to an incredible amount of expertise. And it also promotes consistency in our customer relationships and their experience of working with us.”

Ashley, himself part of the Geelans’ story since 2005, has a background you don’t often see in a CEO. “I started out as a diesel mechanic with Caterpillar,” he recalls. “I worked my way up through parts operations, branch manager, parts operations manager, and regional manager before joining Shorco – the Geelans’ previous venture. After 15 years there, I was General Manager for New South Wales before making the decision to rejoin Luke and Pete in the Shore Hire business. That was back in February 2019.”

In taking on the challenge of leading one of the Aussie construction industry’s shining stars, Ashley has found his operational background to be a real asset. “I’ve obviously had to work hard to study and acquire a lot of those other skills that are required of any CEO these days,” he shares. “But having that foundation has been very helpful in my everyday job. My knowledge of the equipment and operations isn’t just theoretical. I’ve done all those jobs myself.”

Ashley’s appointment to the role is reflective of Shore Hire’s approach to recruitment more generally. “When you have that amazing culture, you want to protect it. So, Luke prioritises cultural fit. In looking for a CEO, for him that was about leadership. Can this person keep people engaged and get everyone behind our vision for the company? Will they care enough about our customers?”

As a safety business, you could argue the most important aspect of Shore Hire’s focus on Australian Made is their local knowledge of, and ability to stay ahead of the curve on, worksite safety needs and regulations.

“What’s really important in hire, but particularly in shoring and propping, is that every product that leaves the gate must be 100% safe,” Ashley says. “If they’re not right, consequences can be dire – people can lose their lives. So, it’s very important that our products are not only well designed and constructed, but also well maintained and inspected after every hire.”

This is yet another way that Shore Hire having ownership of the whole process offers their customers that extra peace of mind. “If something’s in Melbourne, Adelaide, or Brisbane and needs repair, we’ll transport that product back to our central repair facility to ensure we’re maintaining equipment to the highest standard,” he explains. “Right now, it’s difficult to scale that quality of repair facility at a local level, so we’re continuing to invest heavily in our centralised facility, so we know everything’s spot on.”

With a growing team and a product range that reaches well beyond their initial shoring and propping offerings (even including some tech-based solutions), what does the future have in store for Shore Hire?

“We care about our people, our customers, and the wider community,” Ashley shares. “And serving them comes down to finding that sweet spot where quality craftsmanship meets innovation – that’s how we’ll continue to deliver that wow factor. You have to be ready to make decisions and get moving. Which also means not being afraid to fail. If you’re not failing, you’re not trying. That said we don’t fail too often.”

Spend enough time around the team, as we have, and you’re left with the overwhelming sense that at the heart of every project, in every piece of equipment they build, and in every job opportunity they create, Shore Hire proudly embodies the spirit of Australian ingenuity, resilience, and workmanship. They’re certainly doing their part to build a stronger tomorrow.

shorehire.com.au

CJD Equipment introduces Zero-Emission Construction Equipment into Australia

Wayne Keene

February 25, 2024

In an era of increasing environmental awareness and the urgent need for decarbonisation, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has pioneered by introducing its first zero-emission machines to the Australian market. This commercial expansion of Volvo CE’s leading range of electric machines aligns with the growing demand for sustainable construction practices. It reinforces CJD Equipment’s commitment to transforming the industry towards a greener future. CJD Equipment has proudly distributed Volvo CE’s products in Australia for nearly 30 years.

Embracing Electromobility to Achieve Sustainable Construction

As customers in Australia prioritise decarbonisation and recognise the substantial benefits of electromobility, Volvo CE’s introduction of zero-emission construction machines aims to deliver high-performing electric power while minimising environmental impact. These electric machines and accompanying charging solutions allow construction companies to achieve zero-emission job sites without compromising productivity.

Compact Electric Machines

As part of its commitment to a sustainable future, CJD Equipment is bringing a range of compact electric machines to Australia, including the ECR18 and ECR25 Electric compact excavator and the L25 Electric wheel loaders, with more models to follow in 2024. The first three machines will be commercially available early in Quarter 1, 2024.

Unleashing the Power of Electric Machines

Volvo CE’s zero-emission machines introduced into Australia perform the same as their diesel counterparts but have additional advantages such as Zero emissions, near silence, reduced vibrations, and a more comfortable work environment. These electric machines enhance the overall work experience, open new business opportunities, and help companies adhere to emission regulations.

“We are thrilled to announce the arrival of Volvo Construction Equipment’s Electric machines in the Australian Market. Volvo CE’s commitment to leading the industry in this space reflects their proactive approach to meeting market demands. Our partnership underscores a shared pride in leading the transition towards sustainable equipment, marking a pivotal step in shaping a more environmentally conscious future for construction.” Grayden Leaver Executive General Manager – Sales and Marketing CJD Equipment Pty Ltd.

Accelerating Climate Action: Volvo CE’s Commitment to Sustainability

As a world-leading manufacturer, Volvo CE recognises the need for collective action to combat climate change. The company aims to reduce its and its customers’ environmental footprints by developing and commercialising electric solutions. Volvo CE has set an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, with significant emission reductions as early as 2030.

“Being part of the transition from ICE (internal combustion engine) to what we see today is remarkable. When 1^st I started my apprenticeship, this would not have been considered in my wildest dreams. Seeing what Volvo has been able to deliver with these Compact Construction Machines shows that it will be a bright future for our children and the dawn of a new chapter in Construction Equipment with Volvo” Hayden Grant National Product Manager | Volvo Construction Equipment

Charging Solutions for Seamless Operations

All Volvo CE’s zero-emission machines in Australia have charging solutions, allowing quick and efficient charging to ensure seamless operations. These machines can be charged from 0 to 100% in under six hours, enabling construction companies to plan their activities effectively. Volvo dealers collaborate with customers to calculate the expected operating time and provide the optimum charging solution tailored to their needs.

The availability of charging solutions also enables operation in noise-sensitive areas and outside standard working hours. Additionally, using electric machines eliminates the need for costly fume extraction systems, making them ideal for low-carbon projects and indoor construction sites.

The Future of Sustainable Construction

Volvo CE’s introduction of zero-emission construction machines in Australia marks a significant milestone in the industry’s transition towards sustainability. By embracing electromobility, construction companies can reduce their carbon footprint, comply with emission regulations, and contribute to a cleaner and greener future.

“The launch of Volvo’s emobility construction equipment in Australia marks a significant step forward for sustainable construction practices in the country. We believe that these machines will be a game-changer for the industry, and we’re excited to see how they will transform construction projects across the country.” Reid Gibson Product Manager – Electric and Sustainable Technologies | Volvo Construction Equipment.

Through continuous innovation and a commitment to customer success, Volvo CE is pioneering electric solutions that deliver both environmental benefits and high performance. As the construction industry evolves, the integration of zero-emission machines will become increasingly vital in achieving sustainable construction practices.

Investing in zero-emission construction equipment demonstrates a company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and positions it as a leader in the industry. As more customers in Australia and worldwide prioritise sustainability, Volvo CE’s zero-emission machines are poised to drive the transformation towards a more sustainable and efficient construction sector.

For many years, CJD Equipment and Volvo CE have been supplying premium construction equipment tailored to the specific needs of Australia’s diverse industries. Their collaboration over thirty years has ensured the delivery of high productivity, fuel efficiency, and safety solutions, enabling machines to operate at peak performance.

CJD Equipment boasts an extensive national support network, guaranteeing comprehensive assistance regardless of location or time. For further details, please reach out to your local CJD branch at 1300 139 804 or visit cjd.com.au

Hit harder and last longer with Boss Breakers.

Wayne Keene

February 24, 2024

Boss Attachments are well recognized for supplying premium attachments for performance and quality and their breakers are a must for quarry, demolition, and earthmoving contractors.

These hydraulic breakers deliver heavyweight performance with up to 40% reduced operating costs without any compromise to power and production.

There are several very clever features that make the Boss Breakers such a no nonsense hulk of a hammer that won’t let you down including the Energy Regeneration Nitrogen Gas Cushion Chamber (ERNGCC) that absorbs the piston’s upward recoil and conducts energy recycling for the constant blow.

The Side Buffer Side vibration absorber and side suspension device protects the powercell and they use an Easy-Pass Valve Side mounted type of “Easy-Pass Valve (EPV)” as a spool to regulate smooth oil traffic and control the oil direction for the stable operation and the vibration absorbing.

Employment of wear resistant plates between cylinder, front head and housing increases the overall product durability.

Compact auto grease refiller is equipped as an optional feature. Easy daily refill and continuous greasing is available as long as the breaker is operated.

Double Speed System is a standard feature to change from long stroke to short stroke according to the operator’s requirement for the optimal performance.

Super Anti Blank Firing (SABF) System SABF increases the lifespan of all components subject to wear and fatigue and reducing stress for the arm of the main carrier and the breaker.

With the SABF system the operator can selectively adjust On & Off Modes of Anti Blank Firing function according to the given working condition.

In SABF On mode, the hammer automatically starts when the tool presses down the workpiece and automatically stops when the tool tip is no longer in contact with the material.

The operator can efficiently control the hammer operation even in poor visibility such as underwater.

Internal stress, especially on the tool-retaining components such as the tool pin, front head, side rod, is reduced, providing increased hammer lifespan.

In SABF Off Mode, the operator can save time to position the breaker. This provides great productivity through increased efficiency of hammer operation.

If you would like more information on these impressive breakers or any of the Boss products visit bossattachments.com.au or call directly 1300 116 661.

THE PERFECT COMBINATION FOR GRINDING AND MILLING

Wayne Keene

February 23, 2024

ASV RT-135 MAX-SERIES POSI-TRACK AND SCHIBECI ST1000: THE PERFECT COMBINATION FOR GRINDING AND MILLING

In partnership with Schibeci, ASV Sales and Services recently delivered a brand new ASV RT-135 Posi-Track and a Schibeci attachment to a council customer that needed to upgrade their older machine.

A council representative that wanted to stay anonymous said: “We reached out to five different companies and just from previously owning a Terex Posi-Track for eight years, the superior reliability and ASV’s customer service made us return and buy the RT-135. As the road networks have grown, the RT-135 is a far more superior machine to stabilise our pavement relay, as a cost-effective option and we obtain far more square meters done throughout a project,”

When it comes to heavy-duty construction and road maintenance projects, having the right equipment is essential. A machine and attachment that have gained popularity with council and construction companies are the RT-135 and the Schibeci ST1000. While they serve different purposes, this machine and attachment can be used in tandem to achieve outstanding results in grinding and milling applications.

‘’The RT-135 Posi-Track is currently the only machine rated in the market with the hydraulic flow to power the Schibeci ST1000,” said the council representative. It’s one thing to have the most powerful hydraulic performance but you also have a cooling package that will enable you to perform 100% duty cycles through the hottest of days in the middle of summer. This is where the Posi-Track loaders have no competition. “It’s far more superior from our old machine and the guys cannot promote it enough. We’ve now doubled our square meter rates per day to what we used to mill out and fill in. We can now run our own blend with the speed of the drum, where previously we couldn’t control the way that the machine was cutting. It’s made the project safer, more reliable, and you’re getting a better product.’’

The ASV RT-135 MAX -Series Posi-Track

Let’s start with the RT-135 Posi-Track. This compact track loader is part of the ASV MAX-Series line-up and known for its power and versatility, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of projects. Equipped with a turbocharged Cummins 3.8l diesel engine, the RT-135 delivers exceptional performance and reliable power even under the toughest conditions.

One of the standout features of the RT-135 is its patented Posi-Track™ technology. This unique system gives the machine excellent traction and flotation on any terrain, ensuring it can navigate through muddy or soft surfaces with ease. Its superior ground clearance and low ground pressure also make it suitable for sensitive environments, such as wetlands or areas with fragile vegetation.

The RT-135 is highly manoeuvrable, thanks to its compact design and skid-steer capabilities. It can easily access confined spaces and navigate tight corners, making it suitable for both large-scale construction sites and smaller, more challenging work areas. Its enhanced visibility from the spacious cab allows operators to handle the machine with precision and safety.

The Schibeci ST1000

Now, let’s move on to the Schibeci ST1000. This attachment transforms the RT-135 into a powerful milling machine, making it capable of removing old road surfaces, creating rumble strips, or leveling uneven pavement. With its robust construction and efficient design, the ST1000 delivers outstanding results in a fraction of the time taken by traditional methods.

Additionally, the ST1000 comes with a dust extraction system, which effectively captures and removes dust particles generated during the milling process. This not only ensures a cleaner working environment but also reduces the risk of respiratory issues for operators and nearby workers.

Combining the RT-135 with the ST1000 is a winning combination for grinding and milling projects. It provides the power, versatility, and manoeuvrability needed to navigate varied terrains and confined spaces, while the ST1000 brings the efficiency and precision required for milling and grinding applications.

Whether you’re involved in road construction, renovation projects, or any application that requires grinding or milling, the RT-135 and ST1000 can help you achieve exceptional results. Together, they offer a seamless integration of power, performance, and efficiency, making them the go-to choose for many professionals in the field.

Also recommended for use with an ASV RT-120 Posi-Track or Terex PT-100G / PT-110, the guys at Schibeci will be the first to tell you, nothing runs their attachments like an ASV Posi-Track!

Schibeci and ASV Sales & Service also offer a smaller ST600 model, designed for similar usage on a smaller scale.

For more information on the ASV RT-135 Posi-Track Loaders and Schibeci ST1000, contact your local dealer to schedule a demo or product walkaround at www.asvaus.com.

All About the People

Wayne Keene

February 20, 2024

As a young kid, Michael Steadman, Director of MD Group (formerly Mr Dig Earthmoving), loved trucks, diggers, and everything to do with earthmoving. Those childhood passions have been converted into an ever-growing empire and Michael continues to be that kid playing in a sandpit – but with bigger toys!

MD Group is a small, family business located on the Sunshine Coast who have evolved from focusing on small projects such as fast-food outlets and car park builds to chasing large, civil projects containing bulk earthworks. In operation for nine years, their eight-strong staff of operators, civil allrounders, office staff, and a foreman, have established themselves with a reputation of providing high-quality commercial civil works throughout South East Queensland.

Being a small business, Michael is often found onsite working with the foreman to achieve efficient and quality workmanship in a professional and safe manner. MD Group pride themselves on completing projects to deadline and have not yet missed a delivery or handover date. When it comes to meeting these high standards, Michael can’t speak highly enough of his staff “Our awesome team works tirelessly day in, day out and really dig deep when push comes to shove.”

MD Group getting stuck in during their earthworks and stormwater project in Yandina.

Another factor in MD Group’s proven efficient service is the fact they own all their own machines, eliminating any downtime waiting on contractors. Their fleet is now predominantly made up of excavators, along with skid steers, dozers, drotts, rollers, moxy trucks, water carts, and tippers. Having always run CAT machines, MD Group acquired their first John Deere 26 tonne excavator a year ago and haven’t looked back. The E260LC came fitted with a Doherty D-Lock tilt coupler as Michael had always admired how well-built and solid their hitches looked, “even the paintwork is quality – the operators really like the finish and just how well presented the hitch looks on the machine,” he adds. The Doherty tilt hitches were pivotal when working on a large earthworks and stormwater project in Yandina recently. MD Group were up against it with a great deal of rain and large amounts of ground remediation, but the versatility of Doherty’s hitches meant they could tackle multiple jobs on site – digging trenches, lifting culverts into place, and the final trim on roadways. “The durability and functionality of the hitches made them easy to use and reliable, which is what you need on the big projects,” Michael comments.

These days, with products often being made to order and lengthy lead times, MD Group has found Doherty’s turnaround time to be second to none, backed up by brilliant after sales support – a strong business relationship which Michael values highly, saying, “With Doherty, anything we need, they have had it sorted straight away – we can’t ask for much more than that.”

For Michael, relationships, both internal and external, are fundamental to growing a successful business. “There are many people that have come and gone who have helped us get to the stages we are today.” He will not shy away from acknowledging that good people are what have enabled him to continue being that passionate kid playing in the sandpit.

Doherty Couplers & Attachments is one of the few manufacturers globally to offer quick couplers 100% compliant to Australian standard AS13031:2023, WorkCover NSW Position paper WC01783, European EN474 standard, ISO 13031 International standard and all major contractor policies. The main feature of the D-Lock coupler is its Dual Pin Locking plus system (DPL+) ensuring attachments remain securely engaged on both pins in the event of loss of engagement force. In addition, the primary jaw safety lock is backed up by an independent heavy-duty compression spring preventing the primary lock from releasing. Compact in design and powerful, the D-Lock Tilt Coupler incorporates a precision-built actuator with up to 180 degrees of tilt and is virtually maintenance-free. 

For more information contact:

Doherty Couplers and Attachments

Freephone AU: 1800 057 021

Email: [email protected]

Hazell Bros. Innovative Solutions, enduring results.

Wayne Keene

February 19, 2024

Hazell Bros was founded in 1944 by brothers Donald and Rowley Hazell as a transport business operating in Southern Tasmania. The company remains a family owned and operated business. Throughout its 75+ year history Hazell Bros has diversified its operations and business offerings to meet the prevailing economic conditions. Having expanded into Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, their core business functions today are Civil Construction, Quarries, Concrete, Construction Material Testing, Plant Hire, Transport, Asset Servicing and Industrial Services.

With a 700-strong team of employees Hazell Bros enjoys a longstanding reputation for reliability in providing service solutions and the supply of quality products and materials.

We were fortunate to chat with John Hogan from Hazell Bros. at the Hydro Tas project on Lake King William in Tasmania. John has over 40 years’ experience in the industry and has worked for and with Hazell Bros for many of those years. John is highly regarded in the industry and has worked as a superintendent on many projects and is very skilled in bulk excavations and getting the right machine for the job.

John talks us through the site conditions and where the Hidromek HMK500LCHD fits into their fleet.

“We are constructing intake and outlet portals as well as a tunnel for Hydro Tasmania. The material and ground is very wet and boggy and we have onsite, seven excavators including the 52 tonner (the HMK500LCHD), a loader, three dozers and seven 40 and 30 tonne ADTs. The machines are loading out 120,000m3 of very wet clay.’

John also mentions that they are about to start on the drilling and blasting of rock and will start loading out hard dolerite shortly. ‘It hasn’t been the easiest of work and it (the HMK500LCHD) has done a good job. We also have a HMK300LC here as well and have had no issues with that either’, said John. It is expected that the project will run until the end of summer next year.

John explains some of the reasoning behind purchasing the Hidromek excavators. ‘It was around pricing and the specifications.’ Hazell Bros. are very thorough in their approach to buying new equipment, reviewing service manuals and ensuring all specs are in line with their business requirements. John continues ‘We took into consideration the pricing which was near $300,000 below some of the other options and then looked at the breakout horsepower and compared cycle times.’ As they had experience owning Hidromek excavators and recognised the HMK500LCHD would also meet their requirements, the excavator was ordered and delivered early 2023.

Interestingly John said, ‘The cab design was not a factor in buying this machine, but certainly now the machine is here, it is. The operator has been in the industry a long time and is very impressed with the comfort of the machine. He would have sat in just about every brand out there and he definitely likes this one, so that is worth noting.’

The operators are also happy with the power as John states, ‘Rob, the operator is happy with the way it digs, happy with the power and it has been performing very well since it has been here.’ In regard to the maintenance of the machine John said ‘they really like the auto greaser, and servicing has been good, no complaints, actually we haven’t needed to do much work on it.’

When asked if he would recommend Hidromek, John didn’t hesitate, ‘Yes, I would recommend Hidromek, the operators like them and that makes a big difference. They find it very comfortable and easy to operate. Hidromek do what they said they would do and it is not down on power, with no breakdowns to speak of.’

John also had nothing but positive comments about Onetrak aftersales support and working with Rodney Onions. ‘We know Rodney really well, and he and Onetrak have worked in with us here at Hazell Bros.; but we wouldn’t expect anything else from Onetrak!’

The Heat Is On at Aussie Pumps

Wayne Keene

February 11, 2024

Australian Pump, with a management team that comes out of the Earthmoving industry, really understands the challenges of maintaining plant. Here John Hales, their Chief Engineer, analyses the benefits of using steam to clean gear.

HEAT DOES THE TRICK

Equipment owners know that keeping plant clean is a fundamental part of the maintenance program. A clean machine is easier to work on and make major issues visible before they become disasters.

High pressure cleaning without heat takes longer, uses loads of detergent, and creates potential contaminated run off. The use of a hot wash machine, and by that we mean anything from 80˚C through to full strength steam at 130˚C, is more effective and faster.

Aussie’s way of turning cold water into steam is simply to put a boiler between the pump and the gun and hose. That enables high pressure water to be heated as it goes through the boiler coil. The coil is heated by a diesel fuel burner. Correctly used it is fast, effective and can be low cost.

We calculate that 60% to 70% of all cleaning is done in a wash bay adjacent to the workshop. Wash bay sheds, outfitted with single or three-phase mains power supply, suit the application of diesel fuel heated electric drive hot wash machines. Those ‘steamers’ may require 240V or 415V, depending on the size of the motor and the pressure and flow required.

Aussie’s Sizzler is a great starting point. The Sizzler is an 80˚C 1,800 psi single-phase machine that comes loaded with features and is not built like the conventional European-style steam units. By that we mean it’s got a steel chassis, four wheels for stability, a stainless steel cover, and slow speed pump and motor.

“Built to last, these little machines are fitted up with a range of ‘failsafe’ equipment that makes them really easy to use and protects both the operator and the machine from mis-adventures” said Hales.

The machines are compact and favoured by hire companies as well. They can come with an optional stainless steel frame with lifting bar!

BIG PRESSURE TOO

Much bigger steam cleaners are also available with flows of up to 20 litres per minute and 4000 psi pressure rating. Using a 4000 psi steamer, with the temperature knocked down from the 130˚C maximum temperature to an operating 80˚C, will get the job done much faster, and burn a lot less diesel duel through the pressure cleaner. Operators don’t realise that 80˚C melts grease just as fast as the higher temperatures but uses half the fuel!

Further information on Aussie’s range of ‘Hot Shots’ is available from Australian Pump Industries. Apply for your Aussie Earthmoving Contractor Club membership and learn more about how high pressure cleaning can help you cut costs.

Everything You Need To Know About Shoring

Wayne Keene

February 1, 2024

Shoring is often an integral part of construction projects, and whether you are planning a large construction project, installing a pipe, or doing an archaeological dig, understanding the fundamentals of shoring is crucial to the success of your project.

Australian Earthmoving finds out everything people working in the construction industry need to know about shoring, including when it is required, how it can be installed, some key trench shoring terms, and how to stay safe when shoring.

WHAT EXACTLY IS SHORING?

Shoring refers to using a solution or product in order to support an excavation and/or reinforce a trench, this will typically involve something like a shoring box bracing against two open sides of a trench in order to retain the braced soil. The most common method of shoring is done by using a shoring or trench box, which can come in various lengths, widths, and base materials.

WHEN IS SHORING REQUIRED?

Workplace Health & Safety in Australia states that if a trench has an excavated depth of greater than 1.5m, it is considered ‘high-risk construction work’ and must be supported by an excavation method, this will most often be shoring. It’s important to note, however, that even if an excavation is less than 1.5m deep there are still many instances in which shoring it up will be necessary in order to make sure it is safe to work in.

WHAT IS A SHORING OR TRENCH BOX?

A shoring box is a system often constructed from aluminium or steel, and consists of two plates or shields that are held apart by struts placed laterally to the plates in order to brace them.

Shoring boxes come in a range of varying lengths, thicknesses, widths, and weights, and are typically used to support excavations on construction sites.

HOW CAN SHORING BOXES BE INSTALLED?

There are many ways shoring boxes can be installed, and it is often dependent on the site being excavated, the specific box being used, and the machinery available.

The first method that can be used to install a shoring box is called the Dig & Push method. This is where a box is lowered into a trench that is not yet fully dug out, and then the back of an excavator bucket is used to carefully push down each corner of the box while the excavator occasionally redigs further into the soil to install it in the ground.

The majority of our trench boxes have panels that “toe-out”, meaning that they are designed to be slanted slightly inwards, making the Dig & Push method an ideal way to install them and also giving them added stability at greater depths.

The other commonly used method for installing shoring is the Dig & Place method, where, using lifting chains or similar, the box is lowered into a trench that has been completely dug out to the required depth, length, and width. This method is preferred on smaller excavations where there is minimal risk of the trench collapsing in on itself while unshored fully, or when the Dig & Push method would damage the shoring box.

The bottom lip of our trench boxes is cut to be angled outwards, helping them go into the ground better and easier. This is known as being “knife-edged”, meaning the boxes can be easily installed using either the Dig & Place or Dig & Push method.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER TYPES OF EXCAVATION SUPPORT METHODS?

There are a number of different types of excavation techniques that can be used instead of, or as well as, shoring. It’s important to determine what excavation support method may be required for your project to make it as safe as possible for people working in excavated trenches, if you’re unsure, then get in touch and one of our friendly experts can help you decide which solution will be most suitable.

BENCHING VS BATTERING:

Benching is an excavation method where a series of even steps are cut into the sides of the soil to act as a safeguard against sites collapsing and sliding. It is traditionally done at a 1:1 length-height ratio to achieve the required level of stability so that if the top level were to collapse, it would not fall into the bottom of the trench. The benching method requires a lot more material to be excavated than shoring, which often leads to larger labour and machine hire costs.

Battering is often used in conjunction with benching and is ‘any wall that has been built with an intentional slope’. This means that the sides are self-supporting, and the excavated slope is safe when the ground is safe. Battering requires far more material to be excavated than shoring, leading to larger labour and machine hire costs. Battering also takes up the most space, so is often not suitable for metro or residential projects.

SHIELDING VS SHORING:

Shielding and shoring are often seen as interchangeable terms, but they are slightly different, shielding refers to a system that is put in place, often a shoring box, and acts as a safeguard against potential collapse rather than a preventative measure. This is because the system inside the trench isn’t fully expanded against the material of the excavation, it just sits within it to ‘shield’ from any debris or soil collapsing inwards.

WHAT IS SHEETING?

Sheeting is another method of shoring a trench where trench sheets or sheet piles made of corrugated steel are used to make continuous overlapping walls inside an excavation. They are commonly used in large tank installations, interceptor chambers, pump stations, stormwater pits, gross pollutant traps, bore pits, and lift wells.

Accessories such as driving caps, sheet extractors, and Excavator Mounted Vibrators (EMVs) help to make the installation and removal of the sheeting as hassle-free as possible.

Sheeting is often combined with a framing solution such as aluminium walers or the much heavier-duty Shore Brace 400 Hydraulic bracing system in order to secure the sheets against the excavation for maximised stability.

WHAT ARE VERTISHORES?

Vertishores, sometimes referred to as vertical shores, are a very unique shoring solution that involves using small panels connected with hydraulic struts braced directly against soil and spaced out linearly throughout the trench.

Vertishores use a principle known as ‘soil arching’, which means they compact the soil around the vertishore panel to make the trench fully safe even without sheeting or plywood having to be used. It’s important to note that vertishores can only be used in shallow trenches, usually less than 3m deep, and in good solid soil, as they have much less capacity than something like a steel shoring box.

WHAT ARE LAUNCH AND RECEIVE PITS?

Launch and receive pits are referred to as a ‘trenchless solution’ and involve an alternative to a standard linearly dug trench where excavated pits are constructed and shored on either side of a project, a boring machine is then placed into the launch pit, driven underneath the road and then received in the receive pit. This method avoids having to dig a larger, longer trench and is especially beneficial when major roads or buildings can’t be dug out. Often used to install, repair, or renew underground pipes, ducts, and cables.

The term trenchless is somewhat misleading; as trenches are used, but only at the start and end of the construction work, instead of the entire way. Shoring boxes, as well as sheet and framing, are the most common solutions used in these types of excavations due to their depth and tight working room.

WHAT ARE SOME KEY TRENCH SHORING TERMS?

The below section will cover some key shoring terms you may hear on-site and what they actually mean:

A Drag Box. A drag box is a name given to a shoring box when it is used in a specific way. Instead of a trench box just being installed into a trench and left there, as excavation progresses, an excavator will pull a drag box inside the trench to allow for different sections of the trench to be worked in at different times. At Shore Hire, any of our aluminium or steel trench boxes can be used as a drag box, since they are designed to be lightweight but heavy-duty.
A Manhole Box: These are similar to trench boxes but are specifically designed to be used in four-sided excavations, such as the construction of a manhole chamber, interceptors, pits, and pump stations. Our Manhole Boxes have 500mm returns on panels to close off the ends of the box and provide additional ground support when shoring in these excavations.
Manhole Forms: After a Manhole Box has been installed, the next step in the process is usually to insert a manhole form, which will then have concrete poured into it to create a manhole that can be used to access utilities like sewer, drainage, or stormwater systems.
Telescopic Struts: Struts are an essential part of shoring as they are what connects the shoring panels to each other – unlike fixed-length struts, a telescopic strut consists of parts that slide into one another, like a telescope, meaning that they can be elongated and shortened to suit any size of trench. Telescopic struts are used on our smooth wall trench boxes, aluminium manhole box and MAPS.
Panel Connectors: Panel connectors are a small component used on our steel and aluminium shoring boxes in order to connect panels vertically to increase the height of the shoring solution, allowing boxes to be built as tall as required.
Hydraulic Bracing: Hydraulic bracing systems support the sheeting and framing method mentioned above, by bracing the sheets against the soil. They are made up of fixed and mechanical extensions that are used in conjunction with a hydraulic ram unit to achieve positive pressure in rectangle, square, multisided or large four-sided excavations. We currently offer two fully Australian-made hydraulic bracing solutions in Shore Brace 200 and Shore Brace 400.
Lower and Upper Boxes: The phrase ‘lower and upper’ in shoring refers to the top and bottom sections of the shoring boxes used in a trench. Lower trench boxes are used on the bottom of a trench and have features that help make installation easier, such as their knife edge. Lowers also include higher panels to shore up more of the trench, whereas upper trench boxes are connected to lower boxes with panel connectors. If you have a particularly deep trench, you may need both lower and upper trench boxes to properly and safely shore it.
Competent Person: A competent person has the knowledge, ability, training, and experience of the type of work to recognise the risks and the means to minimise them. In the context of shoring, a competent person is someone with the necessary experience in trench shoring to be able to nominate the safest shoring solution to use, this could be an engineer, an experienced contractor or one of our technical sales representatives.
Geotech Report: A Geotech Report is a vital piece of safety information that can often be deemed a requirement on higher-tier job sites. A Geotech report will detail which soil types are at which depths using bore logs close to the excavation. A Geotechnical Engineering firm will need to be engaged to undertake and complete this report, and while Shore Hire doesn’t offer this service in-house, we can review the reports to determine which shoring solution will be most suitable based on the soil types found.

HOW CAN YOU STAY SAFE WHEN SHORING?

Safety should always be your number one priority on-site, especially when working around excavations, there are a number of strategies that you can implement and equipment that you can use to make sure your worksite is as safe as possible.

For more information about Shore Hire’s range of shoring products, visit www.shorehire.com.au or contact your local Shore Hire branch at 1300 764 734.

Advancing Australia: The Technology Accelerating Aussie Infrastructure Projects

Wayne Keene

January 31, 2024

Trimble Hosts Customer and Dealer Demo Days

Technology company Trimble recently held its bi-annual Demo Days in Farley, New South Wales to showcase its construction technology solutions to local customers, dealers and equipment manufacturers. The four-day event attracted more than 200 people who were interested in learning more about and getting a hands-on look at Trimble’s hardware and software solutions for the construction sector.

The first three days of the event were dedicated to training Trimble’s local SITECH dealer network, with a specific focus on how dealers can help contractors maximise their use of technology and increase uptime.

‘We want to have the best installers and the best ongoing support available in the market,” said Matt Rhyne, Australasian sales manager. “The purpose of construction technology is to increase productivity, efficiency and profitability -none of which is possible if the technology is being under utilized or sitting idle waiting for a repair. Bringing dealers together at events like this helps us make sure we’re providing the market with high quality installations and the best possible technical experience.”

In addition to dealers, customers also attended the final day of the event, where they had a chance to visit 13 stations and see 10 different machines operating Trimble technology.

Featured technology included the Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform on graders, excavators and dozers; the new Trimble Siteworks Machine Control Module for excavators; the Trimble Groundworks Machine Control System for drilling and piling; and a variety of Trimble software solutions including Trimble Works OS, Trimble Works Manager and Trimble Business Center.

‘We always like to bring our customers together so we have a chance to interact with them directly to better understand their business, the industry and the current challenges they are facing,” said Matt Rhyne. “This is a chance for contractors to engage with Trimbles’ regional and global experts to see first-hand how they can gain productivity improvements through the use of technology. This event is 100% focused on providing a better experience and outcomes for our customers.”

The next Demo Days event is planned for 2025. To learn more about Trimble solutions or be kept informed about future events, contact your local SITECH or go to civilconstruction.trimble.com and click on ‘Stay Informed’.

Inside One Contractor’s Fully Digital, Vehicle-Based Bulk Earthworks Program

Wayne Keene

January 31, 2024

Customer Profile: ACCIONA is a global leader in sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy solutions. ACCIONA worked in partnership with CPB Contractors as a joint venture partner to deliver the Western Sydney Airport Bulk Earthworks Project.

Business Challenge: Maintain high earthwork production while meeting lot closure quality conformance targets.

Solutions:

Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform
Trimble GCS900 Grade Control System
Trimble CCS900 Compaction Control System
Trimble Siteworks Positioning System
Trimble WorksManager Software
Trimble WorksOS Software

Benefits

Real-time jobsite connectivity for operators
Surface conformance assurance
Owner transparency
Instant level, grade and material thickness measurements
Material thickness conformance
Streamlined workflow from infield work measurements to conformance checking.

The value of jobsite connectivity in construction workflows is a hot topic in the industry, with the cloud, IoT and even digital twins holding the spotlight in the ever-evolving, data-enabled environment. It’s an environment that sparked one of the world’s leading development and construction companies to deploy one of the industry’s first near-real-time, continuous loop office-to-machine data workflow on one of Australia’s most high-profile projects.

The multi-billion-dollar Western Sydney Airport project, under development by the federal government-owned Western Sydney Airport (WSA), entails the construction of a new international airport on the western side of Sydney, Australia. It’s up to the joint venture of CPB Contractors and ACCIONA Australia, to move, fill and compact about 24 million cubic metres of earth to a set of tight specifications in a relatively short amount of time. Beyond the large scope of work, the site includes some complex soil challenges, as it sits on top of the Bringelly Formation, an ancient river delta system. Consequently, the material can be highly variable and reactive in some areas, and post construction settlement is a considerable risk.

For surveyors and equipment operators, the earthwork undertaking was a potentially chaotic data management challenge that could have resulted in potentially missed, misplaced or inaccurate data and delays for approvals over the course of earthwork activities. At any given moment, for example, there might be over 270 pieces of earthmoving equipment in action on the job.

Daniel Ripley, ACCIONA’s Australia’s Central Region Survey Manager for Construction in Australia, said, “We needed to be able to send updated models to the field crews as multiple times a day—I didn’t think it was achievable, but our tech partners assured me it would work.”

“The joint venture team had a plan to place material more efficiently and then report on that material placement,” said Nicholas Pryke, manager of sales mining, aggregates and landfill with SITECH Solutions Pty Ltd and full-time technical advisor to the joint venture team on the Western Sydney project. “Our job was to find the technology-enabled, connected solution that could operate within the constraints of the plan and across a blended fleet to meet stringent specifications.”

The Specs: Trace, Test, Quantify

Early on, the design team defined very clear specifications for density, moisture content, layer thickness and material traceability, from source to placement, to meet the critical end product criteria.

Prior to work commencing, the airport site was broken up into lots or work areas. These lots vary in size, depending on the day’s work and can be extensive, some up to multiple football fields in size. Per the specs, the boundaries, thickness and volume of each lot had to be recorded and reported. The thickness of placed earthworks material was not to exceed 350mm—and the specification further required the lot thickness to be validated every 800 square metres. The locations of field density and moisture content tests also had to be recorded to an accuracy of +/- 1.0 metre.

For the joint venture contracting team, these specs posed a considerable challenge. In the past, the project team would have used conventional methods for tracking and sharing material movement, namely spreadsheets and USB sticks. That methodology simply wasn’t going to work on a project of this size and with the need to share multiple design changes a day to ensure proper layer thickness and optimal material placement.

“The process allowed us to filter and interpret data, create a boundary, process, and finally send the exported information to a conformance program to verify compliance with design, all with machine control, removing staff from site and download data directly from machines,” Ripley said.

They also needed to make sure that everyone in the field—whether foreman, geotechnical testers, surveyors or operators—always had the most up-to-date models and the ability to verify earthwork conformance to specified layer thicknesses. The surveyors needed a speedy way to constantly track material moved and rolled, and then compare as-built surfaces to the base layer thickness in near real-time.

Another big concern was safety. With hundreds of machines operating in the area, the joint venture team didn’t want survey or geotechnical testing staff walking around onsite taking measurements and samples.

In response, the joint venture team, working with SITECH Solutions Pty Ltd and Trimble, developed a cloud-based survey, compaction, testing and conformance workflow.

The Tech: Mobile Emphasis

As a first step to creating the workflow in compliance with design specifications, the joint venture team equipped around 30 utility vehicles and pickup trucks as mobile offices for superintendents, foremen, leading hand and the GITA geotechnical personnel. The vehicles include Trimble SPS986 Rovers with dash mounted tablets running Trimble Siteworks SE Software. They were also given full access to Microsoft 365 for emails, SharePoint drives, video conferencing meetings and more, as well as 3D models—all while in the field, eliminating the need for a laptop. In addition, superintendents were equipped with Trimble positioning technology, allowing them to check grades and levels, anytime.

For material tracing, the site vehicles were equipped with on board diagnostic devices (OBD) to report plant ID, GPS location and travel speed. Geofences can be established and defined as fills, cuts or break areas. User defined logic can be programmed so that the system uses data from the OBD to define a load, haul or dump event, and capture cycle times,

haul/excavating plant productivity or similar data.

To minimize the need for surveyors to walk the site, the project team fitted most compaction equipment with GNSS-enabled machine control systems. For instance, Trimble GCS900 cab mounted systems were fitted to drum compactors, while Trimble CCS900 cab mounted GNSS systems went on all smooth drum rollers and most padfoot rollers to monitor layer thickness and elevation. As well, dual mast GNSS Trimble Earthworks systems were fitted to excavators, while graders and dozers were fitted with single and dual mast GNSS solutions to gather data about the correct level, grade and material thickness. Single mast Trimble GCS900 Universal Total Station (UTS) systems were fitted to CMI trimmers, while single mast GCS900 GNSS systems were put on surface miners. The information from the machines is sent via the cloud to Trimble WorksOS Software, which can be viewed in real time in the machines and on the field supervisor’s tablets in their vehicle.

Dynamic Delivery

The Western Sydney jobsite is a study in operational efficiency. As operators grade, excavate and compact material in the field, the software logs as built and quality assurance data. That data is transferred to WorksOS in real time, where it is processed and displayed.

From their mobile offices, surveyors can then view the data in map and/or dashboard form or filter the data to generate reports about jobsite activity and progress to ensure schedules are met and remotely plan future operations.

Once compacted, sealed and signed off, that conformed surface would be reinserted to the current model. Every time a lot is signed off, a new model is developed.

It’s a very dynamic workflow designed to suit production and weather conditions. SITECH’s Pryke, said, “With WorksManager sending datasets on a regular basis, the entire field team, including the geotechnical testers, foreman, operators and surveyor, sees the same lot surface for a given day.”

The surveyor defines the boundary of the lot in WorksOS, and in the cab, the operators see the current surface model as shared by WorksManager into the machine control system. As the lot materials are moved and compacted, the machine measures the as-built data and then sends the data to WorksOS for processing and analysis. The data can be shared withsurveyors to verify conformance to defined elevation and thickness specifications.

The geotechnical testers (ASCT), using WorksOS, are notified at the end of each day which lots are completed so that they can run the required soil tests for density and moisture. Once a lot meets conformance targets, the engineers close the lot and then the survey team recreates the larger surface—and starts the process all over again.

Using WorksOS, everyone on the job is able to see the quality of the work on an interactive map. The data is then exported to be combined with geotechnical data, such as optimum moisture content and density, for final conformance and quality assurance reporting.

“It sounds pretty simple, but remember the data was shared many times a day between surveyors and operators,” Brett Hussey, project survey manager at ACCIONA, said. “At our peak, we had eight surveyors reporting continually as material was placed and graded, and we were doing up to 10 design updates a day. Every single bit of fill material was tracked. We knew every slice of fill down to the size of a tree stump hole. Even those holes had to be filled to a predetermined layer thickness.”

Stake-Free Empowerment

The biggest advantage of the field-to-office-to-field workflow, according to the joint venture team, was that it allowed the foreman and machine operators to know where they could place fill and where they couldn’t without physical stakes and survey marks, which enabled them to build the site with minimal traditional survey methods. There’s not one peg on the site—thereby improving productivity and safety.

Hussey said, “Without this digital workflow, the entire process would have been very laborious and we would have lost the ability to keep surveyors off the site. We would have had to take a much more hands-on approach. Every material layout is accountable, so the quality of the job was the biggest improvement, as was our ability to maintain high production.”

WorksOS has also provided a logistical advantage while working on the massive airport site. “We used WorksOS to optimise machine routes—a capability that we hadn’t even considered,” he added.

One surprising benefit of the digital workflow was its ability to improve operator satisfaction.

“With WorksOS, we were able to show operators—especially the roller operators—the importance of their work on a daily basis. They’re not out there just moving dirt; they’re producing a product that is seen and reported on every day. They visually see the value of their work,” he explained. “We’ve empowered them and, as a result, the quality of the work has also risen. Our roller operators feel like they are the most important people on the project. That’s powerful.”

Ripley added, “Surveyors were freed up to focus on the reporting side of the project, while foremen and operators were empowered to check on how they are progressing, meeting productivity, and in compliance to specs. The unintended consequences of having these systems on site is fantastic and the way we could pull back to the office every day is so huge.”

The lessons learned on the Western Sydney Airport bulk earthworks project are translating to future projects. Both JV Partners (CPB and ACCIONA) have made automated compaction workflows a key initiative for future work, and field staff are requesting the equipment and process. It’s a methodology that they believe will set them apart from the competition, creating a better and more uniform infrastructure asset to give to the client at the end of the project.

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