Galvac invests £780k in two new £390k 39 tonne excavators – the first in the North West
Galvac has taken delivery of two 39 tonne chassis vacuum excavators (or VacEx). Manufactured in Germany by MTS and priced at £390k, they will be the only two of their kind currently in the North West.
Both units, which are Dino 5 models, were purchased by Galvac, GPL Group’s specialist vacuum excavation division. They have a skip capacity of 12.9m3 with the ability to be powered by remote control to excavate subsoil and soft rock during construction work.
Galvac provide vacuum excavation to some of the UK’s leading construction and utility companies as a safe, cost effective alternative to conventional excavation methods. Vacuum excavation is regularly used during the removal and replacement of utility pipework to ensure no damage.
The first of the new units delivered to Galvac is a high tip and is the only one of its kind in the North West. The second unit is what is known as a triple fan. There are currently only a few other triple fan units in the country.
The ‘high tip’ will enable the unit to tip material to go straight into an accompanying truck, removing the need for double handling of waste on site and allowing the excavator to continue its task of removal.
The triple fan 39 tonne unit is highly powerful and will reduce time on projects significantly due to its ability to excavate at up to 250m away.
Mick Thomas of Galvac said: “This is a significant investment for us and will truly position us as a major player in this area. The two new units will join our existing fleet of five 26 tonne units which means we can offer clients flexibility on projects to suit their needs.
“With the significant work on our highways and utility networks, not only here in the North West, this equipment will be in high demand and we already have a healthy pipeline for our new additions.”
Galvac has delivered intensive training for the operators of the new equipment. The dedicated team at Galvac will all receive 120 hours of training by a qualified operator before they are put in control of any of the units. In line with P.P. O’Connor’s commitment to the highest standards of health and safety, there will always be a two-man fully trained team working with the units on sites.