impressions - first

Nine skid steers, three enthusiastic plant men and a rubble-strewn site in Milton Keynes formed the basis of Contract Journal's first First Impressions test for 1995.

The test, carried out at British Rail's Wolverton Depot, required three people with a strong background in the maintenance and use of construction equipment to carry out a brief assessment of some of the UK's leading skid steers.

Involving a quick look over the machines and a short time at the controls, First Impressions reinforces the fact that many purchasers place great emphasis on matters such as stability, safety and service maintenance.

Its attraction is that it is the only opportunity for leading machines to be assessed side-by-side on a single site in just one day.

It is, of course, a subjective excercise, but so too are many purchasing decisions - there is often very little science involved.

Areas testers were asked to focus on included: innovation, control layout, roadability, manoeuverability, quick hitch systems, comfort, stability and safety.



n CJ would like to thank ARC for supplying material from its Stanwick Pit, near Wellingborough, and BR's Wolverton maintenance depot for playing host to the event.