Dozers tow scraper boxes

CA Blackwell's earthmoving division has developed a new method of towing scraper boxes using two recently purchased Komatsu D155AX-5 dozers.

Blackwell has traditionally used winches to control its 13 towed scraper boxes. However, the company's faith in the boxes' continued relevance to earthmoving contracts led it to devise a hydraulically controlled system using 38t Komatsu dozers.

"The system has proved very successful and, for maximum versatility, we can very quickly drop the box if we need to use the machine as a conventional dozer," said Blackwell plant manager Phil Walton.

The dozers develop 231kW via a six-cylinder turbocharged Komatsu diesel engine and feature a hydrostatic steering system designed to ensure constant drive to both tracks irrespective of ground conditions.