Plant news in brief: 26 July 2006

Ashtead Technology Rentals has added ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for the detection of 'live' utilities to its fleet of instruments. The GPR unit uses radio signals to detect anything in the ground with different electrical properties to its 'host' material, such as pipes, conduits, metallic objects and plastics.

Penny Hydraulics has incorporated hydraulic slew as standard on its 500kg crane - the Swing Lift Foldaway 500. The vehicle-mounted electric crane's boom can rotate through 340^o. It incorporates a manual boom extension with a 1.5m reach and three height settings.

Motorola is claiming Europe's first digital license-free two-way radios, the Motorola DT2430 and the Motorola DT2450. The radios are designed for on-site use and feature SMS, call forwarding, one-to-one calling and one-to-many calling.

Speedy Hire said it has opened the UK's largest on-site tool and equipment hire depot at Carillion's Queen Alexandra hospital development in Portsmouth. The hire depot has been purpose-built for the £200m project, which will see a 1,200 bed extension.

SkyKing has introduced a new truck-mounted access platform that offers operators extended outreach and flexibility. The E228TJ is suitable for a 7.5t chassis with a typical 4.5m wheelbase. The machine, which offers a 280kg payload, has a telescopic job with a 22m working height and 17.7m outreach (fully jacked).

[Contract Journal, 26 July 2006, p. 17]