Rouse warns bad weather will increase kit shortages

The run of bad weather is set to exacerbate plant shortages, according to Kevin Rouse, managing director of contractor K Rouse. "When the ground dries out, contractors will try to make up lost time with extra plant, so there won't be enough to go round," he said.

Rouse invested in a fleet of New Holland equipment to expand into earthworking from drainage installation. Six weeks into one of its biggest jobs - a 25-week industrial park extension in Scarborough to install 2km of pipes, remove 20,000m3 of topsoil, 60,000m3 of muckshifting and 30,000m3 of fill - the project is already two weeks behind.

"When we did the test bores last September, the water table was 5m below the surface, now it's between 2m and 2.5m," said Rouse's site manager Peter Dawson.

Sister company, New Holland dealer K Rouse Ltd, has supplied a 50t E485, three E385 (40t) excavators and a D150 dozer for the job. These join the contractor's 100-strong excavator fleet - 70% of which are from New Holland.

The manufacturer had predicted the demand and pre-ordered stock machines, helping it to boost business by 50% in 2007.

"We have our own fleet and can call on stock machines too, others are not that fortunate," Rouse concluded.