SED Awards for Excellence 2008 - the winners

Entries for the SED Awards for Excellence always contain some surprises and this year there was a bumper crop to choose from, with products that ranged from crushing buckets to computer software, and from wheel loaders to formwork moulds.

While many entries were creditable upgrades on existing machines, this year the judges had an appetite for some more radical thinking.

Many of the entries did a splendid job of explaining the product's advantages, but for several the lack of an adequate description meant they failed to make the shortlist - or even the winner's podium.

With 70 products spread across the six categories, the judges lost no time in getting to work.

Recycling award:

Winner: Digbits

Product: Mini Tracked Concrete Crushers

Despite a good number of contenders, the judges expressed disappointment and frustration over the variety of equipment entered for the recycling category. Philip Jolly said recycling was of ever-greater importance in his contracts and that moving material on site was 10 times cheaper than sending it offsite for landfill.

There was an abundance of crushing and screening attachments for excavators, wheel loaders and skid steers, each of which was useful in its own right. But the judges felt they were all very similar and couldn't meaningfully differentiate between the contenders without on-site experience.

Jolly said the bigger plant entered for the award didn't produce the end product he needed.

However, the judges did show enthusiasm for the patented infeed system on Digbits' Bavtrak 025 mini crusher, which gives a 630mm x 330mm jaw feed area on a 3t machine. Colin Timms said it was something genuinely new from a small company that makes everything itself.

Thus Digbits won by a unanimous vote, but the judges declined to nominate a shortlist.

Earthmoving award:

Winner: Miller UK

Product: Quick coupler

Shortlisted (in alphabetical order):

Barrus Compact Power

Product: Boxer 532DX remote control compact utility/mini skid steer

Hinowa UK

Product: HS400 battery powered mini dumper

Vision Techniques

Product: Driver ID

Just getting through a dozen entries in this category took the judges some time, but as each chose their favourites, four products emerged as leaders.

Vision Techiques' Driver ID can't move earth and is equally applicable to other equipment, but the judges' liking for the system saw it on an extended shortlist. As the engine won't start unless the operator is wearing an acceptable individually-programmable tag, the judges saw potential for stopping untrained operators or even thieves moving machines. Judge Douglas Anderson said: "The price of technology like this has come crashing down to more acceptable levels." Safety aspects also saw Barrus Compact Power's remote-controlled Boxer mini skid steer make the shortlist as it isolates the operator from vibration, noise, exhaust fumes, and even potential danger.

Innovation and environmental consideration made Hinowa's battery powered mini dumper a very strong contender for the top slot. However, as the discussion progressed, Miller's TwinLock automatic quick coupler gained plaudits emerging as a unanimous winner.

Philip Jolly said: "Quick-hitch safety is a big issue at the moment." Not only was he impressed by the TwinLock's safety features, but also its ability to cope with the range of pin spacing, and that it was compatible with a wide weigh range of carriers.

Non-operated plant and support products award

Winner: Scanlaser

Product: Excavator-mounted buried services avoidance system

Highly commended: Ammann

Product: Safety handle for reversible plate compactor

Shortlisted (in alphabetical order):

Bomag (Great Britain)

Product: Economizer compaction display for reversible compaction plates

GenSet

Product: Paving breaker PAK80

Non-operated plant and equipment was the toughest category, attracting 16 entries across the broadest range of products. The judges debated the merits of, for instance, Marwood's lockable temporary manhole cover and Genquip's incinerator-equipped HogLoo. Consideration of safety and economy soon sorted entries for the shortlist. Bomag's Economiser, which directly measures the degree of compaction, is now an option on its reversible plates, giving cost and time savings, as well minimising exposure to hand-arm vibration. Similar safety advantages were claimed for the low-pressure PAC paving breaker and compressor entered by GenSet, although the judges would have liked confirmation of its performance.

Two products stood out: Ammann's 'deadman's handle' for reversible plates and Scanlaser's Ezidig dipper-mounted cable detector. Among the judges (see panel, page 30), Colin Timms highlighted the problem of workers tripping in a trench while using a reversible plate. However, Steve Jarvis said locating cables and pipes was one of the biggest problems facing groundworkers and where location plans exist, they were usually inaccurate. After considerable discussion, Scanlaser was awarded the win on the grounds that injuries from a cable strike were likely to be more frequent and serious than those inflicted by a reversing plate.

Cranes and access award:

Winner: EH Hassell & Sons

Product: Sennebogen 608 multicrane

Shortlisted:

Consep Pty

Product: Formwork hoist

There were many upgraded machines in this busy category, but the judges were looking for something more innovative - and they certainly found it. While appreciating the merits of transporting the FB Gru GHS 351 top-slewing tower crane on a single trailer, this was set against the fact that such a move only happens once or twice a year for each crane.

Equally Haulotte's telescopic access platform has many standard features that were once options, but neither had the level of innovation the judges sought for the shortlist. What did catch their eyes was the formwork lift entered by Consept Pty, and Sennebogen's 608 Multicrane, which will feature of EH Hassell & Sons' stand.

Judge Tim Whiteman said that large, lightweight sections of formwork create handling and windage problems for cranes. The judges could see many benefits in a hoist that keeps the sections close to the structure as it moves the formwork up one floor at a time. But in a split vote, the top position went to Sennebogen's 608 Multicrane. Colin Timms said: "This machine combines the features of a materials handler with the technology of a crane - they will love it in Germany and it could find many admirers here."

"If you like your machinery, you will love this," concluded Douglas Anderson.

Road transport award

Winner: C & J Supplies

Product: HGV sat nav

Shortlisted (in alphabetical order):

Faymonville Distribution

Product: Special trailer for heavy haulage

Major Equipment

Product: Dust suppression & cleaning tanker

Major Equipment's fifth-wheel coupled dust suppression tanker is self-contained using a donkey engine, can use salt water, and has a jetting capability too.

"We have to put dust suppression on every site we do," said judge Philip Jolly. The judges also liked the radio control facility and placed it on the shortlist as it was "not your usual 'suck it up and blow it out' unit".

It was the distinctive trough in Faymonville's heavy haulage trailer that caught the judges' eyes. This was not only because it keeps the dipper very low when transporting an excavator, but also because the prism shaped upper section of the trough can be used to carry items such as wind turbine sections.

Additional suspension clearance and a 60-degree angle added to the attraction and saw the trailer firmly on the shortlist. But ticking all the boxes to mount the winner's podium was the truck Sat Nav entered by C&J supplies.

Drivers enter the size, height and weight of their truck into the system, along with the destination.

The system then devises a route using only roads that can accommodate the vehicle.

Tim Whiteman said bridge strikes were a regular story in his journalist days and that this system could really make a difference.

There was no need to convince the others - it was declared the unanimous winner.