York Consortium of Internal Drainage Boards (YCIDB) has added three Hyundai HX85A midi excavators to its combined fleet, to work on land drainage and flood risk management projects across the north and east regions of Yorkshire.
The machines join two 14-tonne HX140A crawler excavators and an HX180A that are currently employed by three of the internal drainage boards that make up YCIDB. Each of the internal drainage boards has its own budget, with equipment operated through YCIDB.
“We’ve always been with Hyundai for the bigger machines, but Hyundai hadn’t launched the HX85A when we last looked to replace our 8-tonners,” said field work supervisor Guy Parker.
With the HX85A now readily available, a short test of the excavators was all that was needed to put the Hyundai machines in contention. However, while operator acceptance is certainly a factor in the purchasing decision, reliability and service back-up are the main criteria for the order.
“Our operators tried the machine and loved it,” says Parker. “All of the lads said yes, let’s go for it. The Hyundai feels like a big machine that has been made smaller, whereas the alternative that we have had for a few years, felt like a smaller excavator that had been made bigger.”
Operator Charles Stacey adds: “The cab is really comfortable, with plenty of space. There is plenty of power and the stability is good, even with the extended arm and it is easy to switch between the hydraulic settings.”
“The back-up service is what does it for us though,” says Parker. “Taylor & Braithwaite look after all of our machines, you can really depend on them. If we ring up and they say they’ll be on site at 8am the following day, we know that they will.”
The three excavators will be employed by the Ouse & Derwent, Ainsty and Foss Internal Drainage Boards, over a wide area across North and East Yorkshire. The 8.5-tonne midis are equipped with two-piece main booms, for maximum versatility and they are running on the standard rubber tracks, as the machines have to occasionally cross or operate on paved roads.
They feature an optional larger counterweight, to cope with a hydraulic quick hitch and additional forward reach. A second hydraulic auxiliary changeover valve allows the operator to attach and work with a 1.5m dipper arm extension, providing access to deeper waterways. The operator can toggle between powering the regular bucket ram and the lower bucket ram on the extension, at the touch of a button in the cab.
The combination of the articulated main boom and the dipper arm extension, allows the machines to work over fences and hedges, when cleaning weeds and silt from water management ditches and other waterways where access is only available from adjacent fields. As well as operating with ditch cleaning buckets, the machines work with a range of powered attachments, including flail mowers, vibratory plate compactors and tree shears.
“The 8-tonne machines are just so handy, they are the perfect size to access waterways on agricultural land,” said Mr Parker.
Hyundai’s HX85A is powered by a 49.9kW (67hp) Stage V diesel engine, that features electronic management and a self-regenerating diesel particulate filter, with no requirement for a diesel exhaust additive. The compact excavator benefits from a load sensing hydraulic system, allowing easy multi-function operation and the power to drive a wide range of attachments. The machine is offered with a choice of monoboom or two-piece articulating main boom, with standard and long arm options.
Hyundai dealer Taylor & Braithwaite carries out all of the servicing work for YCIDB from its depot in Brough.
“We tend to keep our machines for around five years,” says Parker. “Taylor & Braithwaite has done all of our machine maintenance from the word go. Using the Hi-Mate telematics, they can see when the machines need to be serviced and they are very proactive in preventing downtime.”
