McCusker Demolition buys its first Bobcats
08 January 2021
Northern Ireland-based company McCusker Demolition has purchased its first Bobcat machines. The company, which operates across the whole of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, added a Bobcat E26 mini-excavator and an 18 m Bobcat T40.180SLP telehandler to its fleet.
The company chose the Bobcat brand for its new equipment based partly on the recommendations of its operators.
Conor McCusker, contracts manager at McCusker Demolition, said: “While the company had had no experience of the Bobcat brand, some of our operators have worked with the machines in the past and, in part, it was their recommendation that influenced our decision to invest in them.”
When it came to choosing a mini-excavator for demolition works on sites with limited space, McCusker decided on Bobcat’s 6 t E62 mini-excavator, which features a maximum ground level reach of 6.1 m (20 ft)and digging depth of 3.83 m (12 ft).
The E62, which is a predecessor to the manufacturer’s new R2-Series E60 model, is currently in operation at a church in Belfast.
Conor said: “What initially appealed to us about the 6 t E62 excavator was its compact size and its zero tail-swing which make it perfect for working on sites that are restricted or are difficult to access with a larger machine.”
The company’s new telehandler – one of 13 rigid frame telehandler models available from Bobcat – has an 18 m (59 ft) lift height and a lift capacity of 4 t. It is currently being used on the Brookfield Mill site in Belfast. The four-storey was built in 1850 as a linen factory and is now being converted for residential use.
Conor added: “We purchased the T40.180SLP telehandler primarily for its 18 m maximum lifting height; it’s ideal for working at height, and with a basket attachment we can easily transport men to those higher levels. It also has an excellent and comfortable cab that affords good all-round visibility which is essential for our type of work.
“As we speak, we have a team working on the top floor of the building, reducing the structures like they have already on the lower floors. Instead of using a chute, they are loading the debris into the bucket on the T40.180SLP, which utilises the full 18 m lift height of the machine, providing increased flexibility for taking materials away and stockpiling them at ground level.”
McCusker’s new machines, which were delivered to the company by authorised dealer Northern Excavators, also included a Bobcat 7 m (23 ft) telehandler. It is currently be used to carry out refurbishment works at an Ulster Bank branch in Belfast.
