Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Our Head Office will be closed from 12 noon on Friday 23rd December and will re-open on Tuesday 3rd January 2012 ready for a fresh new start on our Vacuum / Suction Excavator hire service.

In the meantime, we would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

Glasgow Bridge Refurbishment

This job entailed excavating material along the length of a bridge, covering approximately 200m.

   

Our instruction was to expose and support high pressure, cast iron gas and water pipes to allow the base to be re-coated with resin and to improve the water drainage system.

Only small sections were removed at any one time to allow the work to be completed, it was then back filled with type1. The excavator was then moved further along the bridge to continue excavating and exposing the pipes.

  

Force One Ltd were called in to hire the Vac Truck service after this job had commenced. The company had originally only used a road sweeper suction system that proved to be time consuming  due to it constantly blocking.

The impressive power and versatility of the Vacuum / Suction Excavator once again proved to be the way forward – in no less that two hours, the 26t excavator removed the equivalent amount of material as did the road suction sweeper system in a whole day.

Having achieved these results, the client assured Force One Ltd that they would be using our Vac Truck service on future projects, should the requirements for a Vacuum / Suction Excavator arise.

 

Here is a selection of photo's that were taken whilst  

the Vacuum / Suction Excavator was at work on the Bridge Refurbishment. 

Change of Company Name

Force One Utilities Limited has recently changed the Company name to Force One Ltd.

With effect from the 27th September 2011 we have changed the company name from Force One Utilities Ltd to the shortened Force One Ltd.

The reason for the name change is to reflect the move out of the utilities contracting market.  Our core business focus is on the hire and operation of suction excavators and as such we have commenced on a rebranding excercise which will coincide with the launch of new website to further reflect these changes.

 

All other company details including company registration number, VAT registration number, bank details and head office address all remain the same.

Introducing the Self-Propelled Pothole Patcher

Python 5000

This is a one person operated self contained unit. Its capabilities are impressive, and it offers a safe and cost effective solution to repairing the ever increasing pot holes in the roads we travel on everyday.

The Python 5000 produces long lasting patches equal to the original standard of the surface quality

The operator does not have to leave the cab whilst the machine is in operation, making it even safer when working on busy roads, carriageways and motorways

       

The Python 5000 uses all standard hot and cold asphalt mixes

       

This machine gives impressive results and can patch the average pothole in approximately two minutes

Excellent results are produced regardless of the weather. The pothole patcher can be used in hot and sub-zero weather conditions

All functions are controlled from inside the cab by a single joy-stick enabling simple and safe operation

A 5 ton capacity hopper fills directly from the asphalt plant – the material remains at the desired temperature until it is ready to be used

The machine is highly maneuverable and is on a short wheel based chassis making even the smallest areas accessible

The python 5000 is highly mobile and can travel from job to job without the operator needing to leave the cab

This system can help cut down on costs. It reduces the need for a two - person team / operatives with a vehicle, to a one – person operative and the Python 5000 Pothole Patcher


The Python 5000 was available to view at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG Trade Show earlier this year in Las Vegas when our Managing Director and an Operations Manager had the opportunity to visit the show.

To view the Python 5000 Pothole Patcher, you can download a video. Click the link to see it in action [http://www.pythonmfg.com/patchrite.html]

 

 If you would like to know more about this new type of machinery, please feel free to speak to a member of our team who will be happy to assist with any questions you may have.


We are available to speak to during normal office hours or alternatively, click the link below to send a direct email 
[http://www.vactruck.co.uk/contactus.html]  

Vacuum/Suction Excavation at the Dungeness Lighthouse

Modern Dungeness Lighthouse

East of Power Station

Kent

Brought into operation 20th November 1961

The Vac Truck team has recently been involved with working at an unusual site.

The lighthouse was undergoing a structural examination but faced a difficult situation when they found the basement covered in shingle and large stones.

Removal of materials from this basement had, until the Vac Truck team was called in by Trinity House, proven a challenge.

The Vac Truck team managed to excavate the material within a day, removing material at a depth of approximately 3 meters. We used between 12 and 18 meters of heavy duty extension hose that first of all stretched almost 6 meters from our excavator outside the lighthouse and continued through the lighthouse doors down to the basement.

This is the first time the Vac Truck team has been involved in excavating material from a lighthouse, although we hope to continue to demonstrate how quick this method of excavating proves to be in other challenging situations along with maintaining our safety records and working procedures.

The photos below show the capabilities of the heavy duty extension hoses we use on the Vac Truck excavators.

Extension Hose in use removing material from the basement

Hose extensions being used to allow access through the Lighthouse

Extension Hose in use

Extension hose at the entrance of the Lighthouse

For more photos of the Vac Truck working at the Lighthouse, take a look at the photo gallery [http://www.vactruck.co.uk/gallery.html] on the Vac Truck website.

Vac Truck Daily Checks, Records and New Attachment Information

Here at Vac truck, we take pride in our work and a huge part of our success is due to the constant support and monitoring of the fleet and staff working on site.

Our daily checks include:

 - Site Record Forms

- Pre-Commencement and Post Work Risk Assessment check sheet

- Suction Excavator Check Sheet

- Timesheets for the employees

- FTA Driver Vehicle Check and Defect Report

All team members have in-depth training to operate the excavators and hold sufficient qualifications to labour within the area of work depending on the nature of skills and requirements specific to the site.

Before work commences, if needed or requested a site visit from a Senior Manager can be made to assess the overall work area and his findings will be reported to the Vac Truck office so that a site specific method statement and assessment can be produced.

A site briefing to all members of the team is undertaken before any work commences and they are familiarised with the site management.

If no prior arrangements have been made for a site visit, the operational team members will produce site specific risk assessments and have a brief with the site management to agree method statements specific to the work involved.

Full vehicle inspections are carried out by the Vac Truck operators before the vehicle commences excavation and is continued to be checked through the working day.

Vehicle check sheets are filled out daily and any faults are reported immediately to a senior member of staff whom is in charge of vehicle maintenance.

Vac Truck operators regularly review the progress of their work with the site staff and are vigilant to the change in working conditions as the work unfolds.

 New Extension Hose System

Vac truck has developed a new extension hose system.

Due to the ever changing working environment and projects, the need for a longer hose has been required.

The unique offerings of the impressive new attachment allows the vac truck team to excavate from a distance of 140m horizontally away from the excavator itself and allows excavations to unearth material to 20m vertically below ground.

If you would like more information regarding this new attachment, please feel free to call a member of the Vac Truck team to discuss this and many other attachments and tools we have to offer.

News, Projects and Ground Looseing Machinery & Tools

  

Vac Truck has added yet another Vacuum / Suction Excavator to the fleet, this one being larger than the current machines.

The impressive 32 tonne vehicle joined the ever growing fleet of vehicles in March 2011 and is available for hire (subject to availability).

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Projects:

Here are just some examples of projects where the Vac Truck fleet has been working:

Airports

Arboretum

Basement Work

Major Future Tourist Attraction

Filter Beds - Small

Filter Beds - Large

  

Sub-Stations

Shopping Centre

 

Whilst working on these and other projects, Vac Truck has a wide selection of ground loosening tools to ensure all work is carried out within the safest and quickest method.

Here is just a  selection of the attachments Vac Truck use:

Earth Breaking Lance

Pneumatic Air Jet Lances

Pneumatic Spades

Optional Hand Tools

Take a look at our website www.vactruck.co.uk to view the tools

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Recent Events:

The Managing Director of Vac Truck has recently visited the Conexpo-Con/Agg show in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

To view the show, visit www.conexpoconagg.com or take a look at our Facebook page to view some photos.

Did you know you can also follow Vac Truck on:

- Twitter

- LinkedIn 

- You Tube

- Facebook

- StubleUpon

- Digg

 

Vac Truck Machinery

We currently have eight vacuum/suction excavators in our fleet.

The machines are a 26 tonne lorry that can be used in so many different applications and are hired with a 1 or 2 man crew along with a support vehicle, on a daily, weekly, monthly or long term basis.

                                             This is an example of one of the machines we use

Technical Data:

Approximate length: 9.30m

Width: 2.50m

Approximate height: 3.40m

Maximum suction depth: 20m (depending on the nature of the material)

Maximum suction span: 100/140m (depending on the nature of the material)

Fan: 25,000 – 32,000m³/h

Vacuum: 17,000 – 40,000 Pascal

Compressor: 3.0 – 4.5m³/min, 7 bar

Container volume: 8 – 9m³

Telescopic boom

Transport Vehicle:

Minimum overall weight 26t

Motor power at least 310PS

Wheelbase at least 3,900mm

NMV transmission for the fan

NMV transmission for the hydraulics

(*fan can be driven via an intermediate gear as an alternative)

Special solutions such as:

Hydraulic travel drive apparatus

High-pressure water system with pressure-less water tank

Vacuum excavation is safe, fast (up to six times faster than hand digging), effective and cutting edge.

The use of this technology can:

Protect operators

Reduce excavation size

Safeguard sensitive projects

Avoid possible service strikes on known and unknown underground utilities

Avoid possible contract penalties

Demonstrate best practice

Help in the tendering process

The Vac Truck machines can achieve impressive results as they can:

Excavate to depths (vertically) of up to 20 meters (depending on the nature of material)

Excavate 100/140 meters (horizontally) from the vehicle (depending on the nature of material)

Store 8/9 meters³ of material

Stop dust particle release to 4 microns

Run additional air tools – Air Lance- to ensure tough materials are aided into the airflow of the vacuum/suction excavator

Coming up on our next blog:

We will be showing you different projects that we have been working on along with a variety of tools and attachments we use in challenging situations.

In the mean time, if we can assist you with any questions you may have regarding our service, please feel free to speak to us or visit the Vac Truck website www.vactruck.co.uk

Thank you for reading the Vac Truck blog! 

Hello and welcome to our first posting on the Vac Truck blog.

Our intention is to provide you with in depth knowledge and understanding of both our service and vacuum/suction excavation.

Over the next few blogs, we will be writing about the machinery we use, its various capabilities and keeping you up-to-date with new technology.

Vac Truck can be used on a variety of excavating applications including, but not limited to spoil removal, keyhole excavation, utility excavations, track construction, road and motorway maintenance, disaster management, landscaping, renovation and extension and so much more.

We will be sharing our news and informing you of any up and coming events that will be attending along with adding new photo’s and films for you to view.

If you would like to talk to us about the Vac Truck service for vacuum/suction excavation, you can call us on 01354 695544 and speak to a member of the team or send an e-mail with the information you require to enquiries@forceoneutilities.co.uk

Thank you for your interest in the Vac Truck blog.