CONSTRUCTION Equipment Australia (CEA) has won its first major contract with the Commonwealth of Australia to supply British manufactured JCB telescopic handlers to the Australian Army. With this $12.5 million contract, CEA will supply 40 customised JCB telescopic handlers and Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) as part of a staged program. JCB CEA, part of the diversified CFC Group of companies has formed a partnership with Scientific Management Associates (SMA) in Melbourne to provide the ILS component of the contract.

While it is JCB CEA’s first contract with the Australian Army, JCB, which has its headquarters in Staffordshire in the UK, has built similar machines for US, British, Dutch and Asian defence forces. In Australia, JCB construction machines have been used by local shires and councils.

It is the biggest value contract ever

signed by JCB CEA and the most sig

nificant project in dollar terms for the

Department of Defence’s JP126 Phase

2, which is seeking to deliver a joint

theatre distribution system that will

optimise the Defence Force’s capa¬

bility to control and deliver combat

service support in joint areas of opera

tion.

CFC Group CEO Marc Cardaci said the contract had strong significance for the company by effectively commencing a relationship with the largest consumer of the product range it represented. “Being our first contract with the Army and with all the ILS support, it will involve a significant project management plan to deliver the machines,” Cardaci said. JP126 project manager Major Terry Campbell said CEA’s tender provided the highest level of capability against the technical specification. Campbell said the primary function of the telescopic handlers would be to load and unload containers, and they would be used in conjunction with small load units.

The customised machines will be based on JCB’s 535-95 construction handler and will be powered by the new 100 hp JCB Dieselmax, Tier III emissions compliant engine. The handlers will also incorporate JCB’s sway feature, which allows a machine to level itself on uneven ground, as well as its renowned fast transport speed; two-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive and crab steer autoselect steering; and spacious cab interior. Modifications to the 535-95 model would include payload capability of up to 4t and fording capability of 1,200 mm. The completely JCB manufactured construction machines were designed for pick and place work in construction environments and the customised handlers for the Army would also include a unique front attachment for loading and unloading materials and another attachment for moving empty containers. A hook-on fork with a set of wheels will allow high weight materials to be pushed 9.5m into a container. The wheel innovation system eliminated the need for stabilisers or an outrigger system and would therefore provide for a quicker loading cycle.

Source: Construction Contractor