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Goughs, the founding sponsor of the National Excavator Operator Competition, has been providing its diggers for this event since the competition started 13 years ago.
This year, the two brand new, 13.5 tonne, Cat 312C excavators supplied for the competitors looked decidedly different – they sported the latest Gough designed canopy FOP option that doesn’t have guards or grills and provides a very clear view for the operator. “The FOP is also mounted to the chassis for strength, says Goughs central region operations manager Jason Cheetham. “The old FOPS was mounted on the sub frame which could cause it to flex.” The 312C model has enjoyed a popular four year run, he says, and are renowned for their smoothness and speed. This was evident in such challenges during the competition that involved using the bucket (also made by Gough Engineering in Christchurch) to pop a cork off a champagne bottle, and to pour two cups of tea. During the digging challengers, contestants had to change buckets, a process simplified by the Kiwi designed and made quick hitches used by Goughs. Switching from a standard bucket to a 1.8 metre capacity tilt bucket for angle work is made all the easier with the Wedgelock quick release and hitch feature. The operator only had to get out of the cab to connect the hydraulic hoses. Cheetham says excavators actually have less powerful motors than they used to, as most of the power comes from the sophisticated hydraulic pumps made by Caterpillar that can draw on 100 percent of the 312C’s 90hp motor when needed. “In earlier models that weren’t so electronic, you needed much larger engines and a surplus of power to achieve the same result.” says Cheetham. The nimble dexterity of the 13.5 tonne cat was self evident as a number of contestants scored perfect marks for the most delicate of tasks. The pilot system has been fine tuned over many years and places absolute control in the operators palms, says Cheetham, who has nothing but respect for the regional winners who step up to the nationals every year. “They are always a great bunch of guys who are very focused on the competition and put on a tremendous display of skill. They are great ambassadors for the industry.” Back to Contractor main pageContractor Vol.32 No.3 April 2008 |
The relationship actually goes back a few years earlier than that, after Bob Owen, the Contractors’ Federation’s Palmerston North branch manager, approached Gough’s sales manager at the time, Howard Brent, to borrow a couple of diggers for what was then a local Manawatu competition.