Caterpillar skid steer loaders are on the front line of Nikau Contractors operation and three new 246C units recently arrived in Christchurch are playing a key role in the company’s deconstruction operation as part of the city’s rebuild. 

Nikau Contractors is a family-based company established in 1980 by owners John and Diana Stil. Serving the New Zealand building and construction industries since its inception, Nikau Contractors has firmly cemented their position as one of this country’s leaders in innovative deconstruction, recycling and salvage techniques. Auckland based and now also domiciled in Christchurch, the company has a long history of involvement with key demolition projects throughout the North Island. 

The company has successfully completed many large scale contracts, assisting government agencies, regional councils, iwi's, developers, general contractors and property owners with demolition, site works and environmental projects. 

Owner John Stil takes up the story, “Our history with Caterpillar skid steers goes back 7-8 years and in that time we’ve acquired twelve Cat skid steers from Goughs, with ten of these still working on the front line.” 

“We’d previously bought a competitive skid steer brand, but since making the choice to go with Caterpillar, we haven’t looked back. The performance we get from Cat skid steers is incredible. Nothing goes wrong with them…they’re extremely reliable and productive workhorses, ideal for operating in confined areas where excavators cannot go.” 

Caterpillar skid steers are at the forefront of Nikau Contractors operations so they always work in the harshest environments. Utilised primarily for interior demolition, the Cat units strip out materials to get a building back to its concrete shell. They can sort materials into product groups such as wood, wiring and aluminium, which is always important for the recycling aspect of demolition. 

John says, “The Cat B-series model 246 has been a great performer for us, so it was a straight forward decision to move to the 246C when Goughs introduced this. The 246 is very robust in design and engineering, and from our experience it’s the best in its class.”  

“Time will be the telling factor of course, but I’m confident we’ll get the performance from the 246C models to match our high expectations. Regular servicing is important and Goughs also matches our expectations here. It’s great Goughs has just opened a Christchurch rebuild support facility in the city to service contractors working in there that we’ll also be able to take advantage of.” 

Powered by a rugged Cat C3.4 DIT engine providing net flywheel power of 54 kW, each 246C is fitted with a Cat Industrial Grapple Bucket, designed for excellent clamping force on material using heavy-duty hydraulic rams, and the wheels have solid tyres to eliminate punctures. Skid steer versatility is displayed with optional broom and fork attachments. 

The 246C is one of nine models in the Caterpillar Skid Steer Loader range including four C-Series machines – the 246C, 256C, 262C and 272C.  It features a radial lift design, providing excellent performance and superior mid-lift in tough working conditions. High performance power train provides high engine horsepower and torque, with Electronic Torque Management and standard foot throttle allowing the machine to be operated at part throttle for lower sound levels and fuel consumption. 

Comfort and ease of operation are designed in every aspect of the operator station. The wide, spacious interior and seat mounted adjustable joystick controls provide a comfortable work environment with excellent head, shoulder and leg room to keep operator productivity high and fatigue low…important factors in the demanding work environment the Nikau units are working in. 

When John and Diana saw the first images of the February 22 earthquake they knew they had to get to Christchurch to help as quickly as possible . “We had surplus machines we made available, basically we got them on a transporter and got them to Christchurch ASAP. By the 25^th we were involved in the recovery operation at the PGC building site, working 24-hour days over an eight day period.” 

Parkside Quarries has a long association with the Caterpillar brand over many decades and that tradition continues with the acquisition of a new Cat 336DL excavator from Goughs.

The new machine joins a thirteen-strong fleet of working Cat machines owned by the North Otago-based quarry operation. In an industry where productivity is critical, this Cat machine is displaying it’s versatility and providing a range of complete solutions for the operation. Combining an improved specifications profile from its predecessors with a range of specialised attachments, this 336DL excavator is solid as a rock.

‘Parkside’ is a 300 hectare sheep and cropping farm approximately ten kilometres west of Oamaru. The property sits on a solid mass of limestone from which Parkside Quarries extracts the famous Oamaru stone building material and one of New Zealand’s purest agricultural limes.

The new Cat 336DL that has been added to the quarry operation drives three heavy duty attachments – twin saw blades, a three-pronged ripper, and a twenty-tonne bucket.  The twin saw blades in action are certainly an impressive sight and head of operations at Parkside Quarries, Bob Wilson explains how they are utilised with the 336DL. “The twin blade stone-cutting saws, three metres in diameter and a total weight of 4.5 tonnes, are used to cut 2.5 tonne limestone blocks from the quarry floor. The saw can also be applied when breaking up off-cuts from the quarry into more manageable sizes before crushing.”

He adds that with a base operating weight of over 36 tonnes, the 336DL has significantly extra hydraulic power and weight for stability that aids its application. “The combined weight of the saw blades, aided by the heavier boom and stick [on the 336DL], make it more suitable for impact breaking of limestone,” Mr Wilson says.

The boom and stick regeneration circuit in the 336DL saves energy during boom-down and stick-in operation which increases efficiency, reduces cycle times and pressure loss for higher productivity, lower operating costs and increased fuel efficiency. Parkside Quarries previously operated an older Cat 330B, before upgrading to the 336DL, to cut the blocks of Oamaru stone on the quarry floor, and a considerable difference can be recognised between the two. Aside from a considerable operating weight difference, the 336DL with its Cat C9® engine with ACERT™ Technology provides 9 percent more horsepower compared to the engine in the 330B.

The Cat C9® engine gives the 336DL exceptional power and fuel efficiency unmatched in the industry for consistently high performance in all applications. It introduces a series of evolutionary, incremental improvements that provide breakthrough engine technology with which customers can balance the demands of performance and fuel economy to suit their requirements and application.The excavator’s engine power management system optimises machine performance for each type of application. 

At Parkside, the 336DL is also used to extract solid limestone from the ground with the three-pronged ripper attachment or the twenty tonne bucket, and for loading lime rubble onto dump trucks for transporting to the crushing plant.  In these circumstances, the operator can change the engine power on the monitor from standard to high. The high power mode is recommended for extremely productive and hard digging applications, and the standard power mode is used for lighter duty applications and optimises fuel efficiency.The hydraulics system is also an important aspect of the overall performance of the 336DL at Parkside Quarries.

The excavator’s hydraulics delivers power and precise control to keep material on the move. Notably, the layout of the 336DL hydraulic system and component locations has been designed to provide a high level of system efficiency. That is, the main pumps, control valves and hydraulic tank are located close together to allow for shorter tubes and lines between components, which reduce friction loss, and pressure drops in the lines. The hydraulic cross sensing system utilises each of two hydraulic pumps to 100 percent of engine power, under all operating conditions. This improves productivity with faster implement speeds and quicker, stronger pivot turns.

The Cat 336DL has a proud place in the working Cat fleet at Parkside Quarries. Among the fleet is seven wheel loaders ranging in size from the 902 to the 966 sizes, a TH330B Telehandler, a 977 Traxcavator, a 322BL Excavator, a 770 Dump Truck, a D8R Bulldozer, and a 12G Grader.

Parkside also has two vintage D8 2U bulldozers, fully restored, that were purchased new from Caterpillar in 1948-1949 by the Taylors Lime Company.

Bob Wilson adds, “These machines are only brought out of the shed for special occasions. Both machines have well over 36 thousand hours on them.”

The Parkside quarry has been producing stone since 1906, and the quality is as high as ever. The company employs 13-15 staff including a farm manager. Parkside recently completed the supply of 220 tonnes of Oamaru stone to the new Otago University building attached to the north and west sides of the new Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.   

Caterpillar products have served Blenheim-based TC Nicholls Ltd well since the company’s inception in the mid 1960’s, and expectations are high for its latest acquisition from Goughs – an AP500E paver, which is the first Cat model of its kind to be delivered in Australasia. 

TC Nicholls operates throughout the Marlborough and Nelson regions, with the business growing on the back of Blenheim’s expansion over the last 20 years. Specialising in road construction, final prep and sealing, the company is kept busy with new subdivisions and the many winery developments that the region is famous for. 

This growth resulted in owner Mark Nicholls looking for new paver options in the market, and with Goughs introducing the new Caterpillar AP500E to the industry through a paving roadshow last year, Mark took the opportunity to demo the unit himself. He was so impressed with its performance that he snapped it up and the paver hasn’t gone any further! 

Mike Meskimmon, Goughs Product Manager - Compaction and Paving says the AP500E includes the features the worldwide market has come to expect from Caterpillar. “The wheeled undercarriage provides exceptional mobility and high speed capability when moving around the job site, while excellent flotation limits disturbance on soft base materials ensuring uniform mat thickness.” 

“Other features are a quiet and powerful Cat C4.4 ACERT engine that is emissions certified, dual swing out operator’s stations with tilting consoles, a center mounted high capacity cooling package and Caterpillar’s unique material handling system with independent reversible feeder and auger controls.” 

TC Nicholls new AP500E replaces a competitive paver and although Mark Nicholls has only had the Cat paver operating for a few months, the advantages have been dramatic. “Our previous paver had a screed width with extensions of only 3.5m. What attracted me to the AP500E was it’s 4.0m screed, which can be extended to 4.5m with extensions.”  “This provides big advantages to our operation as the Cat has a much greater capability resulting in better productivity. It showcases an excellent mat finish and we’re finding the great results by the new paver are actually driving our own quality.” The AP500E is equipped with a
AS3251C screed and has an operating weight of 15 520 kg. 

Mark says the electric screed plate has major advantages over the gas powered screed incorporated in the old paver. “Its user friendly, reliable and provides fast heat-up, and in combination with the extractor fan, this minimises the smell for my team working on the job.” The on-demand, variable-speed fan also keeps sound levels low, while directing exhaust air toward the hopper, away from operators and ground personnel. 

The dual swing-out operator stations, tilting consoles and low profile design of the deck-mounted cooling system provide good forward visibility that enables the operator to communicate effectively with the truck driver while monitoring mix in the hopper. Extending the stations beyond the machine frame also enables good joint-matching capability and optimal rearward visibility to the auger chamber. 

The screed control panel incorporates touch-pad technology with high intensity LED’s that promote simplified use and diagnostic capability with minimal operator training. The heating elements are arranged in a multi-zone configuration to provide even heat distribution for smoother mats. 

Goughs commitment with parts availability was also a key factor in selecting the new paver Mark notes, “This paving unit is not a high utilisation machine, but I need it to pave on demand. It has to be ready to go and I know with Goughs they’ll carry the parts I require to ensure any downtime is very minimal.” 

The other benefit in selecting the Cat package is the paving expertise Goughs provides via their paving specialist Bob Tripp. “He’s excellent and brings so much paving knowledge to our business”, says Mark.  “He’s very hands on and has got our young guys trained up and confident on the paver. We also know if we need any refresher training, that Goughs has the resources available to assist us on that side of things.”   

Mobility and consistent speeds are keys to efficient paving operations. The Cat system is equipped with automatic speed control and three propel/steering modes: PAVE, TRAVEL and MANEUVER. The TRAVEL mode provides speeds of up to 16 km/hr (10 mph), enabling the AP500E to be quickly repositioned around the job site. The PAVE mode enables the automatics for mix delivery, while the MANEUVER mode allows 0.75 m inside turning radius for excellent mobility in tight quarters.  

The left and right conveyors in addition to the left and right augers are controlled independently ensuring mix demand is met when increasing or decreasing paving widths. Ratio control dials and sensors (mechanical or sonic) signal the augers and conveyors to run faster or slower when changing paving widths, thus keeping the head of material at the set level. When paving around obstacles the system automatically makes the necessary adjustments for uniform mix delivery. 

Mark Nicholls concludes by saying, “Our company certainly has some history around developments in local region, and as the town and surrounding districts continue to grow, we’re looking forward to our new Cat paver providing the ideal finish on these projects for many years to come.”