We had a tip-off last week. Lots of heavy machinery is disembarked onto Auckland’s Bledisloe Wharf each month without drawing attention but this particular machine is different. In fact any machinery enthusiast might have heard the twin Detroit engines with straight six starting inside the hull of the Tamelane, the vessel in question, as this…
NZ Contractor magazine has a Facebook page with an engaged audience of followers. Today’s blog post is inspired by a couple of comments on the Facebook page. And a little nugget about our new admin resource. The comments were prompted by June’s magazine article- on the Mingha Bluff realignment project. This project has not only…
There is quite a fascination with things miniature, whatever they may be. Most folks have a hobby of some sort, from stamp collecting to Matchbox models, and most people have also had a collection of sorts from time to time of one thing or another. Then there are the poor souls who are afflicted with…
It is quite amazing the speed with which new innovations or methods are introduced to the earthmoving & construction industry these days. When I started out as a novice operator, a good 33% of the machinery in our spread was still cable operated or was a hybrid of cable and hydraulics. Auto-greasing was unheard…
I have made mention of safety in a previous column. I’m personally all for it but not the way we are going about it. One of the founding principles of the NZ way of life was the “we can do it” No.8 wire mentality. This grew out our isolation, tucked away in the depths of…
I’m really a patient, laid back soul, you have to be these days. My at-home hobby demands patience in truck loads and I’m happy to devote my patience to it! However, there are a number of things that really get on my goat and try my patience to the limit. How about motorway on ramp…
Everyone has a favorite something. It may not be the world’s most attractive item but you like it because it performed well or felt good or you liked the look of it, just struck a chord, or all of the above. Take the Supermarine Spitfire as an example. It may not have shot down the…
Ever stopped to consider whatever happened to all those old manufacturers of earthmoving equipment that you no longer see around today ? Evolution of the various types of earthmoving machine has been constant since at least 1904, over 112 years. During this time period countless companies have come and gone, some with really good…
Road Cone, “Witch’s Hat”, “Contractors Yard Glass”, call them what you will, but these items of traffic control equipment have proliferated to an astounding degree over the last decade. Prior to their arrival, traffic control was accomplished by a much simpler means – recycled 44 gallon oil drums, sometimes filled with water, with the occasional…
Anyone who drives in the city is aware of the volume of heavy trucks that ply their daily trade along the roads. Those who travel long distance will also be acutely aware of them. There was a time when you could count on a truckie. They were the most courteous drivers on the road, and…
