Old Pond publishing days

Demolition Giants programme - the first stills

Steven Vale is moving on to his third DVD for Old Pond - before the first (Massive Earthmovers 3) has been released. This time he has taken director Jonathan Theobald to record some of the biggest machines to be found in Europe's demolition business. The following photographs have all been taken by Steven.

This 50 metre version (left), owned by Euro Demolition, was filmed in action on 68 metre storage towers in the Port of Rotterdam.

Based on a modified Hitachi ZX870, it was converted to a demolition machine by Dutch-specialist STC. The result is a 165 tonnes machine that is capable of carrying a 5 tonnes top at full height.

This is a machine that is easily capable of cutting through the towers like a can opener.

Steve's  visit to Holland also included a first-hand look at the largest demolition project in the Benelux – a four-year contract to pull down a disused power station.

Located on the banks of the River Maas in the Southern Province of Limburg the project is handled by one of Holland’s largest demolition contractors - Beelen Demolition.

A big project requires big machines and the company brought two of its giants to the site.

The first is a modified Cat 395C (right), which two years ago was the very first European machine to boast a working height in excess of 60m.

Next to it is a brand new Hitachi EX1200 (left). However, even though this is one of the largest hydraulic excavators in the country it is not the Hitachi excavator that is the centre of attention here but rather the scrap shear - the world’s largest rotating version.

One of just a handful ever made, and one of the only two in Europe, the US-made Genesis GXP 2500 weighs close to 26 tonnes. This massive shear is easily capable of cutting through the thickest of steel beams at the site.

There is nothing that can prepare you for the sight of these two £1 million+ machines working side by side (right). This is extreme demolition at its very best.

The second of these massive shears (left) is currently earning its keep cutting up a number of old oil refineries at the Port of Moerdijk, to the south of Rotterdam.

Purchased from the US where it cost its owner Van Leeuwen Katwijk the best part of US$ 400,000, the shear is fitted to a used Hitachi EX1200 sourced from Spain.

The machine is working alongside a brand new Cat 385C fitted with the largest scrap shear currently available from Verachtert (right).

Called the VHS 70/3, although the 9 tonnes version is no match for the Genesis, it still commands respect.

Talc at Luzenac - Liebherr machines

'Luzenac talc for the world' is the catch-phrase of Rio Tinto Minerals' Pyreneean talc mine north of Ax-les-Thermes in the Ariege region of south-west France. We have been filming there courtesy of Alexander Kristen, the mine's general manager and Laura Jones, Rio Tinto's European communications manager. See blog 4 May 2009 for DVD (Massive Earthmoving Machines Pt 4) details.

The softest of all minerals, talc is 'a perfectly stable and chemically inert hydrous magnesium silicate' that has a laminar structure. The weak binding of the laminae (sheets) allow them to slide over each other, making the rock so soft.

The mine is in a staggeringly beautiful landscape, at about 1700 metres, with vultures wheeling on the thermals and, at this time of year, carpets of flowers.

Nothing prepares you for the whiteness of the mine (right). The deposit lies in a deep, wide cleft slanting diagonally down between other rocks.

The deposit has been mined here since the early 19th century. Until recently the company had the policy of repainting in white all its vehicles, like this Cat 777C (left).

The Liebherr 994 Litronic (right) makes short work of shifting waste material.

At the end of our first day (left), high above the mine, the warning is sounded for a blasting.

Down on the wet talc concrete slabs are used to make movable roadways. The transporter (right) is a Liebherr 942.

The talc is carefully taken by small machines like this Liebherr 900 (left) and separated into different shades and qualities.

Articulated dump trucks like this Volvo (right) are used to move talc to the stockpiles above the crusher ...

... where a Cat 98G (left) selects from eleven grades.

Inside the loading shed (right) the buckets are filled for transport down from the deposit at Trimouns to the processing and depatch factory at Luzenac. 

The filled buckets start their run on the cable (left).

As the filled buckets descend  (right) they contribute power to raise the empty buckets back up.

The main uses of talc: in the manufacture of polypropylene, especially for car bodies; paint manufacture; paper coatings; cosmetics and pharmaceuticals; ceramics; agriculture and food. If you'd like more information before our DVD (scripted by Steven Vale) is available, Talc de Luzenac has a highly illustrated book available in French, German or English. The English version is called 'The Epic of Luzenac Talc'. Check www.luzenac.com/talcdeluzenac

Fabero mines: Hitachi and Komatsu earthmovers

As part of Old Pond's programme of recording earthmovers at work we've just spent some time filming in northern Spain, courtesy of the Union Minera del Norte SA. Our guides were Roberto Brana and Maria del Pilar. See blog 4 May 2009 for the DVD (Massive Earthmoving Machines Pt 4) details.

The three mines we visited were at Fabero, Tormeleo and Cerredo in north-west Leon and the Asturias. On the left is Fabero.

The company uses Hitachi EX5500s (right) for heavy work on the overburden at Fabero. We believe these are the only 5500s in Europe.

The coal seams are surprisingly shallow. The ones we saw were maybe 40 cm deep. We were told that they can be as little as 20 cm and still be economic to work. Here (left) a 350 with a specially adapted bucket is gathering on a seam.

The contrast in size between the two Hitachis shows clearly when they are working together (right).

Among the dump trucks were these converted 1100s (left).

The Komatsu PC 3000 (right) is working in the Tormeleo mine.

Loading coal from the stockpile at Tormeleo (left) is the highly manoeuvrable Komatsu WA800 wheel loader.

At Cerredo, high in the mountains in the very south of the Asturias, we concentrated on just one special machine: the Hitachi EX3600 (right).

JCB3 and an original Bamford trailer

This week we spent an interesting afternoon as guests of JC Balls & Sons at Ambergate, Derbys, completing the filming of Tim Starkey-Smith's history of the JCB backhoe loader. For more details see blog 24 August.

Here we found a JCB3 under restoration (left).It was first registered in Edinburgh in 1960.

Importance of this machine was that it was the first of the JCBs to incorporate a side shift (above).

The JCB's engine and transmission had been taken out of the machine during restoration. Here it was - a Fordson Diesel Major, the skid unit that JCB received.

Traces of Fordson blue still to be seen.

Restorer and demonstrator David Whittle showed us a special piece of equipment in the corner of the yard. This was one of the original trailers made by JC Bamford in 1945-6. The tinwork came from redundant Anderson shelters and the tail-lift was still by a screw mechanism. 

International BTD20 filmed

We've now finished filming for Stuart Gibbard's DVD about McCormick International Tractors: the Doncaster years.

The last machine to be filmed was this BTD20 belonging to Eamon Pell. It was built in 1956 or 1957, the sixtieth off the Doncaster production line. Eamon has owned the BTD20 since 1986, still using it for odd jobs. He has had to replace only the running gear and one track.

Eamon (below) is an agricultural engineer, based at Lambley, Notts.

Aitik copper mine, Sweden

This week we've been to Lapland, filming the Aitik copper mine, courtesy of Boliden AB. Our guide was assistant shift supervisor Sture Holmgren.

The mine is an ever-expanding and deepening hole in the mineral-bearing rock. Now 480 metres deep, it is expected to reach 800 metres before it is de-commissioned.

Although copper is the main product of the mine, there are also significant gold and silver deposits

The mine uses three models of extraction machinery. This Bucyrus 495BII electric rope shovel (right) is the only one in Europe. It is loading a Cat 793C.

Also the only ones in Europe, there are two P&H 4100 rope shovels (left) at the mine.

Another first (right): the first Komatsu PC5500 electric excavator in Europe.

Cat's largest wheeled loader: the 994F (left).

We have tried to show the whole mining process including rock extraction, drill rigs and blasting, transport on site, crushing, milling (right) and transport off site.

A regret? Yes. We didn't get to see the 60-year-old Marion 7400 dragline (left) in operation - though we were told that it is still used from time to time.

We were filming for the 3rd part of Old Pond's Massive Earthmoving Machines series. TO BE RELEASED OCTOBER. See Blog 24 August

Two more JCBs filmed

This Saturday we started off south of Birmingham at Wythall where Tim Starkey-Smith levelled a yard using Frank Bullock's 2DII (left).

The machine was at one time owned by Joe Darby (right) who made sure that it was in working order for us.

In the afternoon Tim handled a monster: a 3DIII (left). The machine belongs to Jim Brereton who has been using it for forestry clearance and general maintenance for fourteen years. Jim keeps it in frequent operation at the White House, Cannock.

Optional extra with the 3DIII, the breaker (left) was only a partial success in Tim's hands.

For more information about the DVD see blog 24 August.

The first Doncaster-produced Farmall M and the last CX

Nearly at the end of filming for Stuart Gibbard's new DVD, McCormick International - the Doncaster Years. This week we spent a day at the Cambridgeshire farm of Stephen Haylock and his son Matthew.

Peter Neale came to the farm and drove his very special machine: the very first Doncaster-produced McCormick tractor. Farmall M, September 1949.

Stephen Haylock owns the very last CX off the line (right), McCormick CX 105 XtraShift, July 2007.

Then there's his Diamond Edition CX 105 from 2006 (left).

Not to mention the restored Coronation Model Super BMD (right).

Finally, Matthew put their Interntional BTD 5 (left)through its paces on the heavy clay soil.

JCBs filmed

On Saturday 13th we were lucky to have a perfect day a day filming some excellent machines for Tim Starkey-Smith's forthcoming history of the JCB backhoe loader. For more information about the programme see blog 24 August.

Mike Eacock of Wildmoor, near Bromsgrove, has a wonderful collection of restored machines. This is his 3DII (left), with Caribbean cab and tinted glass. The parallel lift loader comes complete with a 4-in-1 shovel. The backhoe loader dates back to 1972.

A year older, and awaiting restoration, is this rare 4DII (right).

Tim Starkey-Smith put Mike's JCB1 Gravedigger (left) through its paces. It was first built in 1963.

Then he showed off the 25 cwt ID Dumper (right), dating from 1964.

A couple of junctions north up the M5 Russell Harper showed us his early 1957 Hydradigga / Major loader (left). Not a runner - yet!

Filming tractor restoration: paintwork

We spent this weekend as the guests of Alan and Margaret Davies, filming progress on three of Alan's projects.

The chassis is from an early MF 135. The other two machines are both 35Xs, one industrial, the other agricultural. The main tractor featured in the programme is the industrial. Alan hopes to have it ready from the November tractor shows - and we hope to have the DVD ready then too.