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Equipment focus: JCB JS300 excavator

The father-son team of John and Ben Atkins runs a construction aggregate or ‘blue-metal’ quarry in Woolgoolga, NSW and have recently added a JCB JS300 excavator to their fleet.

“We’re the only argillite quarry from Coffs Harbour to Grafton and though we’re not a huge operation, we rely on our fleet to deliver maximum output,” Ben Atkins says.

Blue-metal quarry work is usually quite hard on the machine, and the Atkins’ were looking for a 30-tonne machine capable of handling the job. After extensive research, a JCB JS300 excavator was purchased from JCB dealer Hydraulics Hotline in Coffs Harbour, NSW.

The JS300 is powered by a 165kW turbocharged JCB Dieselmax 672 engine. The excavator’s bucket provides breakout force of up to 25,853kgf/m, which when combined with the swing arm’s high torque provides enough digging and lifting power for the quarry.

The JS300’s operator’s cab has a large adjustable air-suspension seat, suited to the long hours required at the quarry. JCB says internal noise levels on the JS300 have been reduced to just 74dB inside, making the operator’s job a bit easier. Other creature comforts in the cab include heating/air-conditioning and a luggage tray with cup holders.

The Woolgoolga Quarry currently has 6 machines in its fleet, including the JS300. The new excavator is the quarry’s first JCB. Ben says it was recommendations from friends and JCB’s after-sales service that made him pic the JS300.

“The service we received was top notch and the machine is spot on” Atkins says.

“Servicing and repairs are a fact of life and I’ve had to deal with it for other machines. But the service I received was second to none, and I know I can rely on JCB to provide that kind of service.

 

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