JCB has unveiled a concept 7-tonne Hi-Viz site dumper model as the company reveals plans to begin manufacturing its own line of the popular product.
The prototype will be on display to the public for the first time at the Plantworx 2017 construction equipment show in the UK, which starts today.
JCB says the new Hi-Viz concept machine addresses growing industry concerns around accidents and serious injuries involving site dumpers on construction sites.
The Hi-Viz concept model has been designed and engineered specifically to tackle these worries by increasing visibility, operator protection, stability, comfort and serviceability.
“JCB has offered a range of site dumpers under a supply agreement with a third party manufacturer since 2015,” JCB CEO Graeme McDonald says.
“In deciding to begin manufacturing our own range, we have taken the opportunity to innovate and we have developed a solution that directly addresses safety concerns.
“We believe that the JCB Hi-Viz site dumper concept will provide a much safer solution in terms of visibility, operator protection and stability,” he adds.
“It is a clear demonstration of JCB’s innovative approach to machine design, delivering improved safety and productivity for rental customers and operators.”
The prototype site dumper has a unique sloped design and a reduced skip height to increase visibility. JCB says an operator could easily see a 1.2m-tall person standing 1m from the machine, even when fully laden.
The machine has a lower centre of gravity as a result, which combines with the extended wheelbase to give the machine better stability.
JCB says many site dumpers use only a single ROPS bar situated behind the operator. Although safety guidelines state a seatbelt must be used, often this isn’t the case as operators may not use it in order to be able to jump clear of the machine in the event of a rollover.
JCB has addressed this by engineering a ROPS/FOPS Level II glazed cab for the new site dumpers, available on models with an operating weight above 4.5 tonnes.
The machine will go into production at JCB’s world headquarters in Staffordshire later in the year alongside nine other site dumper models in the 1-tonne to 9-tonne market. It is not known at this stage whether the new site dumper models will make it to Australia.