Altrad Belle steps up to the plate
8 June 2021
A key point that quickly arises in any discussion about choosing sustainable equipment is that there is often no single best solution. Like most hire applications, what’s appropriate depends on the specific task and factors like location.
In fact, that’s why this area of the website is called Site-Eco: everything starts with a consideration of the site.
This means that many options might need to be considered, individually or in tandem, and ultimately the cost must be acceptable to the end user.
Altrad Belle is reporting strong demand from hire companies for its electric compaction plates. These can be powered from the mains, by a generator or perhaps using a dedicated on-site battery pack.
“The electric plate is essentially the same machine as the petrol version but with a motor instead of the engine, and is a similar price,” Ray Neilson, managing director of Altrad Belle in the UK tells me. “There are no batteries to charge, be mislaid or get stolen.
“Our PCLX 12/40E for example has exactly the same vibration housing as the petrol machine so the performance is identical. It creates virtually no noise and you just press a button to stop and start.
“And there’s obviously no fuel to handle which is ideal for a homeowner or a contractor wanting to transport it in a vehicle.”
Ray also highlights the virtues of an electric machine in terms of its whole-life carbon footprint, since many components can be recycled more easily than chemical compounds in a battery.
Quiet operation is ideal for work at night or in residential areas, and with no fumes the plates can be used indoor, in basements and in similar places. Vibration is also reduced.
“From a hirer’s point of view there’s no engine to maintain and no carburettor to service, so the workshop turnaround is quicker. We’re definitely seeing more sales of electric equipment from hire companies as people look for eco-friendly options.”
And what strikes me is that, rather than just being replacements, new sustainable variants can actually change work practices and bring new hire opportunities.
