Belle’s green plate
25 February 2022
On the route to net zero there is no one-size-fits all solution. A variety of power sources and configurations will be needed to suit individual sites and circumstances.
Altrad Belle has introduced the PCX 13/40E+, a battery powered version of its popular PCX 13/40 forward compaction plate. This means that users can now choose from petrol, battery or plug-in electric variants of this machine depending on their requirements.
Power comes from a Honda eGX electric motor and the machine has a quoted HAV rating that enables an operator to use it for eight hours in a working day.
“We have kept the design simple,” Ray Neilson, managing director of Altrad Belle told me. “The drive is via a traditional belt and shaft, making it convenient for hirers’ workshop technicians, and this configuration is also something we could adapt for other battery machines in the future. The batteries and chargers would also be the same.”
There are three speed settings to facilitate work in specific areas or around obstacles, and the compaction performance is similar to that of a petrol plate. Noise levels, however, are considerably less.
“The PCX 13/40E+ is obviously ideal for sites where there is no convenient mains supply or in confined spaces, and it complements our plug-in version,” added Ray.
Manufacturers like Altrad Belle are certainly being pro-active with their R&D in manufacturing a range of machine options for construction professionals to meet their sustainability targets.
● Also new from the company is the WPX 3/30 semi-trash water pump (below), a 3in (7.5cm) model which can handle debris of up to 2.5cm in diameter, offers a maximum head height of 30m and has a capacity of 1000 litres per minute. For convenience it can be stacked with Altrad Belle’s GPX 2700 and GPX 3400 generators, which are now available with Loncin as well as Honda engines.
