Hawk Plant Hire, the leading plant hire company in the UK, has installed the Prolec PME500 system across thirty-five machines currently working on the M6 project.
Working with the Carillion-Kier joint venture on the on-going installation of the M6 Smart Motorway, Hawk selected the technology from Prolec to help improve safety and productivity on the project, enabling machinery to work effectively near traffic and overhead infrastructure.
Hawk Group Director Paul Allman explained: “Innovation has long been a core value for Hawk, and we have pioneered the use of machine control technology in the UK for over a decade now. That is why we took the decision to install the Prolec PME500 system on our machinery working on this project.”
Allman continued: “The PME500 system is designed to understand the geometry of the machine, calculating whether movement is safe, and where necessary stopping the boom slewing to avoid hazards such as bridges, oncoming traffic or signage.”
Product Support at Prolec, Paul Mosely, elaborated, “We call it a virtual barrier. We take the machine specification supplied by Hawk and effectively create height and slew limits, which will prevent the machine exceeding these limits when it is unsafe to do so.”
Those working on the project have been impressed with the results. Stewart Brierley, CKJV M6 J16-19 Works Manager, commented: “The PME 500 system, installed in all CKJV machines supplied by Hawk has, and will continue to improve our safe working systems. We already have a number of safety measures such as RAMS, POWRAs in place which are fit for purpose but with the added security of the Prolec system the safety of our personnel and road users will be improved. People plant segregation is a must, these innovations can only bolster our arsenal towards a safer, more productive and better managed site. The Prolec PME 500 is a very flexible and versatile piece of kit, saving us from many hazards and machine strikes.”
Hawk Plant Hire is part of the Hawk Group of Companies, made up of nine companies which collectively promise to offer customers a one-stop-shop of construction solutions. Another of the companies in the Group is Safety and Training – a specialist provider in construction training and accreditations. Safety and Training worked with Prolec to train all Hawk operators on how to correctly use the PME500 system.
Guy Brookes, Safety and Training Director, explained: “The technology from Prolec is fantastic, but it’s through a detailed and comprehensive understanding of how to use the system that you can truly unlock the benefits. That’s why we placed such importance on making sure our operators had the correct training and we are seeing the rewards on the project now.”
Paul Allman concluded: “Whether it be the quality of our machinery, systems like the PME500, or our operator training; it’s all part of our promise to offer customers the highest levels of productivity, quality and safety. We are aware of cheaper systems on the marketplace but we were not prepared to compromise the safety of our workers or our customers and felt that working with a leading international supplier such as Prolec was the only solution.”
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