A cleaner, “green” excavator that substantially reduces pollutants is being used by a company in England that is expanding London’s rail network.
The Caterpillar 311F Euro Stage 4 Engine Excavator is one of the first pieces of heavy equipment to be compliant with the European Union’s new legislation that mandates a reduction in Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter emissions from diesel engines. It is being used by Morgan Sindall — a leading UK construction group with a reputation for leading the industry in environmental efficiencies — to widen the Crossrail network at the construction site of the new Pudding Lane Mill Station in London.
Emissions Cut by 90%
The “digger” reduces NOx emissions and particulate matter by 90% and is up to 22% more fuel efficient when compared to earlier generation excavators.
The key to the improved efficiently is a high pressure fuel injection system that allows the vehicle to burn diesel fuel cleaner and with less waste. The excavator also has a NOx Reduction System that captures and cools a small amount of exhaust gas before returning it to the engine and lowering combustion temperatures enough to minimize NOx production.
Jonathan Hall, the company’s plant director, said being the first to use the more environmentally-sensitive machinery is consistent with Morgan Sindall’s corporate objectives.
“As a leading UK construction and infrastructure company, Morgan Sindall is committed to playing its part in driving forward the sustainability agenda,” Hall told the materials handling website HUB. “In partnering with firms that share our vision of minimizing environmental impact, we are able to continue to develop greener options to help make this a reality. This European first complements our December 2013 accolade of being the first company in the UK to use the Mercedes-Benz Arocs lorry, the cleanest commercial vehicle in production.”
Lowered Environmental Impact
Morgan Sindall is leasing some of the equipment it is using on the railway project from Flannery Plant Hire. That company’s director, Patrick Flannery, said it was excited to be working with the firm to help reduce the environmental impact during the projet.
“We are aware of the part that clean and efficient plant needs to play in fulfilling Morgan Sindall’s sustainability objectives and we are delighted to be able to provide them with the most innovative machinery to enable this,” Flannery said.
The railway extension isn’t the only project Morgan Sindall is working on in which minimizing environmental impact plays an important role. at the University of East Anglia, the company is using a specially designed carbon concrete mix for pouring concrete at the school’s new Enterprise Center.
“Greener” Concrete
The concrete is a low embodied carbon concrete mix, including 70 per cent Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) cement replacement together with recycled sand and certified responsibly sourced aggregates, according to a Morgan Sindall news release. GGBS is a cement replacement product that comes directly from the steelworks industry, as a by-product of the blast furnaces used to make iron and steel.
The recycled sand is produced from material excavated from other construction sites and recycled by JT Few at their plant in Great Blakenham near Ipswich. The concrete contains around only 40% of the embodied carbon of normal concrete and is a major component in achieving the low carbon credentials of the project.