When leading Welsh Agricultural dealer David Evans Agri Ltd (DEAL) was approached by a customer for a bespoke tractor with a crane, they knew exactly which brand would provide the perfect solution.
Visiting the DEAL dealership one day, Mark Davis, head of technical and sales office at M&D Services in Port Talbot, spotted a customised tractor fitted with a crane in the yard – which had been built by David Evans previously – and decided that he just had to have one of his own.
“The tractor/crane combo in David’s yard was intended for forestry use and I knew I needed something bigger, so this was a new challenge for DEAL,” said Mark.
David Evans added: “For Mark’s Fendt 936 Vario tractor we fabricated and installed the mounting kit ourselves, making sure it was the perfect fit for the tractor. Building this for a customer was a bit of an experiment so we knew that it was important to have the back up of the importer of a high-quality crane. That’s why I went to Palfinger UK.”
The bespoke fitment from DEAL goes even further by enabling the user to detach the crane and auxiliary leg stabilisers when required, so that the tractor can be used with or without the crane, or with other implements as required.
Rear mounted on the tractor, the medium duty Palfinger PK 19.001 SLD5 has a 4-extension C boom with lifting capacity of up to 18.5 tonne metres and an 12.6-metre reach. The lightweight design from Palfinger enables higher payloads than other cranes of a similar size, making the PK 19.001 SLD5 ideal for the wide range of heavy lifting tasks which Mark often undertakes. Additionally, the front and rear additional Palfinger stabilisers offer Mark both increased stability on the frequently uneven terrain around his home patch in South Wales, as well as extra support for heavier loads, enabling him to lift and move larger items quickly and easily.
Les Drage, Head of Technical and Sales at Palfinger UK, detailed the work put into the project by the Palfinger UK team. “This was a special project with a significant amount of bespoke work needed to harmonise the mechanical, hydraulic and electric interface work before the unit was sent out from Palfinger UK in Devizes.
“Extensive liaison and support was provided initially from the area sales manager Stuart Wilson, as well as from Project Engineers Rob and Gary to the team at David Evans Agricultural Ltd, while on-site stability testing was carried out by Steve in the Palfinger UK Service department before final handover. We’re pleased with the outcome and we enjoyed working with David and his team.”
“I intend to use the tractor in my work with utilities providers mostly,” said Mark. “In the countryside around South Wales these companies often need to install poles, pipes and cables in areas which truck-mounted cranes can’t reach – such as through fields or down tracks. My tractor mounted crane solves the problem and will open up more opportunities for me in those areas of work.”
The 936 Vario itself delivers up to 366hp from a 7.1 litre Deutz turbocharged diesel engine; combined with the strength and power of the Palfinger crane it adds up to an impressive machine for M&D Services.
Speaking of the build, David is keen to work on other bespoke jobs in the future. “This really is a specialist piece of kit and sort of a prototype for us really. We think it’s gone very well and we’re certainly interested in working on similar projects in the future with Palfinger cranes. Our facilities here at DEAL are perfect for managing these sorts of projects and my team is always ready to help provide solutions for our customers.”
On his experience working with the Palfinger UK team, David has nothing but praise. “The Palfinger UK team has been great. Project Engineer Rob was very helpful, coming out to support with the crane fitment and was always available on the phone to answer questions and provide guidance throughout the build.”
If you have a crane configuration in mind that you would like to discuss please do call Palfinger UK on 01380 722381, or take a look at www.palfinger.co.uk. To find out more about David Evans Agricultural Ltd visit www.dealwales.co.uk.
