October 2019

HYDRAULICS Bobcat loaders help to keep Madrid Airport safe in the winter Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport in Madrid in Spain, Europe’s sixth busiest airport, needs reliable and effective equipment to keep the runways and other paved areas safe in the winter. For this important job, UTE Actuaciones Invernales, the airport’s service organization, relies on 20 new Bobcat S450 compact loaders. UTE chose the Bobcat S450 compact loader for two main reasons. First, this model meets UTE’s specifications perfectly; and secondly, the dealer guaranteed very quick delivery of all of the units. As the machines need to move and manoeuvre in very small spaces with their sweepers and other attachments, the compactness of the Bobcat S450 is crucial for UTE. Compact and user-friendly At 157 cm wide, 3m long with a standard bucket and a cab height of just 193 cm, the S450 provides exceptional compactness. In addition, it is easy to learn how to operate and use the machine. The 40 operators in the staff at UTE feel safe and confident with the S450, which also translates into peace of mind for the company. 28 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS October 2019 www.hpmag.co.uk As well as the cab’s heating and climate control equipment, the operator can choose to operate the machine with either feet or hands, depending on which they prefer. Moreover, the easy access to all components simplifies preventative maintenance. Versatility and precision These loaders are extremely versatile, thanks to the wide range of Bobcat attachments available for use with the S450. In addition to several types of Plascompo Ltd of Sheffield has introduced a new flame-retardant hose protection product certified according to EN 45545-2. Responding to demands from customers for a protective hose and cable wrap that would meet the stringent specifications of the underground rail industry, Plascompo has over a period two years developed a new range of Pig’s Tail spiral protection. Having been tested and certified, this product range is now available from stock in the UK & Europe. The performance characteristics are very similar to those of the company’s heavy-duty Pig’s Tail spiral wrap products, which have become widely used in the UK over recent years. Pig's Tail RAIL Protective Wrapping is a non-halogenic thermoplastic compound on a polypropylene base specifically developed for the underground rail industry, meeting class (V0) flame retardancy requirements. In addition to being flame retardant, it fulfils the fire protection requirements R22 and R23 for the hazard level HL-2. Excellent flame retardancy properties Pig's Tail Rail also meets the ISO 4589-2 and ISO 5659-2 standards. Additionally, this product is claimed by Plascompo to have an extremely good balance of mechanical properties. The company comments that the excellent flame retardancy properties will also find favour in several other industry sectors such as offshore oil & gas. Available now, it is currently stocked in nominal sizes 16, 20, 25, 32, 40 & 50mm. www.plascompo.com New EN 45545-2-accredited hose protection product from Plascompo standard buckets, the attachments used at the airport include the Bobcat snow bucket and SW60 sweeper. The main task is to clear snow and ice in the places larger machines are unable to access – so the precision offered by the controls on the S450 is vital, according to UTE. The company emphasizes the loaders’ reliability, performance and operator comfort – the Bobcat S450 exceeds UTE’s requirements in all of these areas. www.bobcat.com