Dean Brown from Rock Cutter Earthworks explains how a Cat® 272D3 Skid Steer Loader fitted with a Cat SW480 Wheel Saw is helping him get his work done far quicker, easier, and more efficiently.
Digging trenches for plumbers and electricians through limestone rock can be messy, time-consuming work. Just ask Dean Brown from Rock Cutter Earthworks. Until recently, Dean had carved out his niche in Coffin Bay, South Australia, using the traditional tools of the trade: excavators, hydraulic hammers, and buckets.
But wear and tear on his equipment, as well as the added costs associated with excessive waste material, was taking a toll on his business. So, he decided to find a better way.
Searching for innovation
In a late-night internet session looking for a solution, Dean came across the Cat® SW480 Wheel Saw. And from what he had seen online, the attachment appeared to be the perfect tool to fast-track his work.
After visiting with the Cavpower Port Lincoln Branch Manager Lou Rawson, the pair researched the Cat Wheel Saw and its full capabilities. Lou did his homework, and came up with the perfect package: the Cat SW480 Wheel Saw paired with a Cat 272D3 Skid Steer Loader.
According to Dean, the combo has proven to be the ideal combination of size, power, and hydraulic flow.
“We specialise in commercial and residential work here in and around Coffin Bay, and the SW480 fitted to the 272D3 XE has been a game changer for us, turning previously four or five-day jobs with hydraulic hammers and buckets into a single day job,” he says.
Dean says another big benefit of the Cat SW480 Wheel Saw is the reduction of site waste.
“The material comes out like sand which can then be used as back-fill once other trades have completed their work,” he says. “So, each site’s clean-up job is much cleaner and more efficient. We don’t have to cart any rock away, which makes it cheaper for our client again.”
When Dean first picked up the Rock Saw, he thought it was going to be perfect for his standard 250mm power and water trenches, as it has a 250mm cut. But with more and more plumbers looking for trenching 450mm wide to enable better access for work in the trench, Dean and his son soon developed a technique, where they make their first cut then side shift the saw blade and make a second cut directly beside the first. Once this is done, it’s a simple job to clean out the trench.
“The time saving with this technique is brilliant – it’s proved perfect for our plumbers,” Dean says. “In the cab, we utilise the smart creep technology, which not only allows us to dial up or down our machine speed to give maximum cutting power, it actually connects the machine ECM with the saw ECM, which then automatically adjusts speed. As a result, we are not overworking the saw blade, and we’re not underworking it.”
Crucially, Dean says the cuts made by the SW480 are flat and clean, with no ridges or uneven sections – which he credits to the teeth placement on the saw. This, he says, ticks all the boxes for the plumbers laying pipe in the trench.
“Our plumbers don’t want to see any ridges that affect their pipes, and the spacing and placement of the teeth on the saw are spot on,” he says.
Right gear, right support
Dean says when he first took delivery of his new skid steer and wheel saw package, he was a little intimidated by its size.
“But after just a few days in the cab, I was impressed by the manoeuvrability, and the areas we could access in tight spaces around houses,” he says. “The 272D3 has the ability and strength to handle the flow and oil pressure requirements of this power-hungry attachment, making this pairing of Cat equipment the perfect choice for our needs.”
One of the reasons Dean was keen on finding a solution with Cat machinery was the support provided by his Cat dealer Cavpower. The fact that Cavpower has a nearby service centre in Port Lincoln played a key part in Dean’s decision-making process.
Lou says field service backup is a key part of Cavpower’s offering.
“We run four field service vehicles at Port Lincoln, with qualified technicians and tooling to solve most issues in the field,” he says. “We know our customers need to keep moving, so we get them back up and moving as quickly as possible.”
Dean’s calendar is now fully booked up to six months in advance, and his Cat 272D3 Skid Steer and SW480 Rock Saw are not missing a beat. His research and decision to bring the unique combination of Cat machinery and attachment to Coffin Bay – as well as the support of Lou and Cavpower – has proven to be an excellent move for Rock Cutter Earthworks.
