Transporting machines, tools and piling materials onto sites is a major job, but one made so much easier with the use of Jetland ramps.
Like many owner operators, Geoff Torres of Melbourne-based Rockend Drilling loves his machines.
Not only does he appreciate their performance and contribution to a successful business, but also how they are made and how they look.
It’s a passion instilled from early experience operating as an excavator, and then later when he became interested in drilling work.
“I have always loved machinery, from the time I operated my first excavator,” Geoff said.
“One of the attractions to drilling was that I really like the machines.
“I take pleasure in their appearance and the way they efficiently perform the often challenging tasks that are encountered when working on sites, from civil infrastructure and commercial developments to residential construction.
“I find everything about the drilling environment extremely satisfying. I really enjoy drilling and find it quite therapeutic.
“We have an equally enthusiastic team of six people that includes experts in ground engineering, drilling operators and project management.”
The Rockend Drilling equipment fleet includes a PowerROC T35 drill and a Soiltec 15.5-tonne model S60, a multi-purpose, specially designed self-erecting drill rig that is capable of drilling up to 20 metres deep with a maximum pile diameter of 1200 mm.
“The S60 is very versatile, as it has a low headroom mode that means it can be operated with just 5.5m of overhead clearance,” Geoff said.
“We also have a Hitachi ZX65USB and a 13t Hitachi ZX130-5 excavator, and an Isuzu 950 tray truck.
“The excavators are used for various drilling support tasks, such as tool carrying and removal and management of drill spoil material.”
The transport challenge
Geoff acknowledged that transporting machines, tools and piling materials onto sites was no minor task.
“While a low loader is used transporting the large drill rigs, tools and piling materials to work sites, the right capacity loading ramps were needed for loading and unloading the two Hitachi excavators,” he said.
“Safety is one of the major considerations for anyone handling heavy equipment, particularly on challenging job sites, such as working in deep basement excavations.
“The safe movement and positioning of equipment is especially important to ensure the welfare of our people on the job.
“Correct machine handling also minimises the risk of expensive machine downtime as a result of unforeseen loading challenges.
“Having the best equipment for our business represents a major investment; however, the best gear is useless unless you can get it on at off sites safely and efficiently then you have wasted your time.
“Experience has taught us that construction sites may present some unexpected or surprising challenges. Often, there are constrained areas for loading and unloading equipment.
“It was important that we had safe, strong and durable loading ramps for the excavators.”
The right ramps
After a thorough search of the market, Geoff said Jetland Ramps products appeared to be the obvious choice.
“My positive impressions were confirmed when I examined the ramps and found they would be ideal for our application,” he said.
“Jetland Ramps offered the ideal combination that suited our application, being of robust and well-engineered construction.
“The surprise was their competitive price. The ramps are easy to handle and enable us to quickly get the excavators on and off the trailer with safety.
“Some sites can be slippery, and this is where we appreciate the Jetland ramp’s non-slip surface.
“This give us maximum traction for the excavator, as well as when we are walking on them.
“We also like the locking pins that safely ensure that ramps cannot be moved once locked in place for use.
“The ramps are rated for eight tonnes and are perfect for loading our Hitachi excavators. These ramps represent particularly good value for money.”
Jetland Ramps says its experience in developing diverse solutions for applications is a great benefit for anyone looking for the right loading ramp.
As well as having a standard range, Jetland Ramps is able to customise solutions, believing that the selection of the correct style and configuration of loading ramps can have a huge impact on safety and efficiency.
The specialised ramp solutions have been engineered and designed for industry needs that include loading and unloading goods from trailers, equipment floats, railway cars, trucks and containers.
Rockend Drilling undertakes ground anchor and piling projects that includes excavation support for temporary or permanent slope stabilisation.
Other works involve the design and construction of piled retention systems, including those designed to inhibit the passage of water, or to carry building loads.
“Our specialised drills are used for installing ground anchors in retaining wall tie backs, resistance to landscape sliding and to prevent structures from overturning,” Geoff said.
“Ground anchors transfer tensile loads, using high strength steel bars or steel strand tendons. This technique transfers tensile loads, using high strength steel bars or fibre reinforcement.
“Other work involves tie down applications for permanent structures.
“In other instances, we use soil nails in retaining wall tie-backs for resistance to landscape sliding and structure overturning.
“Bored piles are used for structural support for residential and high rise commercial buildings and infrastructure projects such as road and bridge construction.
“We install these in applications where there is a need to transfer high structural loads into lower load bearing soils or rock. They are high capacity cast in situ and often used as a group in retention piling.
“Another of our techniques is soldier piling, a form of retaining wall that provides a core system for earth retention as well as foundation support.
“These piles can be used as permanent walls or temporary shoring, ideal for ground conditions consisting of cohesive soil or rock.
“For embedded retaining walls, secant piled walls are overlapped piles that provide a solution which forms a continuous barrier to reduce flow of soils and water through the wall.
“At the end of the day, site safety and protection of our gear when site loading and unloading is our priority. That’s why Jetland loading ramps were the obvious choice for us”.