Ripon based Hydrema UK has recently supplied Scottish improvement specialists Ground Developments Limited (GDL) with a pair of 922D 6x6 chassis cabs fitted with bespoke lime spreading bodies from Streumaster. Based in Livingston near Edinburgh, Ground Developments Ltd is a leading civil engineering contractor with an established and experienced team that offers cost effective earthworks, soil stabilisation and ground improvement solutions to a wide range of clients across the UK. GDL has purchased the new Hydrema trucks after excellent service and reliability from a pair of standard 922D articulated dump trucks which were purchased after the company initially hired similar models.

- 922D equipped with 800 mm twin tyres

Early involvement from both Hydrema engineers and staff from Streumaster made sure that both products were able to be combined in order to meet GDL’s specific requirements. Streumaster created a custom design for the 15 m3 capacity body to fit the Hydrema chassis perfectly without compromising either the centre of gravity or capacity requirements.

Power for the spreading body is straight from the Hydrema via a simple “plug and play” connection. The brief from GDL was for a chassis cab that is capable of being outfitted with a lime spreading body with the ability to operate in poor ground conditions. The experience gained from the dump truck version of the 922D satisfied GDL’s management that the low ground pressure Hydrema was more than capable of meeting and exceeding the company’s requirements. The specification also called for the chassis cab to remain as near to standard as possible with the centre of gravity staying the same as the tipper bodied equivalent and the gross vehicle weight not exceeding the standard truck’s 38.5 tonnes.

Hydrema offer both the 4x4 912 and 6x6 922 trucks as chassis cab variants capable of taking a variety of body work options requiring no further chassis alterations. Offering unrivalled performance in poor ground conditions thanks to its low unladen weight and 800mm wide tyres, the 922D is ideally suited to this application. The proven and reliable Hydrema drivetrain comprises a fuel efficient 6-cylinder Tier IIIB compliant Cummins diesel engine delivering 264hp mated to a ZF Ergopower automatic transmission with six forward and three reverse gears. The accurate distribution of lime in to the soil is paramount to GDL achieving the correct soil composition and the new Hydrema ensures that this is possible thanks to an adjustable hand throttle in the cab as Ryan Johnston, Technical Manager for GDL explains: “The Streumaster ensures an even and steady flow of material from the body but it is the ability to keep the Hydrema at a constant speed which allows us to spread this material into an optimum mix.” The pressurised and air conditioned cab of the Hydrema ensures a dust free environment and provides an excellent working environment with superb forward vision thanks to the large deep windows and fully glazed doors.

- 922D equipped with Streumaster

A rear-view camera constantly monitors the rear of the truck allowing the operator a bird’s eye view of the discharge operation. Kevin McKenzie, Commercial Director for Ground Developments Ltd, adds: “We chose to invest in two Hydrema 922D machines because we were very impressed with their ability to work at low ground pressures which is really advantageous when we are working on the soft ground conditions that we often encounter. It’s important for us to have the capability to deal with the challenging soil conditions across the spectrum of projects that we work on for our clients, and therefore the Hydrema offers an advantage over our heavier, larger machines because it increases the scope of soil conditions that we can work in giving us a competitive edge that delivers solutions to our clients.” “We are very pleased with the Hydrema as it offers us everything we require and has allowed us to increase our productivity.” commented Mr Johnston.

Hydrema 922D with Custom Built for GDL