Category: News

So why are so many plant owners/operators not embracing this aspect of their investment and identifying wear and tear before it becomes a major issue?

In today’s increasingly competitive environment, many businesses seem to operate in firefighting mode, where maintenance of their assets can get overlooked. This includes their plant operators as much as the plant itself.

You can grease a pivot joint, pin or bushing until the cows come home but if a less experienced operative is not cleaning the areas around them before applying lubrication, dirt could become trapped, causing friction and premature wear. Hoses also need checking for leaks and fittings for loosening.

Less experienced operatives need to be aware that overloading the attachment, using it at an inappropriate angle, or in an incompatible application (climate, material or terrain), could potentially lead to cracks and structural failure, with all the Health and Safety issues that poses.

Plant that is used by multiple operatives, rather than one consistent one, tends to suffer most. We see this particularly in sectors where operatives also work longer hours.

One way of avoiding all of this is to use attachments from a manufacturer that offers site inspections. Carried out by mobile engineers, these can be carried out at intervals agreed between the manufacturer and the owner, at a cost of just a few hundred pounds. The fee covers technical measurements of the moving parts, and if necessary, replacement of worn parts quickly and effectively, to keep downtime to a minimum and machines up and running.

Manufacturers based in the UK, with 100% availability of spare parts and next-day deliveries, not to mention an attachment hire fleet, trusted welding service for custom repairs or reinforcements, and refurbishment/remanufacturing and custom capabilities, will complement this.

But the match point also comes at the point of purchase, so serious consideration should be given to high-quality attachments that are built to withstand heavy use and offer better durability. While they may cost more upfront, they often require less maintenance and have a longer lifespan.

Manufacturers with sales teams that look beyond the sale itself are also invaluable. These teams will drill their customers down on what the attachment is expected to do, how frequently and for how long, in what kind of environment, and whether they need features like reinforced edges or wear-resistant coatings.

Back that up with the establishment of a regular lubrication schedule based on usage frequency which will optimise the longevity of the attachment the operator is buying. Comprehensive online and printed product guides or manuals should be regularly referred to.

Best practice is regular checks, including the replacement of hydraulic filters and fluid at regular intervals to avoid contamination. Low hydraulic fluid on attachments like quick couplers can damage seals, cylinders, and motors. And just like cars, plant attachments need washing, drying and even the application of a protective coating or lubricant to metal surfaces prone to corrosion.

Storage off the ground in a covered dry area away from extreme weather conditions will also help minimise rust, corrosion and other degradation, and protect hydraulic fluids and other lubricants.

We recently saved a longstanding client the cost of a new High Tip bucket by repairing their existing one. Work included shot blasting, replacing pins, bushes and bosses, and cylinders and hoses, strengthening the hockey stick corner support, installing new bolts on the cutting edge plate, and hydraulic testing. All this at the fraction of the cost.

Did we take him to task about maintenance? We are pleading the Fifth!

This article was originally published in the April/May 2025 edition of Demolition Hub. The article can be found via the following link on pages 42-43 of the edition of the magazine. https://issuu.com/chambers.media/docs/demolition_hub_magazine_-_april_may_2025

“This creates extra shovel work and larger operations means larger dumpers which equates to larger shovels to move the waste quicker,” said Valencia’s national fleet and plant manager Mark Smalley.

 The five Ulrich High Tips so far this year will probably not be their last either.

“We probably will purchase more Ulrich Attachments this year as we have some older non-Ulrich buckets in the fleet that we inherited from the Viridor takeover that will be replaced along with any more Volvo shovel acquisitions. Again, these will be used for waste handling,” added Mark.

“Plant quality is paramount to us and Ulrich products are quality with service. With them, everything is done correctly and in a timely manner. They are our go-to supplier.”

One of Valencia’s 12m³ High Tips was showcased on Ulrich’s stand (W18) at Hillhead 2024.

Ulrich Attachments remains at the forefront of the design and manufacture of High Tip buckets designed for light material re-handling into high sided trucks and hoppers. Capacities start at 0.7m³ and give an additional discharge height of up to 1.7m above that obtained with a conventionally-mounted standard bucket.

The bucket is mounted on a carrying cradle with a pivot located behind the cutting edge which enables high discharge, while the dump action is achieved by two hydraulic cylinders mounted in the bucket sides which allow forward dumping of the load while the cradle and loader linkage remain in the high-carry position.

Ruggedly, yet simply constructed, the High Tip is manufactured from high-quality materials for long life, with the option of Hardox for more aggressive applications. The buckets can be direct pin-mounted to the loader arms or via a quick coupler bracket on the loader.

A 6.3m³ High Tip bucket is the star of the show at Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Docks.

The Bristol Port Company’s buyer for plant equipment may have inherited Ulrich Attachments as a supplier from her predecessor but the relationship has gone from strength to strength, to such an extent that this year could be a record one for the partnership.

Lucy Ellis, project engineer (procurement) and her colleagues at The Bristol Port Company have purchased 24 attachments from British manufacturer Ulrich in the past 10 years.

Most of the buckets are the High Tip high-discharge buckets designed for light material or stone re-handling into high sided trucks and hoppers. Ulrich has been at the forefront of the development of these, and at Bristol Port, they are complemented by a pusher blade designed to reduce areas where grain may become trapped or lost, ensuring the maximum grain stays in the store.

Four of the Ulrich attachments were purchased since Easter – two 3.3m³ and one 5.3m³ High Tip as well as a 6.3m³ High Tip that was custom-designed for the port which has existed since Roman times.

Lucy said: “The bucket was designed to allow maximum capacity with good visibility over the top. It was an adjustment from an original design sent and has performed well, with no issues.”

And three more stone buckets are now on order.

Ulrich’s attachments are typically used across a range of front-end loaders on the company’s Avonmouth and Royal Portbury docks, which opened in 1877 and 1977 respectively, for bulk materials such as animal feed, stone, and gypsum.

Lucy added: “I have continued to purchase Ulrich Attachments as we have had good performance from them, and the price is competitive. I have also had good support technically and from the sales personnel.

“We have used a mix of suppliers in the past and we do tender out work and review costs and design before making a decision. But our service contact at Ulrich, Drew, is very helpful, and we have had a positive experience overhaul with them.”

Ulrich national sales manager Emma Pierce said: “We redesigned the 6.3m3 bucket for them to better suit the application and the material they are working with. The material is a finely ground maize powder and they were finding they were losing a lot of material over the sides of the bucket.

“We looked at the design and went back with a solution, but they needed to see the leading edge of the bucket for health and safety reasons. So, our design team worked closely with Lucy and myself to come up with a new design to meet these needs and they ordered the bucket based on this new design.”

The Bristol Port Company was formed in 1991 when entrepreneurs Terence Mordaunt and David Ord purchased the Port of Bristol from Bristol City Council. Since privatization, more than £600 million has been invested to create a modern, thriving business offering the full range of shipping, distribution, and logistics services.

This news post was originally reported by Hub4. The original post can be found via this link: Custom-built bucket by Ulrich Attachments helps set records at The Bristol Port Company | Hub-4

Two new salesmen have joined Ulrich Attachments (Craig Wells, Left, and Jacob Causier, Right)

Specialist plant attachments manufacturer Ulrich Attachments has grown its national sales team with the appointment of two new representatives.

The Aylesbury-based company, which specialises in front-end attachments, including buckets (especially High Tip ones), hydraulic quick couplers and fork attachments, has welcomed seasoned industry player Craig Wells and relative industry newcomer Jacob Causier to the fold.

Craig brings more than 30 years’ experience in the plant and plant hire industry to Ulrich, having worked for major companies supplying plant and equipment to a wide range of industries including construction, rail and industrial.

He has also worked in a wide variety of roles, starting as a fitter and working his way up through to operational management and sales account management.

Jacob spent 18 months after graduating from Plymouth Marjon University with a BA Honours degree in International Business Management with PUMA UK and IRL on the golf sales support team. His recruitment by Ulrich represents a long-held desire to join his family in the industry.

“I have long wanted to join this industry and Ulrich were kind enough to give me that opportunity. I’m looking forward to repaying their trust in me, to our mutual long-term benefit,” he said.

This article was originally published by Hub 4. The original article can be viewed via the following link: Ulrich Attachments brings a brace of reps on board | Hub-4