Miller’s Colossal Coupler

In 2006 Miller UK demonstrated its ability to deliver specialist, high quality construction equipment to its customers.  Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe, one of the world's leading original equipment manufacturers (OEM), is a valued Miller customer. Hitachi came to Miller with a request for a bucket big enough for their massive EX5500 excavator. A partnership was strengthened between both corporations as a result the finished bucket design weighed in at a massive 30 tonne plus.

Hitachi also asked Miller to produce a new quick coupler design for their EX1200 excavator. Miller was delighted to oblige, although the shear scale of the coupler was a challenge. Weighing in at approximately 2.15 tonnes the coupler was simply too big to be manufactured using conventional methods. Miller therefore placed this challenge in the hands of their Site Solutions team and the ‘Big Stuff Expects' successfully completed the Mag 7 coupler.

This coupler is based on Miller's original quick coupler design, launched to the industry in 1989. It is built to cope with heavy duty work and its design is renowned for both its strength and reliability. The initial order was for a Hitachi dealership in Saudi Arabia. This was the first coupler of this scale to be sent to Saudi Arabia and was for an end user customer. The customer uses both rippers and rock buckets on a vast area of land so their new Miller quick coupler will save them a great deal of time, whilst simultaneously increasing profit through increased production. The customer is happy with the improvement in productivity levels so far and more orders are expected to follow as a result.

Gavin Townsend, Operations Manager, said "This is the biggest coupler we have built to date. It was a real achievement but is not a surprise as product innovation is what we do best. Hopefully this initial order is just the tip of the iceberg and a lot of similar or even larger orders will follow."

One of the specifications for this particular order was to ensure that the cylinder was salt water protected because the machine would be digging in the sea. Capability to meet these demands and design the same is what sets Miller apart from the competition. As a result this enables the Miller Sales Team to develop strong customer relations, which are key to Miller's business and why they have become the brand to specify for all quick coupler requirements.

Jacqui Miller, the business Sales and Marketing Director, added "This is indeed a very prestigious order and firmly secures our place as number one in pin pick up coupler technology within the global market.  Miller is one of very few suppliers who is able to design and deliver equipment of such a specialist nature directly to the world's largest OEM excavator manufacturers and their customers. We are confident our sales in this specialised area will gather momentum in 2007 and beyond".

For more information about this article or to speak with a member of our sales team about your specific requirements, please contact Miller:

Miller (UK) Ltd
Bassington Lane
Bassington Ind Estate
Cramlington
Northumberland
NE23 8AD
Tel: 01670 707272
Fax: 01670 707474
E: lisa.croft@miller-uk.com