A combined Diesel/AdBlue unit provides the perfect solution for Smith & Sons (Bletchington) Ltd

Smiths Bletchington is a long-established family-owned group of companies, primarily serving the construction industry in and around Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties. The Group operate numerous sand, gravel, limestone and recycling operations throughout the region offering a wide range of washed sands, gravels, crushed and graded limestone, decorative aggregates, building stone and recycled aggregates.

John Middleton, Heavy Plant Manager at Smiths Bletchington, was looking for a safe and secure method of transporting Diesel and AdBlue around their flagship sand and gravel operation at Gill Mill Quarry near Witney, Oxon. Equipment such as Excavators, Dozers, Water Pumps and Gensets are often in various locations around the site and it would be unpractical for these machines to travel or be moved to a stationary mother tank – this would also create an unnecessary cost in terms of fuel and time.

Ace Plant, home of the ‘Bundie Bowser’ fuel storage range, are a plant hire company based in Milton Keynes who utilise their engineering roots to manufacture Fuel Storage Solutions and Dust Suppression equipment for hire and sale throughout the UK. John contacted Ace Plant who have previously supplied Smiths with Fuel Bowsers, Dust Suppression Units and Tractors.

Already located at Gill Mill Quarry is a Manitou Telehandler. It made sense to utilise this item of plant for the transportation of their Diesel and AdBlue as most of the site team members are licensed to operate this machine.

The combined Diesel/AdBlue unit which was built specifically for Smiths is a static unit which is fitted with a Manitou headstock either side. This enables the unit to be lifted either way around and be coupled securely to the Telehandler. The main benefit of using this method over pallet forks/fork pockets is that this enables a safe and secure coupling meaning there is zero movement or risk of dropping the unit when travelling over rough terrain.

The unit is made up of two separate inner tanks, one steel tank for Diesel and one stainless steel tank for AdBlue. Surrounded by a 110% bund, the bowser is complete with a petrol driven delivery pump for the Diesel and a handpump for the AdBlue.

By having Diesel and AdBlue stored and transported in the same unit results in less vehicle movements as a machine can be filled with both fuels in one visit thus saving fuel and time. The Diesel and AdBlue is delivered using retractable hose reels meaning that the Telehandler does not have to be parked too close to the piece of machinery that requires filling – thus reducing the risk of collision.

The Quarry has a main mother tank for both Diesel and AdBlue which is de-canted into the Telehandler mounted Bundie Bowser as required. This enables Smiths to purchase their fuels in bulk which reduces the cost per litre. An added benefit of this Bundie Bowser is that the Diesel tank and AdBlue tank are located at opposite ends which reduces the risk of filling the wrong tank with the wrong fuel.

To integrate this unit into their fleet, the Diesel/AdBlue Bowser was painted in Smiths Bletchington’s own company colours – RAL6005 Moss Green.

This type of static bowser fitted with a Manitou headstock is the first of its kind to be seen within the Bundie Bowser range. Ace Plant would also be able to offer versions to suit JCB, Merlo and other types of fittings too as required.

To find out more visit www.aceplant.co.uk or call 01908 562191.