JCB JS220LC tackles tricky jobs remotely

by Nick Drew | Tue 10 Jan 2017

JCB JS220LC tackles tricky jobs remotely

A New Zealand earthmoving company has invested in a remote controlled JCB hydraulic excavator which enables them to tackle jobs where the ground is unstable due to earthquakes.

Protranz Earthmoving Ltd based in Christchurch, New Zealand, are one of the world’s leaders in the use of remote controlled excavators. In fact company owner Gerard Daldry has become something of a pioneer in the field having experimented in the use of remote controlled machines for many years. His company now runs two machines consisting of a Komatsu PC270LC-8 which is a 30 tonne class machine and the more recent arrival a 22 tonne class JCB JS220LC model which was supplied by local JCB dealer Clark Equipment in February last year. 1466131896456

The machine has worked on a number of projects since the recent earthquakes including a massive landslip on the Awatere Valley Road in Malborough. The machine is driven remotely by highly experienced excavator operator Vaughan Breen, who talks about the job and the problems he faced in this video clip.

The company and its remote controlled JCB machine were shortlisted last year in the Innovation in Plant & Equipment category at the World Demolition awards and in this video you can get a real feel for just how special this machine and the concept really is, as we join Gerard 600ft up in a helicopter while he controls the machine to check the range of the remote control system in an area where it is unsafe to place a men.

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