Finning Visit ...3rd Jan 2008

[Nick Drew]

Hi Guys,

Well I am finally back online after a very frustrating period after our house move!! But thats another story!! Ha ha

Now I can report on my recent visit to Finning Cat's Headquarters at Cannock.

I was very kindly invited to visit by our fellow member here Stuart (SRB) Bickley, and I must offer a MASSIVE thank you to Stuart for providing both myself and CMN member Tonermz250 with such wonderful hospitality on the day

I also took the oportunity to have a look at some used 314 excavators and some new 312's & 314's, I have to say I was very impressed with the Cat excavators and would love to have one on demo at somepoint so I could really put it to work

One of the highlights of the day was when Stuart fired up an ex Stokey plant D10T, "What a Beast" !!
After our exstensive tour of the Cannock facility Stuart drove us up to the Winsford depot so I could view some more used 314's.
We were treated to lunch at the Winsford depot before taking a look around the used stock, on our return journey to Cannock Stuart took us back past the JCB factory which was a very impressive sight to see

So here are my first batch of photos from the day.

[Nick Drew]

Heres another batch of photos from our Finning visit !!

[tone_rmz250]

yes a massive thanks to stuart for that day! was brilliant to see the shear size of the cannock site and the organisation of such a massive operation! and the hospitality that greeted us was outstanding to be honest! i also have a great group of photos if only i could get them on to the computer haha! but thats my problem! so thank you very much stuart much appreciated mate

[Lewis]

.

[tone_rmz250]

heres a few pics i took!

[§wishy]

NikMan
GuddayM8

Gr8 pix
Keep m Cummin

Q: pix of 314! all the tin work on roof

is th@ where they store the vandal covers?
Enquiring minds need to no
cya
§wishy
HasBeen

[Nick Drew]

Gudday Swishy !!

How's things down under??

Yes Swishy you are correct in your assumption that they are vandal guards on top of the 314
I have been asked this question many times on some of the other sites that I frequent, Swedish, German, Dutch, & French Sites and they all seem suprised that we have them on the roof like that

Its been an accepted way to store the plastic screens in a metal "cradle" on the roof for quite afew years now and although IMO it does look ugly and they do tend to rattle about a bit it is the best way to carry them, at least that way wherever you end up working on a site you always have the screens with you to pop on at the end of the shift.

Sadly they are quite necessary here in the UK with some of the scumbags that enjoy smashing up machines

Nick

[Nick Drew]

Some nice photo's Nick

on our return journey to Cannock Stuart took us back past the JCB factory which was a very impressive sight to see

Which JCB plant did you pass?

Hi Lewis,

Well I dont know what all the plants were called but we first went by the big factory? the one with the lake outside it? Oh and I think we went past the world parts center before that then a bit later past the heavy equipment plant with loads of JS machines parked outside

Would like to do the factory tour one day thats for sure!!

Nick

[Jack]

The main rochester plant, with the heavy equipment plant in uttoxetter!"

Great pics BTW

[§wishy]

NikMan
GuddayM8

here in the state of Victoria it is very hot n humid n we R on water restrictions
where by Queensland has had our dose of rain n flooded most of th@ State
LOL
RE:Vandal Covers
seems like where ever u place them on a work job sumbody would always run over them n bend m up
I've tried to convince sum operators best to strap the covers to the engine cover on xcav8rz
they only need something like a car seat belt strap n they B there till needed @ end of days work
LOL
But wot do I no
I'm only a gear jammer
LOL
cya
§wishy
HasBeen