Hawk Plant choose JCB Dualock quick-hitches

Double-locking quick-hitch system selected by plant-hire company for new JCB tracked excavators

UK hire company Hawk Plant have taken delivery of 12 JCB Dualock quick-hitches to ensure safety levels for their customers exceed industry requirements.

The Shropshire-based company recently bought 12 JCB JS220 tracked excavators and has now equipped them all with the latest quick-hitches. In addition, Hawk Plant have also purchased three JCB 3CX backhoe loaders and 10 JCB Loadall telescopic handlers, all supplied by JCB dealer’s Gunn JCB.

The JCB Dualock is a double-locking quick-hitch developed by JCB Attachments. It features independent locking of the front and rear pins. Designed for use with JCB tracked excavators (JS130 through to the JS460), the hitch is compatible with both genuine JCB buckets and JCB scoop buckets, along with the full range of JCB powered attachments.

It uses the blocking-bar system from the BUG coupler to secure the rear pin lock. In addition, a mechanical front lock secures the front pin independently of the rear. The face of the front locking mechanism is painted red and can easily be seen from the cab, ensuring the operator can be confident that the bucket is securely fastened before operating the machine. A series of on-screen checks via the JCB JS Auto excavator Advanced Management System further guarantees it’s safety.

Paul Allman, director of Hawk Plant, said: ‘Driven by a commitment to provide our customers with the safest equipment available we are replacing our quick-hitches across the fleet. Customers must be totally confident in the equipment that they are operating. We are now providing them with levels of safety well in excess of those required by current standards.

‘They are starting to demand dual-locking hitches whenever they hire excavators and we have every faith these new units will deliver. To date they have worked effectively with no issues whatsoever.’