Marine Construction: Equipment Drives Efficiency
When the crew at O’Quinn Marine Construction put its new JCB telehandler to use, they were amazed at its ability to maneuver around small areas while easily lifting up to 14,000 lbs. (Photo: JCB North America)
Robert (Duncan) O’Quinn III, owner of O’Quinn Marine Construction (left), and Stuart Fox, JCB product manager, pose in front of O’Quinn’s JCB 514-56 telescopic handler (Photo: JCB North America)
Driving over a bridge, walking on a pier or even docking a boat are activities most people take for granted. Have you ever given any thought to how those structures are constructed over water with the ability to last for generations?
For a marine construction company these projects are their lifeblood and it’s their skill and ability to build challenging marine environments around rivers, oceans and even swamps that make complex marine structures possible.
One such company in the low country that has been working to improve coastal infrastructure for the past 46 years is O’Quinn Marine Construction located in Beaufort, S.C. In business since 1970, the company installs docks, bridges, seawalls and foundations for coastal housing as well as commercial properties.
“Most people in the construction business tend to stick to one or two types of construction but for us, the attraction of the industry is that it offers the ability to do a variety of different projects, that’s what really makes our jobs fun,” said third generation owner Robert (Duncan) O’Quinn III.
It’s that variety of projects that requires O’Quinn Marine Construction to have a large yard where materials that are purchased in bulk are staged before they are moved to and installed on jobsites. Materials such as timber and metal are stored in the yard until loaded on a truck for use. In the past loading was accomplished by a combination of wheel loaders and large excavators. It wasn’t until a recent visit from JCB of Georgia and an introduction to the JCB 514-56 that O’Quinn ever considered using a telehandler for that job. “In my mind, a telehandler has always been a brick mason’s machine reserved for moving block around jobsites,” said O’Quinn.
After discussions with JCB Material Handling Product Manager Stuart Fox and Chris Shea from JCB of Georgia, O’Quinn agreed to try out a JCB Tier IV Final 514-56. One of the largest telehandlers in the JCB range, the 514-56 has a maximum lift capacity of 14,000 lbs. and maximum lift height of 56 ft. In addition to its ability to lift heavy loads and place them with precision, the 514-56 comes with direct glazing, a large roof screen and low engine bay, allowing for excellent all-round visibility, a main concern of O’Quinn’s given the tight confines of their material yard.
Once the machine arrived at the yard, its bright yellow presence sparked a nickname from O’Quinn’s staff – “Big Bird.” And when the crew put it to use, they were amazed at its ability to maneuver around small areas, despite its size stating “You would never think a machine that can lift 14,000 lbs. would be able to move around that easily. I especially like the crab steer feature, that’s been a game changer in our ability to easily get around the yard.” Along with maneuverability, the operators noted that the machine’s large tires make for increased stability while lifting, a huge plus when it comes to safety.
In addition to yard work, the versatile JCB telehandler is finding a home helping to lift and place floats during preparation work. Traditionally, this work required the use of a large excavator. By attaching the float via cables to the 514-56, they can be lifted with the telescopic boom extended to place the floats easily and safely into the water. The ability to powerfully lift and extend has earned the machine its second nickname: “The Beast.” O’Quinn said, “The Beast requires less rigging than our old method allowing our operators to be more productive while safely moving materials in the yard and on the job.”
The JCB 514-56 features a Tier 4 Final EcoMax engine, a solution designed and manufactured by JCB which provides high torque at low revs for optimal power and fuel efficiency. JCB’s unique solution doesn’t require a DPF, eliminating the need for regeneration, while maximizing uptime. As well, the 514-56 offers 500 hour service intervals, cutting maintenance costs in half, which O’Quinn calls “incredible” for a Tier 4 machine.
The safety, productivity and versatility of JCB’s 514-56 has changed O’Quinn’s perception of what a telehandler can do for their marine construction business. “The 514-56 has proven that it can take the place of both a wheel loader and a large excavator. By adding attachments it gains even greater versatility with the possibility to replace even more.”
