Taking Safety to a New Dimension

Global coupler manufacturer Miller and Flannery Plant Hire, one of the largest plant hire suppliers in and around the South East have joined forces in an attempt to improve on-site safety awareness. A series of open days in Wembley have taken place to focus on safety on job sites and to demonstrate the latest in fully automatic quick coupler technology.

The Flannery fleet fitted with the new Miller TwinLock 2 quick hitch coupler.

Flannery first approached Miller last year with the intention to replace its entire fleet with fully automatic quick couplers. Having carried out detailed research into the existing coupler options available to them at that time, they decided that there wasn’t a coupler on the market that fully met their requirements. Flannery had a very specific request and wanted to ensure their next coupler of choice would fulfil this.

Martin Flannery, “We spoke to Miller initially as we wanted to fit our fleet with fully automatic hitches that would offer additional protection if the back pin was not correctly engaged during attachment”

As with all customer requirements, Miller strives to deliver the right product to meet the application and expectations and began to work on a new design to offer the best solution for this particular customer.

Jacqui Miller, Sales and Marketing Director “At Miller, we like to go one step further and ensure that when our customers work in partnership with us, they will receive added value, no matter their circumstances or working environment”.

The fully automatic TwinLock 2 coupler is based on a proven design, approved and branded by the world’s leading OEMs, which has evolved to keep up with the demands of modern working job sites.

Gary Miller, Technical Director “Our continuous improvement design philosophy allows us to push the boundaries of coupler design technology whilst still retaining functionality and versatility from existing products that we know work well and our customers endorse”.

Fitted with a revolutionary Automatic Blocking System, ‘ABS’ (patents pending), which is designed to automatically capture the front pin in the event that the rear attachment pin is not correctly engaged during the attachment process. It is also designed to only release a bucket or attachment when the operator intends to do so and in a safe and controlled manner. In other words it is designed not to drop a bucket or attachment by accident or through operator misuse.

The new TwinLock 2 coupler is another example of delivering solutions to customers to make a real difference to all.

Part of the overall design process includes significant testing of the coupler in all anticipated accidental and misuse situations before the product is launched into the market place. This includes FMEA and FEA analysis, destruction testing and field trials which Flannery has been involved in and provided valuable feedback.

As with all Miller coupler designs, safety is paramount when considering new design innovations and Miller will continue to offer ALL customers both UK and global with the best that is available now and in the future.

“Investing in a partnership with Miller is not just about purchasing one product, it’s about the changing the face of the construction industry and ensuring that our customers choose the right partner to support them through their challenges too” says Jacqui Miller.

Martin Flannery “We have worked very closely with Miller throughout the design process of the TwinLock 2 and are extremely happy with the end result. I believe it is a very important advancement in quick-hitch coupler safety and I am very proud to have been involved in the design process”.

The Miller and Flannery staff pictured with the new TwinLock 2.

Flannery Plant Hire continues to invest heavily in new machinery to ensure that they can offer their customers the latest in machine technology from the leading brands which in turn creates a safer working environment. They as a company are investing a huge sum in changing many of their couplers to the new Miller TwinLock 2 coupler system.

At Miller and Flannery Plant Hire, safety is of paramount importance, and as such we would like to take this opportunity to re-emphasise the importance of operating quick couplers correctly and always in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Miller continues to be a committed UK manufacturer with a foundation built on safety, integrity and quality and will always ensure we deliver fit for purpose innovative products that deliver REAL value for money – EVERY TIME.