Operator talk with James on his JCB 140 X at Grist Environmental

Peter Haddock goes onsite at Grist Environmental with James Smith and his JCB 140X excavator from dealer Holt JCB Ltd, financed by JCB Finance

James was working away, feeding a Powerscreen Warrior 1400X Scaling screener and loading trucks, tracking backwards and forwards, when Peter Haddock met up with him for a chat.

Peter wanted to know how he found working in the machine on a very sunny day.

James: "I have been using the 140 for close to a year now loading and sorting different materials. As an operator, the machine is very responsive and does exactly what you need it to do.

"It can also get around the site quickly as I constantly need to reposition myself when I come on and off piles. One thing I did notice quite quickly was the stability of the machine, which is very good."

Being quite hot outside, Peter wanted to also know a bit more about the creature comforts, so he asked James what he thought of the seat and aircon, and he added:

"The aircon in this machine is very good and keeps you nice and cool throughout the day. What's great for me is I don't get the dry throat and headache from using it like I have done in the past with some machines, where the aircon is just too intense.

"With arthritis in my hips, I am always conscious of having a good seat. I can comfortably do 10 to 12 hour shifts in the 140, and I'm not struggling to get out of the cab."

Peter added: "I always like getting real-world feedback from operators like James as, just like him, they raise the important things.

"The cab is their office, and the work they do can be very intense, so it's good to hear that James has found a machine he likes."