Hymac
Edit
The HyMac Company was established in 1946, located in Rhynmey Wales, manufacturing
machinery,and later assembling machines from Hy-Mac America, the HY-HOE Excavator in
kit form. Hymac then designed and manufactured its own hydraulic excavators and became a
world leader in manufacturing a wide range of Hydraulic construction machinery, In 1972
Hymac purchased the Whitlock Bros. company Based in Essex, est in 1899. The HY-MAC
all hydraulic track excavators and HY-MAC 370 wheeled Backhoe Loader range being the
brand Leaders. Hymac designed and built the first all hydraulic crane, The HY-MAC 1080,
the first in the world. See full product range below.
The brand name has been used in several variations over the years in its own marketing
material and on the machines.
HY-MAC/HYMAC/Hymac being the most common.
The name been derived from "Hydraulic Machinery". The actual company HYMAC
LIMITED dates back to 1946.
Contents
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History
Edit
An Early HY-MAC at the SED show
The companies history like many other UK manufacturing firms has been complicated by the
ups and downs of the economy and construction industry. This has resulted in many take
overs and mergers with the brand being the 'public' face of the company and various
corporate entities having control and marketing a variety of machines as HY-MAC, HYMAC
and Hymac . Some of these machines were designed and built by them and some
manufactured under License, as is the case with a lot of brands today like Massey Ferguson
who are now a brand and a subsidiary of AGCO with some items built by other companies.
The beginning
Edit
An American built HYHOE machine
Peter Hamilton Equipment Ltd started to import the American designed and built Hy-Hoe
excavators in kit form. These were assembled at a factory in Rowesley Derbyshire. When
HY-MAC America ceased manufacture in 1962 Hymac then took on the manufacturing
rights, and Rymney Engineering stared manufacturing machines in South Wales, UK. The
original Hy-Hoe design was not a 360 degree excavator but was limited to about 270 degrees
as the slewing mechanism was chain driven.(see photo)
The development of the Hymac 580 tracked (Imperial) excavator and the revised mark II
version the 580B, was recognized by a British Design Council Award in 1967.[1]
The 580B was replaced by the 580BT (Better Tracks) and eventually by the 580C. A more
complete range of Imperial excavators was introduced including 880 and the 1280 which had
capacities of 1 cu yd and 1.5 cu yd respectively.
To complement the tracked excavators a series of 4X4 wheeled equivalents were produced the 610 being the 580 equivalent.
The whole range became Metric with capacities based on the cu metre - the range being 590,
890 and 1290.
Hymac also produced a range of access platforms, mainly Land Rover based and a range of
wheeled and crawler cranes with capacities up to 75 tonnes.[2]
1972-1980 Era
Edit
A HY-MAC HM-580C
As part of the Powell Duffryn Group the Rhymney Engineering Company change it's name to
reflect the Product name to Hy Mac.[citation (source) needed] Powell Duffryn were a mini
engineering conglomerate at the time with interests from coal to transport and shipping. The
company having a long history in coal and shipping, which still continues today. Powell
Duffryn also owned British Engineering firms such as Belliss and Morcom and Hamworthy
Engineering, as well as the US-based Air Compressor Products Inc. and Eagle Compresors
Inc., manufacturers of Industrial compressors.[3]
During the Powell Duffryn era, they built a 180 wheeled Backhoe Loader during the 1970s
that had a heavy duty loader more like a loading shovel with arms made solid steel 1½ thick
rather than box beams. Some versions having High reach arms. These huge machines had a
flat deck cab, with good visibility from the raised position of the driver. This was based on
the Whitlock 860 machine, Hymac having taken over Whitlock the (one of several claimed
inventors of the Backhoe Loader), in 1972.[4]
They also built a lot of wheeled 360 machines for scrap handling, fitted with 5 tine grabs or
magnets, often with raised cabs. Till scrap yards started being cleaned up in the last few
years, you would mainly see a Hymac or Atlas machine, or an old 22 RB crane in most yards.
Now Terex built Fuchs and German Liebherr machines are predominant in the waste
recycling industry.
During the Powell Duffryn ownership the company was the Demag distributor for the UK.
An advert from that period claims 7,500 Hymac 580 machines sold.[5]
In the late 1980 a revised line of excavators with a new yellow colour scheme was launched.
But too late to save them from the Japanese and other far eastern imports and the new
(Japanese designed) line up.
They generally had Ford engines, but some were fitted with Perkins units and some with
Rolls Royce engines. The 360 excavators were available with a variety of Track and Boom /
dipper combinations.
The Hymac operation was sold to the German IBH Group in about 1980.
In 1978 Hymac & Priestman were involved in a court case about the use of the designation
'580' on Priestman built machines.[6] The model 580 being Hymacs most popular model.
1980-1984
Edit
dates are uncertain with conflicting reports - See talk:Hymac
The IBH group was a German investment company that owned numerous engineering firms.
IBH also owned the German firm Hanomag, but they went bankrupt in 1983 , when the bank
that backed them got into difficulties. Hanomag was also linked with Massey Ferguson for a
period, and built some of their construction plant models. Hanomag was partially taken over
by Komatsu in 1989, with them becoming a 100% owned subsidiary of the Japanese firm in
2002. IBH also owned Euclid after it was divested by General Motors, but after IBH's
collapse it reverted to GM till it was sold off and became part of Terex.
By the early 80's the Hymac excavator range consisted of four basic models; crawler
580D/DS, the crawler 450E/ELC and its wheeled version W450E+W350D, the crawler
201LC and its wheeled version W201 which were introduced in 1983 these were designed
jointly by Hymac & Hanomag, prior to the IBH collapse in 1983.[7]
1984-1991
Edit
In 1984 Hymac was bought from the receivers by Northern Engineering Industries (NEI).[8]
Production of some Hymac models restarted near Wolverhampton. Then in 1987 the BM
Group bought the company and renamed it Hymac Group Ltd. Then in 1988 ownership
changed again after Gordon Brown (entrepreneur not British politician) (owner of BM group)
formed "Brown Engineering (Hymac) Ltd". They then to cut costs and offer more modern
machines sold badged Italian built machines from FAI Group. These were the W121 a 13 ton
machine, 211 a 21 ton class model, and the 251 a 25 ton class machine.
1991-1993
Edit
Following the collapse of the Brown Group in 1991, Irish plant dealer John Kennedy then
introduced new models; the Synchron 1301 & 1501 in 1992 which featured Linde's Synchron
load sensing hydraulic systems. But production of Hymac machines finally ceased in
1993.[citation (source) needed]
The very last machine ever built by Hymac was an model 181B 18t a sad end to yet another
great British Engineering company. The Hymac name remains an iconic British Brand and
many Hymac Machines remain in service around the world.[citation (source) needed] Many photos of
machines can be viewed on the Internet on various web sites. www.facebook/HY MAC
CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY
The Hymac Trade Mark IP property
Edit
HYMAC TRADE MARK
The trade mark (s) HYMAC and HY-MAC are Registered at the IPO by Mr. A. O'Gorman,
www.hymac.com and www.hy-mac.com.
Factories
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Rowesley, Derbyshire. - 1962 to 19 ?
Rhymney, South Wales - 1946 to 1983 ?
Wolverhampton, West Midlands. - 1983 to 1993)
Whitlock factory in Great Yeldham, Essex
Model Range
Edit
Hymac 480 slew pinion and ram mounted valves
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Hymac 201LC - 1980s designed with Hanomag
o Hymac W201 - 1980 wheeled version of 201
Hymac 370 a wheeled Loader / Backhoe excavator. (based on the Whitlock designed
machines)
o Hymac 370C a wheel loader / Backhoe excavator on an Ford skid unit. Built
late 70-early 80's
o Hymac 370D (Prototype) New model under test when IBH ceased trading.
Developed with Hanomag who carried on design & development to build the
Hanomag HD60 backhoe loader.[9]
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Hymac 380 a 7 ton class 360 excavator. fitted with a Ford 4-cylinder engine. (only 15
were made).
Hymac 450E - 1980
Hymac 450ELC - 1980 Long carriage version
o Hymac W350D - 1980s Wheeled excavator
o Hymac W450E - 1980s Wheeled excavator
Hymac 480 series tracked Excavator (only slewed 270 deg by a pair of rams and a
chain drive round a pinion gear).
o 480 Excavator - 1962-1966 312 of these were manufactured
o 480 Tracked Crane - 196? (270deg slew) One of the surviving Examples is
now owned by J.C. Balls & Sons and is exhibited in their collection of vintage
machinery. It was part of the "Lighthouse Club" display at SED in 2009.[10]
Hymac 580 series - Tracked 360 Excavator, Built from 1964-87 in various versions
(about 10,000 built)
o 580 - 5/8 cu yd
o 580B
o 580BT
o 580C
o 580CS
o 580CT
o 580D - 1980
o 580DS - 1980 - Scandinavian version
o 580T Truck Chassis mounted 360 Excavator with bucker or Clamshell Grab.
Fitted on a Bedford R 4x4 Chassis (others to Order)
o 580 Logger (as 580T above) fitted with 2 tine log grab & T bar to Boom.
Hymac 590 series
o 590C
o 590CT
o 596
Hymac 690
Hymac 800 series
o 880
o 880C
o 890
o 890CT
Hymac 1080 - 1966 fitted with a 165 hp Rolls Royce C4 TFL engine.
Hymac 1290 - 1970s 33ton (largest model built)
Hymac 1301 Synchron - 1993
Hymac 121 - 1990s New Hymac 360 Excavator line
Hymac 141C - 1990s New Hymac 360 Excavator line
Material Handlers
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Hymac wheeled material handler
o Hymac 410 wheeled material handler
o Hymac 610 wheeled material handler
o Hymac 595 wheeled material handler
Mobile cranes
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Whitlock built a 7 Ton all hydraulic mobile crane with a 24 ft-78 ft jib between 1965
and 67. Twenty were built on the Dodge D309 (LAD cab) chassis. The 1965 List
price was £6,985.[11]
Forklifts
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Hymac Overlander 45 a 2-wd Rough terrain forklift (RTF).[12]
Hymac Mini Excavator - A Badge engineering job - very few sold.
Australia
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It is claimed a few 580 machines were built under license by the Australian
distributor.[13][citation (source) needed]
Other products
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Hymac speedboats[citation (source) needed] - photo below
Brown/FAI Hymac range
Edit
The badge engineered range introduced in the 1980s.[14]
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Hymac 121C - 12.7 ton, 089 cu yd, 78 hp
Hymac 141C - 14 ton, 1.0 cu yd, 78 hp
Hymac 181B - 19 ton, 1.3 cu yd, 104 hp
Hymac 211 - 21 ton, 1.4 cu yd, 108 hp
Hymac 251 - 25 ton, 1.7 cu yd, 128 hp
Hymac 301 - 33 ton, 2.6 cu yd, 210 hp
Hymac W121 Wheeled version 13 ton, 0.78 cuyd, 77 hp
Gallery of Images
Brochures & Publicity photos
HYMAC 370C DETAILS.
Edit
HY-MAC 1080.
Hymac 370 publicity photo
HY-MAC 580C with a HY-MAC designed NIBBLER
Cherry picker
HY-MAC EXCAVATOR OPERATING CHART.
HY-MAC 595 WHEELED 360 EXCAVATOR.
HY-MAC 595.
HY-MAC MATERIAL HANDLER.
HYMAC RANGE
HYMAC 180C WORK MASTER BACK HOE LOADER LATEST MODEL.
HYMAC EXCAVATOR.
HYMAC 890.
HYMAC 141 AND DOUG POTTER.
HY-MAC FORKLIFT
Add a photo to this gallery
Hymac Machines
An early HY-MAC
HY-MAC SPEED BOAT 1970
Hy-Mac Face Shovel
HY-MAC 580D
Hy-Mac 880
McGee Construction London.
HYMAC 880 PIPE LINE
HYMAC AT A F BUDGE MINE ENGLAND
HYMAC HYWAY MAN
HY-MAC 1080 CRANE THE FIRST ALL HYDRAULIC CRANE IN THE WORLD.
HYMAC of Ww Dow Plant Hire
HYMAC of P B DONOGHUE LONDON
HYMAC Piling rig
HYMAC 1501
HY-MAC 580CT
HY-MAC Dredging a canal.
HY-MAC Forestry Harvesting.
HY-MAC with a Grab attached on pipe line work.
HY-MAC TRACKED EXCAVATOR.
HY-MAC EXCAVATOR CLEARING SNOW FROM RAIL TRACKS IN SCOTLAND
1970'S.
HY-MAC 580C ON SWAMP TRACKS.
HY-MAC EXCAVATOR OWNED BY THE KELLER GROUP.
NEI era model 210
Scale model of HY-MAC 580 on low loader with Scania tractor unit
HY-MAC CRANE.
HY-MAC'S IN CJM YARD.
HY-MAC 580BT LOCATED IN SWEDEN.
HY-MAC 580BT.
HY-MAC 580C.
HY-MAC 580C LOCATED IN NEWZELAND.
HY-MAC'S WORKING ON THE BASINGSTOKE CANAL 1979-84.
HY-MAC 880 EXCAVATOR
HYMAC 580D REWORKED.
HY-MAC 890 FACE SHOVEL OWNED BY THE FAIRCLOUGH GROUP.
HY-MAC Cherry Pickermounted on a LandRover 1970 from the Welsh Electricty company
HY-MAC Cherry picker Boom.
HY-MAC 370C 4 IN ONE BUCKET OPTION
HY-MAC 370C BACKHOE LOADER
HY-MAC 370C SIDE VIEW
Add a photo to this gallery
Refurbished machines
Edit
A number of company's have and some still do a service to refurbish these machines as a
number of users like the simplicity of a machine without the complex electronics of modern
machines, for use in occasional light use application or modified as tool carriers for drilling
rig used for grouting mine workings or with extra wide tracks on peat extraction duties.
The Machinery Forums report sighting of a number still in use around the world. They were a
popular machine in scrap yards along with Atlas, but as the industry modernizes and
consolidates to a few bigger operators the old yards are closing and new 'recycling centres'
are being equipped with modern Caterpillar, Fuchs, JCB, and Liebherr material handling
machines with long reach booms, high lift cabs and rotator grabs in-place of the old magnet
on a chain.
Hymac Parts
Edit
This section is in dispute see talk page for discussion
Hymac parts and services LTD[15][16]
Other suppliers
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Hydraulic Plant Services based Near East Grinstead West Sussex Supply a full Range
of HY-MAC replacement parts.
Several other companies offer used and reconditioned parts.
Preserved machines
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A tidy IBH era Hymac 580D offered for sale in the Auction at the
Welland Steam and Country Rally July 2010
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The collection of J.C. Balls & Sons has an unusual Hymac 480 crane (Photo above)
A one owner Hymac 380 is in preservation now in Scotland, after working for one
firm for 40 years. Only a few hundred of these were built from the imported US
manufactured kits.[17]
A few are with collector in Scandinavia were they were a popular machine.
A long reach model was featured in Classic Plant & Machinery Magazine last year.
Malcolm Plant uk have a reworked Hymac 580d on show.
There are still a lot of original HY-MAC'S in use, and a number of fully rebuilt
models.
See also
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Edit
List of Engine Manufacturers
List of Construction Plant Manufacturers
o JCB
o Steelfab
o Whitlock
Collector related pages
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Collections
Shows and Meets
Clubs
Web Site Links
References
Edit
↑ See VADS web site
↑ VADS web site - Reprint of 1967 Design council publication on hymac
580B development
3.
↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powell_Duffryn
4.
↑ CP&M VV6-5 p50
5.
↑ Copy of Hymac advert on CMN site
6.
↑ Oxford Journal - extract report on court case
7.
↑ http://www.contractjournal.com/blogs/diggerblog/2008/09/hymac_memories.html
8.
↑ NY Times article on sale
9.
↑ Classic Machinery Net post by IBH & others
10.
↑ Classic Plant & Machinery Magazine, Vol 6, Issue 1
11.
↑ Classic machinery Network Posted by XS650 (Craig)
12.
↑ photo of overlander
13.
↑ www.classicmachinerynetwork.net post in Hymac section
14.
↑ Hymac Brochure on Ceforum posted by Lord Sean
15.
↑ Classic Plant & Machinery Magazine article on company
16.
↑ Official Hymac Parts & Service parts supplier.
17.
↑ CP&M vol1 no. 4
1.
2.
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Classic Plant & Machinery Magazine
Earthmovers Magazine
External links
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Article on Hymac design innovation from Design Journal 1967
New web site www.hymac.com for The 'New' HY-MAC company.[dead link]
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Hymac Model Range
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Ford Construction Equipment
Whitlock
Brand used by Newton, Chambers & co. for excavators built from design by P&H of
America. See NCK...
NCH