Life Presidents Message

Message to the Association 2011

Another year, another Chairman, another A.G.M. where we shall meet old friends and make new. All this from belonging to the C.M.P.E. whose members are involved in mechanical site plant of some sort or another. I find it fascinating to think of the ways in which our industry has evolved from the rope operated machines through the first hydraulic diggers to a state not far off when, as with the modern car, a fitter will almost need a degree in computer literacy before he can even lift the bonnet. But what improvements have come along with this surge. Plant, like cars, needed a tray to catch the oil leaks from the engine and hydraulic pipes. The oil levels needed topping up every morning because of loss and in 1963 Jack Carr, a much respected past National Chairman, took me to see his one year old Japanese excavator. He raised the engine cover to show me an engine bay covered in dust but with not a spot of oil anywhere. That led to British and European manufacturers raising their tolerances and seal efficiencies to catch up with the Japanese imports. Now we are concerned with toxic emissions and I am wondering where the next advances will be made, but I’m sure I shall learn about them through a branch meeting.

While all this has been going on the individual branches of the C.M.P.E. have kept their members up to date with the latest developments and capabilities of the new machines. Latterly a difficulty here has been in providing enough members at a branch meeting to justify the presenter putting together a programme. Inevitably there is a percentage of retired members in each branch and talk of common rail diesel engines and hydrostatic drives is largely wasted on them. But at the same time I’m pleased to see there are now a number of younger members joining the branches who have the drive we had in the days when we used to make good money working in the plant business. We do need to keep up the impetuous of bringing in new members and that is one way in which members can repay their branch and keep it alive.

One most important benefit we have given to our industry is in providing a credible method of establishing an operator’s competence and his awareness of safety procedure on the machines he handles or drives. This has been such a success it has been copied step by step by others and our Certificate of Competence it is now almost universally accepted on sites.

As an association the C.M.P.E. is unusual in that for over 50 years it has been the only place where plant people could mix, have a drink, be fed and at the same time learn of developments in plant that would interest them, while being able to enjoy the social side such as at this weekend in Sussex at our national Annual General Meeting. Once again I am pleased to be able to meet all my friends from across the U.K. Welcome to Sussex.

Frank Fiveash

President