On the outskirts of Kirriemuir, just north of Dundee, Delson Contracts is shaping a new development of private housing and industrial units.
Established in 1990, Delson Contracts operates across four core sectors: recycled aggregates, civil engineering, demolition and design & build packages. References include the Digital Media Park at Ninewells in Dundee, coastal protection works at Broughty Ferry, and industrial units in Kirriemuir.
From initial site clearance after demolition through to final construction, Delson Contracts relies on equipment capable of performing across a wide range of applications. Much of its frontline earthmoving equipment is Liebherr.
“We traditionally favoured one manufacturer and ran a number of machines from them for many years,” explains managing director Bruce Stott. “That changed when we introduced our first Liebherr wheeled excavators into the fleet. The quality of the machines and the level of service impressed us so much that today most of our larger equipment is Liebherr.”
The current Liebherr fleet at Delson Contracts includes two A 910 compact wheeled excavators, an A 914 compact wheeled excavator, an R 922 crawler excavator and, most recently, a PR 716 G8 crawler dozer.
Delson Contracts operates a long-term ownership strategy, prioritising reliability and availability over maximum utilisation.
“We tend to keep machines slightly longer than many contractors,” says Stott. “We don’t abuse them but we do expect them to perform when required. Reliability is critical, and that will ultimately determine how successful any machine is within our fleet.”
The company’s Kirriemuir development site provided a perfect setting to put the new PR 716 G8 Crawler Dozer to work. Here, one of Delson Contracts’ longest-serving operators, Ben Cummings, has used the machine to spread material and raise ground levels across the site. Cummings has been with the company for 19 years and typically operates the A 914 Compact wheeled excavator.
“I’ve operated dozers on and off over the years, but I wouldn’t say I’m a specialist,” Cummings says. “Even so, the PR 716 is one of the smoothest and easiest crawler dozers I’ve used. It will push hard when you need it to, but it’s also very controlled when trimming and finishing. It’s a genuinely versatile machine.”
As the smallest model in Liebherr’s G8 crawler dozer range, the PR 716 G8 has an operating weight between 13.3 and 15.8 tonnes, depending on specification. It is powered by a 145 hp / 107 kW, 4.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine, combined with Liebherr’s hydrostatic travel drive, giving fuel efficiency of just 9.3 litres per hour.
The PR 716 G8 is available with an extra-long (XL) or low ground pressure (LGP) undercarriage, a six-way blade (PAT) with optional hinged corners to reduce transport width, and a choice of three-shank ripper or towbar at the rear.
Delson Contracts specified its PR 716 G8 in LGP configuration with 711 mm track pads and a standard six-way blade (PAT), prepared for Trimble Earthworks machine control, which is used across the fleet. Receiver modules can be mounted directly on the cab roof, maintaining excellent forward visibility without the need for traditional blade-mounted masts.
Inside the cab, a centrally positioned touchscreen display allows operators to customise machine settings, while the Trimble Earthworks display is mounted directly below on a dedicated bracket. This layout keeps both blade and machine control information within the operator’s natural line of sight, helping to reduce fatigue and increase precision.
“It’s a very spacious cab, noticeably larger than our previous dozer,” Cummings says. “The amount of glass makes it incredibly bright, and the seating position is excellent. You can see the blade edges clearly without constantly shifting around, which makes a big difference over the course of the day.”
Stott concludes: “Although the crawler dozer won’t be used every day, having it available in the fleet when we need it is extremely important. It’s compact but it pushes far more than its size suggests, and the build quality is exactly what we expect from Liebherr. If it performs like our other Liebherr machines, it will be a very successful long-term addition. Any minor issues we’ve had in the past have been dealt with quickly and professionally. Liebherr listens to our feedback, and that level of support is a big part of why we continue to invest in the brand.”
