Established in 1990, Delson Contracts operates across four core sectors: recycled aggregates, civil engineering, demolition, and design-and-build packages. Over more than three decades, the business has built a strong reputation for delivering technically demanding projects with consistency and precision. Its portfolio includes landmark schemes such as the Digital Media Park at Ninewells, Dundee, coastal protection works at Broughty Ferry, and the design and construction of premium industrial units in Kirriemuir.
From initial site clearance after demolition through to final construction, Delson Contracts relies on dependable equipment capable of performing across a wide range of applications.
A growing Liebherr fleet
To support this varied workload, Delson Contracts has continued to invest in Liebherr machinery, with the majority of its frontline earthmoving equipment now supplied by Liebherr Great Britain through regional sales manager Mark Gorrie. “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.
Reliability that supports long-term ownership
The wheeled and crawler excavators have replaced equivalent machines that had been in service for many years. 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 Bruce. “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.”
PR 716 G8 Crawler Dozer proves its versatility on site
The company’s Kirriemuir development site provided the perfect setting to put the new PR 716 G8 Crawler Dozer to work. Here, one of Delson Contracts’ longest-serving operators, Ben Cummings, was using the machine to spread material and raise ground levels across the site. Ben 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,” Ben 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.”
Compact size, high performance
As the smallest model in Liebherr’s G8 Crawler Dozer range, the PR 716 G8 has an operating weight between 13.3 t and 15.8 t, depending on specification. It is powered by a durable 145 hp / 107 kW, 4.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine, combined with Liebherr’s proven hydrostatic travel drive. This drivetrain delivers excellent fuel efficiency, averaging just 9.3 litres per hour, while also providing class-leading drawbar pull. The result is a compact crawler dozer capable of efficient bulk material movement as well as precise grading tasks.
The PR 716 G8 is available with an extra-long (XL) or low ground pressure (LGP) undercarriages, 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.
Intelligent assistance and machine control readiness
Like all Liebherr G8 Crawler Dozers, the PR 716 can be supplied for easy installation of machine control systems directly from the Liebherr plant in Telfs. All required pre-installation material like, brackets, electric wiring, and interfaces are included in a ready kit. In addition, Liebherr’s Operator Assistance systems are available as standard. Free Grade enables operators to create formation levels such as flat surfaces, ramps or dams, with active blade stabilisation during grading. Definition Grade allows basic 2D surface modelling, providing automatic blade control to a defined target inclination.
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.
Operator-focused cab design
Inside the cab, the PR 716 G8 reflects Liebherr’s strong focus on operator comfort, visibility and ergonomics. “It’s a very spacious cab, noticeably larger than our previous dozer,” Ben explains. “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.”
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.
Designed for service and uptime
Service accessibility has also been carefully considered. Wide-opening engine bay doors on both sides allow easy access for daily checks and maintenance, while the cab can be tilted rearwards to provide access to the hydraulics, housed in a dedicated, sound-insulated compartment. Fuel and AdBlue filling points are grouped at the rear within reach, together with handrails enabling safe and efficient refuelling.
A strong addition to the fleet
“Although the crawler dozer won’t be used every day, having it available in the fleet when we need it is extremely important,” Bruce concludes. “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.”
With its combination of efficiency, precision and operator-focused design, the PR 716 G8 Crawler Dozer is now playing a key role in supporting Delson Contracts’ continued growth and delivery of high-quality developments across Scotland.
