Leiths

At the start of this year, Leiths made the strategic decision to undertake a full repower of loading shovel SHO565, a 2016 CAT 966M with more than 20,500 operating hours, based at Fort William, Torlundy Quarry.

With the machine approaching the end of its expected service life, several options were considered, including full replacement. Following detailed discussions with Finning, it was agreed that a CAT Repower Programme would deliver the best balance of performance, sustainability and cost. The repower programme allows the company to retain the existing machine while replacing all major components using new and CAT remanufactured parts. This approach delivers significant environmental benefits while costing approximately one third of a brand‑new machine. On completion, the work is expected to extend the life of SHO565 by a further 10 years or 20,000 operating hours.

The machine was delivered to Finning’s Glasgow workshop on 26 January 2026 for a complete strip-down and rebuild. Following a nine‑week turnaround, the machine was returned to site on 30 March 2026, fully rebuilt and ready for service. This successful repower project demonstrates Leiths’ commitment to sustainable asset management, maximising value from existing equipment while reducing environmental impact and capital expenditure.