Company takes delivery of 13 new machines for quarrying activities across the north of England MARSHALLS, the UK’s leading hard landscaping manufacturers, have taken delivery of a package of machines from Volvo Construction Equipment for their quarrying activities throughout the north of England as well as their landscape product manufacturing operation in Bedfordshire. The list of Volvo machines includes: two L110H and five L180H loading shovels; two A30G and two A40G articulated haulers; a 50-tonne EC480E excavator and a new 75-tonne EC750E excavator, which was introduced at last year’s Bauma exhibition. Not only is the EC750E a UK first, but Marshalls are also the first company to take delivery of Volvo loading shovels featuring the Co-Pilot load-assist feature that was unveiled last year at the Bauma and Hillhead shows. The package of machines was selected following a competitive tender process and represents both replacements for existing plant as well as an increment to the fleet, according to Marshalls’ senior group buyer, Jonathan Galvin. He said: ‘Selecting the right machines for our various operations has involved a good many factors in the decision-making process. This has included site surveys, careful consideration of the machine specification and working closely with our potential suppliers. ‘Whilst the offering from Volvo wasn’t the lowest cost in regards to the up-front purchasing price, when we looked at the lifetime owning and operating costs, the fuel efficiencies of the products, extended driveline warranties, the residual values and the detailed servicing agreements, Volvo emerged as the clear winners.’ All the new machines have been equipped to a high specification. For example, the L110H and L180H loading shovels have been supplied on Michelin L5 XLDD2A wheels and tyres, whilst the two smaller 20-tonne shovels that have gone to work at the company’s landscape product manufacturing operation in Sandy, Bedfordshire, benefit from the Volvo Optishift feature that automatically selects lock-up of the transmission for maximum fuel efficiency. The five new 30-tonne L180H shovels have all had Volvo’s latest Co-Pilot load-assist option installed at the factory. This allows the operator to calibrate either his bucket or block-handling forks via the touch-screen pad in the cab. Bucket loads and the number of buckets filled can be recorded in addition to the system storing a whole array of product menus. Moreover, the Co-Pilot system links in with Volvo’s Care Track telematics system that can feed information to a remote location, whilst the Co-Pilot touch screen interacts with the rear-view camera to automatically become a rear-view screen when the machine is put into reverse. Each L180H has been supplied complete with a quick-fit bucket and quick-fit heavy-duty block-handling forks, and additional block-handling counterweights. The four articulated haulers have been given similar treatment with the fitment of E4 VLTS tyres for extreme quarry applications, whilst the bodies have been fitted with optional wear liners made from 450Bn steel to counter the abrasive nature of the material to be handled. The A30G haulers have a body and load capacity of 17.8 cubic metres and 29 tonnes, respectively, whilst the larger A40G’s have values of 24.0 cubic metres and 39 tonnes. Both the 50- and 75-tonne excavators have been equipped with double-grouser track pads for quarry operations and both have been supplied with hydraulic quick-fit, heavy-duty buckets and ripper teeth for prising material from situ. The EC480E is fitted with a 13-litre Volvo engine that develops 378hp, whilst the new flagship EC750E features a larger 16-litre engine that develops 508hp. On both machines, the hydraulics are matched to the engine and controlled by an advanced system that provides on-demand flow and reduces power losses within the circuit. Volvo’s ECO mode contributes significantly to the machines’ total improved efficiency without any loss of performance in most operating conditions. As well as improving fuel efficiency, this increases controllability for more precise performance. Volvo’s integrated work mode system offers the operator a choice of five other work modes, according to the task in hand – I (Idle), F (Fine), G (General), H (Heavy) or P (Power max). Both excavators have been installed with a 360o visibility system, giving the operator a complete overview of the machine’s position in relation to potential hazards or objects that are in close proximity. The entire package of machines comes with a five-year extended driveline warranty and all the machines are covered under Volvo service support agreements.