Earthline Ltd of Ogbourne St George, near Marlborough, Wiltshire has taken delivery of Volvo’s flagship excavator, the seventy five tonne EC750E together with its first ever Volvo loading shovel in the guise of a 25 tonne L150H.
These latest machines join an ever increasing fleet of Volvo branded machines and now for the first time, a Volvo L150H loading shovel joins a range of excavators ranging from twenty two tonnes up to seventy five tonnes and Volvo articulated haulers. And whilst Earthline’s managing director Philip Coplestone takes an objective view of the market place when it’s time to replace or add equipment, the main reason for choosing Volvo is down to the reliability, performance and robustness of the product coupled to a first class after-market support in his opinion. “This time around we needed to replace our EC700C with a new large prime mover and considered the EC750E to be the right machine for our application, but we also decided to opt for a new Volvo loading shovel for the first time based on the good experience we’ve had to date with our other Volvo machines and following a successful demonstration,” says Philip. “But that’s only part of the equation. In our line of business it’s crucial we get the best backup and after sales service wherever our equipment is working and SMT GB has not been found wanting in this regard,” he continues.
The new EC750E has been supplied in mass excavation configuration which includes a 6.6 metre boom and a 2.9 metre dipper arm along with a Tefra mix and match quick attachment bracket. Thus configured the machine offers a maximum reach of 11.4 metres and a generous dig depth of 7.2 metres. The EC750E has a maximum breakout force of 383 kN and demonstrates a high degree of lateral stability capable of lifting 13.6 tonnes at maximum reach. The machine will be deployed at Earthline Ltd’s Hatford Quarry near Wantage, ripping limestone from situ using a heavy duty ripper tooth and a bespoke 4m³ heavy duty rock bucket supplied by MST.
At the heart of the EC750E a 16 litre Stage IV V-ACT engine developing 533 nett hp operates in conjunction with an advanced mode control system ensuring the maximum possible hydraulic horsepower available is delivered at a constant engine speed under varying load conditions. A maximum torque of 2570Nm is achieved at just 1350r/min and this in conjunction with the machine’s advanced hydraulic system ensures maximum fuel efficiency is achieved through every work cycle.
Just one mile away at Shellingford Quarry, the 25 tonne L150H loading shovel has been specified with a 4.5m³ rehandling bucket along with an optional rehandling counterweight, Bridgestone VSDL tyres and an RDS Aplha 100 Loadmaster weighing device. In this configuration the L150H offers a dump clearance of 2.97m and a full turn tipping load of 17.8 tonnes. The machine was selected after a successful demonstration at the Shellingford site and will be used for a whole range of activities from load and carry to material blending and loading out lorries from this very busy site. “We are looking to increase the size of our equipment in general to keep in step with demand and our new L150H is a step up from the machine it replaces with its large capacity rehandling bucket,” comments Philip. “The machine has been an immediate hit with our operators too who certainly appreciate the cab layout, smoothness of control and ride and responsiveness.”
The L150H benefits from Volvo designed and manufactured driveline components designed to offer considerable fuel savings each shift with a 13 litre 300hp Volvo stage IV engine. One of the key features is that a maximum torque of 1317Nm is achieved at just 1450rpm and the resultant fuel savings are further enhanced by the Volvo Eco pedal encouraging the operator to run the machine at its optimum rpm in the engine’s torque curve.
The new machines join a mixed fleet of excavators, dozers, loading shovels and articulated haulers, however it is Earthline’s haulage and road transport business that is at the heart of the twenty three year old family run firm – in the hands of the second generation and brothers Philip and Matt Coplestone. Earthline Ltd, the largest haulage company covering an area from Banbury in Oxfordshire to Farnham in Surrey, currently operates 80 tippers of its own with another 20 on permanent hire besides articulated rigs, sweepers and other miscellaneous transport. “In essence the equipment, quarries, and recycling sites are there to feed our haulage fleet delivering virgin and recycled product across the region,” says Philip.
SMT GB markets Volvo Construction Equipment products which include wheeled loaders, articulated haulers, hydraulic excavators, Volvo utility equipment and Volvo road equipment products in Great Britain. There are eight strategically placed customer support centres, a dedicated National Used Equipment Centre and a network of utility equipment dealers to ensure high quality customer support is maintained throughout the country.
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