Is the sentiment of Robbie Tough, Managing Director of R Tough Plant Hire Ltd, Carluke, Lanarkshire, as he takes delivery of a brand new Volvo EC220E into his fleet.
Since establishing his plant hire business in 2006, Managing Director, Robbie Tough, has been associated with Volvo Construction Equipment products. “Our first Volvo was an EC140B which was quickly followed by an EC210, an EC360 in 2008 and an EC380E three years ago,” says Mr Tough. “Overall the Volvo is a good and reliable product and certainly takes a lot of beating when it comes to operator comfort.”
More recently, with the business expanding its general plant hire activities, its larger long term contracts including bulk earth moving and significant involvement within the landfill, waste and demolition sectors, Robbie Tough saw the need to increase the fleet with another general purpose excavator that could be deployed on any of these activities. “The EC220E fits our current requirements and if it performs half as well as our existing EC210B, I’ll be more than delighted with it,” he says, citing the original machine’s 16,000 hours of virtually trouble free performance.
Powered by a six-cylinder Volvo engine developing 174 nett hp, the EC220E offers the latest in engine technology and operating sophistication. For example, pump flow is controlled for combined digging and swinging operations to reduce the flow loss through the overload relief valves, whilst maintaining digging power and maximum swing torque. When Eco-mode is selected, the machine provides better fuel efficiency without loss of performance in most operating conditions.
The Volvo Care Cab offers a large roomy interior with plenty of leg room and foot space. The excellent all-round visibility is enhanced by pressurized and filtered cab air supplied by a 14-vent, climate control system. An adjustable, easy-to-read LCD colour monitor provides real time information of the machine functions.
The new EC220E has been supplied in standard specification which includes hose rupture valves to both boom and dipper cylinders, quick-fit hydraulics and hammer / shear hydraulic lines. The combination of the 5.7m boom and 2.9m dipper arm affords the machine a maximum digging reach of 9.93 metres and a dig depth of 6.73 metres. The practical dumping height is a generous 6.55 metres and the machine’s maximum lifting capacity across carriage at full reach, an impressive 2.8 tonnes.
R Tough Plant Hire Ltd is based at Carluke, Lanarkshire, and is ideally placed to serve the construction industry in the central belt and whole of Scotland. The company offers plant for hire, with or without operator, as well as a comprehensive range of equipment which includes Volvo excavators and loading shovels. In addition, the company also specialises in bulk muck-shifting, landfill, railway infrastructure, demolition and crushing contracts.
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 dealerstoensure high quality customer support is maintained throughout the country.
