Another Volvo prime mover for RJT Excavations
New EC380E excavator deployed on long-term crushing contract in Scotland’s Central Belt
RJT Excavations Ltd of Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders, have opted for another Volvo excavator specifically for a long-term crushing contract, based on the overall total cost of ownership for their plant fleet.
This most recent addition to RJT Excavations’ fleet is a 40-tonne Volvo EC380E equipped with mass-excavation rig, including a 2.6m dipper arm, a Hills hydraulic attachment bracket and a heavy-duty, 72in wide, 2.5 cubic metre capacity bucket supplied by MST.
The machine replaces an EC380D model that had clocked up 10,000 relatively trouble-free hours and follows a larger 50-tonne Volvo EC480E excavator, also rigged for mass excavation, and an L180H loading shovel complete with a 4.6 cubic metre rehandling bucket, which were purchased one year ago.
‘We have a long association with Volvo Construction Equipment products and are currently operating excavators from 14 to 50 tonnes, and A30 articulated haulers,’ said RJT’s assistant plant manager, Euan Heard.
‘Due to the high number of hours our EC380D had worked, it was time to find a replacement and after analysing the total cost of ownership over a set period, coupled with our past experiences operating Volvo machines, the package on offer was too good to overlook.’
Powered by a Stage IV-compliant engine that develops 306hp, the EC380E is said to offer the latest in engine technology and operating sophistication, whilst the spacious Volvo Care Cab provides 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 on the machine functions, important diagnostic information and a wide variety of work tool settings, as well as providing views from the rear- and side-view cameras.
‘Our operators certainly appreciate the level of comfort in the cab along with the HMI (human-machine-interface) on the E-series model,’ commented Mr Heard.
The EC380E has a reach and digging depth of 11m and 7.3m, respectively, and a delivers breakout force of 215kN.
The new excavator has also been supplied with an enhanced driveline warranty covering the next five years or 10,000 hours, coupled with a flexible Volvo service support agreement.
‘We certainly appreciate the aftermarket support we receive from SMT GB’s support centre at Stirling, together with their flexible arrangements for providing the right type of service agreement to suit our needs,’ said Mr Heard.
‘This means we can take full advantage of the support from Volvo’s dealer and keep our team of workshop and mobile engineers fully engaged at the same time.’
The new EC380E has gone to work on a long-term project for a major aggregate producer in Scotland’s Central Belt and has been deployed feeding a mobile crusher as part of one of RJT Excavations’ contract crushing teams. The machine will also be used for overburden stripping when required.
