ASH Group purchase two new Develon wheel loaders
Latest DL420CVT-7 machines help boost fuel savings and safety for aggregates firm
ASH Group have taken delivery of two new Develon DL420CVT-7 wheel loaders for use at their state-of-the-art aggregates washing plant operation in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Supplied by Blue Machinery (Central) Ltd, based in Nantwich, Cheshire, the authorized Develon dealer for the North West and North Wales, the loading shovels have brought major benefits, including substantial fuel savings and increased safety.
Compared with the machines they have replaced, the new Develon DL420CVT-7 loaders are using 4 litres/h less fuel (11 litres/h instead of 15 litres/h), thanks mainly to the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) on the units.
They are also the first in the UK to be equipped with Develon’s Transparent Bucket safety system, the first of its type in the world. The Transparent Bucket is a system that allows the wheel loader driver to see blind spots in front of the bucket on the machine, using the in-cab monitor.
John Dennan, director of ASH Group, commented: ‘We are very impressed with the fuel economy and high performance of the new Develon wheel loaders. With the new Transparent Bucket system on the machines, we have also enhanced safety for both the drivers and the rest of the workforce at the wash plant.
‘The new wheel loaders align with our commitment to sustainability and safety and with their help, our wash plant will continue to provide much-needed high-value recycled sand and aggregates for the UK construction industry. The operation is designed to produce up to 600,000 tonnes per annum, ensuring maximum resource recovery and diverting even more waste from landfill.’
Equipped with CVT, the technology allows the DL420CVT-7 to automatically transition from hydrostatic power at low speed to a mechanical system when operating at higher speeds. Low engine speeds ensure a high efficiency and the highest driving comfort whilst fuel savings of up to 25% can be achieved.
As with all Develon’s award-winning DL-7 wheel loaders, the DL420CVT-7 offers enhanced operating comfort, an improved steering system, and advanced electronic controls. Using the Develon Smart Key allows the operator to lock/unlock the door remotely, start or stop the engine, and other key functions.
The cab is fitted with a Grammer Actimo XXL seat with fully adjustable horizontal and vertical suspension settings, a pneumatic lumbar function, and heated seating as standard. There is a three-point safety belt with alarm icons on the Develon Smart Touch 8in touchscreen monitor and on the gauge panel, which features a new layout and anti-reflective glass.
The cab on the DL420CVT-7 offers a greatly improved field of vision for the operator, with blind spots around the cab minimized and a 14% larger glass window area compared with previous DL-5 models.
Mr Dennan said: ‘Owing to blind spots caused by the buckets on wheel loaders, the area in front of the machines has been considered an area of major concern in terms of safety. With the Develon Transparent Bucket function, however, our drivers can easily check the blind spots in front of the bucket via the cab monitor, to increase safety and prevent accidents.’
The innovative Transparent Bucket system records images in front of the wheel loader with top and bottom front-loaded cameras and shows combined images on the cab monitor in real-time using a curved projection method. Another advantage of the Transparent Bucket system is that it can significantly improve work efficiency by providing a forward-view perspective for the driver during loading/unloading or when carrying materials such as aggregates, sand, and soil.
