Bespoke Volvo excavator for CEMEX
A SPECIALLY modified 36-tonne tonne Volvo EC360CL hydraulic excavator, designed specifically for materials-handling operations at Attenborough Quarry, near Beeston, Nottingham, was among some 40 Volvo loading shovels and excavators procured by CEMEX UK during 2007.
Replacing a 10-year-old competitive model, the new Volvo EC360CL has been tailor-made to meet a dedicated application at the Attenborough site – unloading sand and gravel from barges and discharging it into the main feed hopper to the plant.
This involved modifying and straightening the monobloc boom to a length of 6.8m and the manufacture of a 3m grab arm with underslung dipper cylinder. A rotating Kinshofer C60 2.25 cu m clamshell grab was also fitted along with an additional counterweight.
To facilitate good operator visibility of the barge unloading operation, the machine also benefits from a hydraulically adjustable cab to give a line of sight 4.5m above ground level.
The modifications to the cab and equipment were undertaken by Ipswich-based Kokurek.
In its new configuration the machine can easily lift a full grab load of material, weighing 4.5 tonnes, to a discharge height of 4.3m and a reach of 6m from the machine’s centre. At the other end of the working envelope, the machine can extract material to a depth of 8m.
In total, the bespoke EC360CL is handling approximately 1,200 tonnes of material per day from barges floated to the processing plant from the quarry’s extraction area. When not unloading barges, the machine keeps the feed hopper topped up from a surge pile within its working envelope on the wharf.
The EC360CL is powered by a 12-litre Volvo Tier III low-emission engine that develops 250hp. This is coupled with an ‘integrated work mode control’ hydraulic system for high levels of productivity and fuel economy.
The machine was supplied with a full safety package including rear-view camera, all-round heated mirrors, hand rails to the upper superstructure and warning chevrons painted on the counterweight.
