C A Blackwell invests in more medium-sized excavators from Volvo

Essex-based C A Blackwell (Contracts) Ltd have invested around £1.1 million in a deal to replace part of their medium-sized excavator fleet with eight new Volvo EC210C and three new EC290C excavators.  

This package of 11 machines coincided with the company’s four-year change-out policy and the start of a major road construction project taking place on the A1M in North Yorkshire.

‘We settled on our choice of product quite simply because of our long-standing relationship and the overall package offered to us by Volvo,’ commented managing director Steve Clarke. ‘Furthermore our own experiences of running Volvo equipment, specifically their excavator models for the last 10 years in terms of productivity and reliability and the after-sales support when needed, were strong influencing factors in our purchasing decision.’

Opting for 21- and 29-tonne excavators to strengthen Blackwell’s medium-sized excavator fleet is also a strategic move besides satisfying the immediate need for machines on the A1M job. ‘We are seeing a shift in the type of contracts and work being let with a growing demand for more remediation, landfill and smaller volumes of material to be moved as opposed to the large muck-shifting projects which have become few and far between,’ continued Steve Clarke. ‘And whilst we still operate 46-tonne-plus machines there is an increasing demand for more medium-sized excavators offering greater flexibility for us and our clients.’

The specification of the excavators delivered to Blackwell has been enhanced with the addition of Groeneveld automatic greasing systems; Geith twin-lock quick fits and Banlaw fast fuel-filling systems. ‘In specifying these enhanced features we are one of the leaders in the field when it comes to satisfying site safety compliance,’ said Mr Clarke. ‘These safety aids dramatically reduce the risk of potential accidents and especially reduce the impact on the environment when it comes to fuel replenishment on site.’

All 11 machines have been equipped with Volvo’s ‘Caretrack Advanced’ telemetric monitoring system, which provides operational data remotely via the internet, including fuel consumption and idle time, all helping to reduce cost of ownership and maximize utilization.

Volvo Construction Equipment Division, Volvo Group UK Ltd, Duxford, Cambridge CB22 4QX; tel: +44 (0)1223 836636; fax: +44 (0)1223 83257.