ISM strengthen Volvo fleet with new compact excavator

ISM Waste Services & Recycling purchase new EC55C excavator for rehandling special waste materials 

SUPPLIED by Howard Plant Sales, the new Volvo EC55C compact excavator is being used by ISM Waste Services & Recycling to rehandle industrial, commercial, domestic and special waste materials at their facility in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester.

The newly acquired machine joins an L45F loading shovel which was supplied four years ago, along with a fleet of 18 Volvo trucks that has been deployed in various applications, including bulk waste haulage, skip lorries and roll-on-off demountable trucks.

ISM have invested heavily in their scrap metal, waste handing and recycling operations at Ramsbottom. Most recently, the company has doubled the size of its materials recycling facility, adding a state-of-the-art two-tier picking line and new tommel which were commissioned in February.

‘As we have continued to expand our recycling facility to almost twice its existing size, we needed to invest in a medium sized compact excavator complete with selector grab to help pick and sort a variety of materials,’ explained ISM operations director John Allen.

‘The EC55C offered the best forward reach and the most spacious cab when we looked at models in the five- to six-tonne class. Since we’ve had good service out of our L45F, the first item of Volvo construction equipment and taking third party advice, we decided to stick with the Volvo brand.’

Powered by a direct injection Volvo diesel engine (35.1kW), the EC55C offers high performance, leading fuel efficiency and low emissions/noise. High performance tractive forces by the machine help make levelling and backfilling quick and efficient.

The float blade provides precision finishing through a minimal, yet consistent amount of blade force, while the heavy-duty travel pedals, comparable to those on heavier excavators, provide precision and ease of operation.

The machine supplied to ISM Waste Services and Recycling is equipped with optional X3 grab rotation hydraulics to power a Pro Dem PSG400 selector grab. The EC55C excavator’s primary duties are to pick and sort a variety of the more diverse materials such as plastics, polythene, wood and cardboard from the receiving bays to aid better wholesale recycling on the picking line. 

The compact excavator also features an optional screen guard, extra lighting, a white noise motion sensor and extra air filtration. Hammer/shear and quick fit hydraulics come as standard.