KKB invest in new Volvo machines
Recycling operator expands earthmoving fleet with 22 Volvo wheel loaders, excavators and articulated haulers
ROCHESTER-based KKB Group have strengthened their growing mobile plant fleet with the addition of 22 new Volvo machines. The mixed fleet of excavators, wheel loaders and articulated dumptrucks will be deployed across the company’s five main business areas in the UK.
The new machines include: six A30G ADTs; four L150H wheel loaders; and 12 crawler excavators ranging from the 22-tonne EC220E up to the 50-tonne EC480E model. They were selected following a competitive tender process but specifically as a direct result of the reliability and performance of the existing Volvo machines in the KKB fleet.
Craig Hore, plant manager for KKB, explained: ‘The machines are well built and offer a significant return on operating costs and, not least, high residual values when it’s time to replace them which is usually every three years. As we operate across the whole of Great Britain, another deciding factor in choosing Volvo, is their support network with centres strategically placed around the country.’
The company’s traditional area of expertise is recycling with long-standing contracts in place with major aggregates and asphalt producers, as well as land remediation and plant hire firms.
‘We have continued to evolve the business and over the last few years have added the demolition and civil engineering sectors to our portfolio,’ said Sally Pearson, director of business development for KKB. ‘These new additions will be deployed across the whole spectrum of our business and will give us the scope to handle large bulk muck-shifting projects, remediation projects, demolition contracts and, of course, recycling.’
The latest Volvos for KKB have been highly specified to meet many project requirements undertaken by the business. For example, excavators (eg EC220E, EC480E) have been supplied with heavy-duty belly plates under the superstructure, along with additional X3 grab-rotation circuits for handling hydraulic implements such as selector grabs, pulverisers and munchers, while plates are welded to the underside of the dipper-arms to operate grapples.
Key safety features include: boxing ring-style guarding to the top of the superstructures and all-round visibility aids. Similarly, the L150H wheel loaders have been equipped with heavy-duty L5 tyres, weighing loaders and sensor-vision reversing aids.
All 22 Volvo machines are covered by Volvo’s Blue service agreement, which ensures each unit is regularly maintained by Volvo trained engineers using genuine OEM parts. ‘This is a significant benefit to us as we can rely on Volvo to take care of servicing and support issues nationwide giving us that extra peace of mind,’ said Mr Hore.
