L150F loader debuts at Stonegrave Aggregates

STONEGRAVE Aggregates Ltd, a division of the John Wade Group of companies, have taken delivery of their first Volvo L150F loading shovel for rehandling duties at the company’s Aycliffe Quarry, near Darlington, Co. Durham.

When the time came to replace one of the quarry’s resident competitive loading shovels, it was third party references and a desire to change to an alternative marque of machine that prompted operations manager Bruce Whitley to choose the 4.2m³ shovel from

‘We already run Volvo A30D haulers and have been impressed with their reliability and performance, so when we needed to replace a five-year-old shovel used for stockpile work and loading road wagons, we decided to give the L150F a chance,’ he said.

The L150F is powered by a 12-litre Volvo engine that develops 284hp at 1,400 rev/min. The Tier III/Stage 3 low-emission engine delivers high torque at just above tick over, giving the new loaders effective rimpull and low fuel consumption as well as a sig

The L150F’s engine power is converted into work via a new smooth-shifting electric-hydraulic HTE transmission, with Volvo’s Full Automatic Power Shift (FAPS) selecting the most appropriate gear and the ideal moment to change ratio.

In addition, new software in the ECU adapts to the operators’ style of driving, optimizing gear changing parameters and saving fuel by always selecting the correct gear, while a pulse-width modulation valve in the transmission allows smoother shifting and

Operator comfort was another major consideration in the decision to purchase the L150F, according to Stonegrave. The cab on the F-series loader offers a high degree of comfort with plenty of leg room and high levels of forward and rearward visibility. Aut