More Volvo loaders for Lomas

Two L220H wheel loaders helping to meet increasing demand for company’s contract crushing division

HAVING taken delivery of their first Volvo L220G three years ago, Buxton-based Lomas Distribution Ltd now have a total of four 32-tonne Volvo loading shovels – the latest two L220H machines having been delivered in early and late 2016 to satisfy increasing demand in the company’s contract crushing division.

Since their inception in 1986, Lomas Distribution Ltd – a family-run business led by managing director Richard Lomas – have grown from a one-man-and-a-van operation into a major national logistics provider employing more than 300 staff and running over 200 HGV tractors, 300 bulk tanker trailers and a significant quantity of rigid and articulated bulk tipping trailers.

‘Three years ago we looked to offer an additional service to our existing customers by providing bulk storage and a re-handling service for commodities such as rock salt, crushed aggregates, wood chip for biomass, and similar materials,’ said Richard Lomas.

‘Since then we have ventured further into contract crushing and screening for the local aggregates industry here in the Peak District, adding one of the first L220H-series wheel loaders in 2014 followed by a further two machines in 2016 as demand increased.

‘Based on the good performance of the first loading shovels and the fact that half of our transport fleet is powered by Volvo and fully supported by the manufacturer, it made good sense to stick with what we know,’ he continued.

The L220H supplied in early 2016 was specified for heavy-duty quarry applications with a direct-mounted bucket, whereas the second machine was supplied to cover a range of tasks thanks to the fitting of a hydraulic attachment bracket and third-line hydraulics. Thus configured, this L220H can be used on contract crushing duties or, alternatively, can be fitted with a high-capacity, high-tip bucket for the loading of bulkers with light materials such as wood chips for biomass.

Powered by a fuel-efficient, 13-litre, 373hp Stage IV final Volvo engine coupled with Volvo designed and manufactured powertrain components, the L220H features a number of other fuel-saving devices such as Optishift with torque converter lock-up and the Volvo Eco pedal that encourages the operator to run the machine at its optimum rev/min in the engine’s torque curve.