More Volvo machines for Walters Group
FOUR new Volvo L180F loading shovels have been deployed by the Walters Group of Hirwaun, South Wales, on a long-term rental contract to Celtic Energy’s Onllwyn Distribution Centre, located near Neath.
The new machines replace five competitive models and are now responsible for processing up to 1 million tonnes of coal arriving from three active Celtic Energy opencast coal sites in South Wales.
‘We wanted to standardize on the machines working at Onllwyn and considered the Volvo L180F’s to be the best in terms of productivity and specification,’ commented director Huw Richards. ‘In addition, we’ve had many years’ experience operating Volvo products in many applications and their pedigree is sound in terms of reliability, good residuals and a strong support network throughout the country.’
Each shovel has been deployed around key areas at the Celtic Energy distribution centre. The prime mover has been equipped with a 7.8m3 coal-handling bucket and is in charge of feeding 250 tonnes per hour through the reception hopper.
‘It’s imperative we keep the washery fed continuously throughout the daily 12h shift, and the L180 is well on top of this requirement,’ said Keith Jones, Onllwyn’s general manager – coal processing and logistics.
Elsewhere on site, the three remaining machines are deployed on various duties. Two are fitted with 6.8m3 rehandling buckets; one is responsible for blending coal specifically destined for the local Aberthaw power station with the other allocated to loading road and rail wagons for both the power station and the Corus steel works located at Port Talbot.
The distribution centre dispatches up to 10 trains per week and the L180F is required to load 1,500 tonnes of coal in just 2h 15min. The final machine is used for various duties on site including the loading of local delivery lorries and stocking the finished grades of coal in the bins.
The L180F is powered by a Tier III, 12-litre Volvo engine which develops 318hp at just 1,400 revs/min and delivers high torque at just above tick-over, giving the machine excellent rimpull and low fuel consumption as well as a significant reduction in noise levels compared with the E-series machine.
Engine power is converted into work via a new smooth-shifting electric-hydraulic HTE transmission. All the operator has to do is select forward or reverse; the Volvo Full Automatic Power Shift (FAPS) then takes over and selects which of the four forward and four reverse gears is required – and the perfect moment to change ratio.
The transmission on the L180F is also significantly quieter than its predecessor, and maximum speed has been increased. In addition, two of the four machines have been fitted with weigh loaders to ensure loading of the correct amount of material into the rail wagons.
The new machines replace five competitive models and are now responsible for processing up to 1 million tonnes of coal arriving from three active Celtic Energy opencast coal sites in South Wales.
‘We wanted to standardize on the machines working at Onllwyn and considered the Volvo L180F’s to be the best in terms of productivity and specification,’ commented director Huw Richards. ‘In addition, we’ve had many years’ experience operating Volvo products in many applications and their pedigree is sound in terms of reliability, good residuals and a strong support network throughout the country.’
Each shovel has been deployed around key areas at the Celtic Energy distribution centre. The prime mover has been equipped with a 7.8m3 coal-handling bucket and is in charge of feeding 250 tonnes per hour through the reception hopper.
‘It’s imperative we keep the washery fed continuously throughout the daily 12h shift, and the L180 is well on top of this requirement,’ said Keith Jones, Onllwyn’s general manager – coal processing and logistics.
Elsewhere on site, the three remaining machines are deployed on various duties. Two are fitted with 6.8m3 rehandling buckets; one is responsible for blending coal specifically destined for the local Aberthaw power station with the other allocated to loading road and rail wagons for both the power station and the Corus steel works located at Port Talbot.
The distribution centre dispatches up to 10 trains per week and the L180F is required to load 1,500 tonnes of coal in just 2h 15min. The final machine is used for various duties on site including the loading of local delivery lorries and stocking the finished grades of coal in the bins.
The L180F is powered by a Tier III, 12-litre Volvo engine which develops 318hp at just 1,400 revs/min and delivers high torque at just above tick-over, giving the machine excellent rimpull and low fuel consumption as well as a significant reduction in noise levels compared with the E-series machine.
Engine power is converted into work via a new smooth-shifting electric-hydraulic HTE transmission. All the operator has to do is select forward or reverse; the Volvo Full Automatic Power Shift (FAPS) then takes over and selects which of the four forward and four reverse gears is required – and the perfect moment to change ratio.
The transmission on the L180F is also significantly quieter than its predecessor, and maximum speed has been increased. In addition, two of the four machines have been fitted with weigh loaders to ensure loading of the correct amount of material into the rail wagons.
