New prime mover for Brauncewell Quarries
Family-run aggregates firm’s long association with Volvo CE continues with new EC480E excavator
BRAUNCEWELL Quarries Ltd, a Lincolnshire-based independent family-run aggregates business, have opted for another Volvo 50-tonne excavator to take over as the new prime mover at their quarrying operation near Sleaford.
The company has a long association with Volvo construction equipment at Brauncewell Quarry, including both wheel loaders and excavators.
‘Our first Volvo machine was an L90 that we purchased back in 1990,’ recalled managing director John Dickinson. ‘It was so good in terms of reliability and performance, that we only replaced it a couple of years ago with 20,000 hours on the clock and just one major overall.
‘We’ve pretty much had Volvo machines ever since then and, in general, we’ve been pleased with them. We did have some issues with one particular model, but the team at Volvo stood by it and worked through the issues, so as far as after-market support is concerned we just cannot fault them at all.’
Joining the current line-up of three Volvo L150H wheel loaders that were supplied relatively recently for re-handling duties, along with an L60F and an L220D, comes the company’s new prime mover in the form of a Volvo EC480E.
Specified with standard-reach equipment, the new excavator features a 7.0m boom and 3.35m dipper arm, providing optimum digging performance and sufficient reach to load material ‘as dug’ from the face into the site’s mobile crusher. In this configuration, the 50-tonne machine offers a maximum reach of 12.1m and a digging depth of 7.8m.
‘Until 10 years ago, we would regularly blast the quarry face and then re-handle the material with smaller machines. Opting for this size of machine, using half of its time on hammer and the other half loading material into the crusher, we’ve significantly reduced the cost associated with drilling and blasting, as well as the amount of unwanted fines,’ explained Mr Dickinson.
‘The new EC480E is the third machine of this size that we’ve operated in this way and it fits in well with our production requirements.’
The Stage IV Final 13-litre engine in EC480E develops 378hp and is well matched to its automatic sensing mode hydraulic system, which provides on-demand flow and reduces power losses within the circuit.
Volvo’s special ECO mode is said to contribute up to 9% of the machine’s total improved efficiency over the previous D-series model – without any loss of performance in most operating conditions. The integrated work mode system also offers the choice of I (Idle), F (Fine), G (General), H (Heavy) or P (Power max) work modes, according to the task in hand.
When the controls have been inactive for a pre-set amount of time, the excavator can be programmed to automatically reduce engine speed or even shut down to further reduce fuel consumption and noise. Operators can keep track of both current and average fuel consumption via a simple gauge in the cab.
Other key features of the 50-tonne excavator include a hammer–shear circuit, quick-fit hydraulics, and Volvo’s Care Track telematics system, all of which come as standard. Brauncewell Quarries have also added the option of an Enigma tracker system.
And as with all other Volvo machines at Brauncewell Quarries, the new EC480E has been covered by a Volvo Blue service support agreement, which means that the machine will be regularly maintained by Volvo service technicians using genuine Volvo parts, giving Mr Dickinson total peace of mind over the effective working life of the machine.
