Nixon Hire take delivery of larger Volvo excavators

Company bolsters its Volvo compact equipment fleet with eight 14-tonne and six 22-tonne machines

A DEMAND for larger 14- and 22-tonne excavators has prompted Nixon Hire to add eight Volvo EC140D and six EC220D models to their extensive hire fleet.

The addition of these larger models complements more than 180 Volvo compact excavators, ranging from 1.5 to 8.8 tonnes already supplied throughout 2014, bringing the total number of excavators in the Nixon Hire fleet to 506.

‘Historically, we have concentrated on compact excavators up to around 9 tonnes,’ explained Nixon Hire’s Mike Haskayne. ‘We found we were cross-hiring in the larger excavators to satisfy demand from our customers across our northern England and Scottish depot network, so the logical step was to go for all out purchase.

‘This decision is already proving to be worthwhile as the machines have been extremely popular with our customers and are out on hire already. The investment forms just part of the Nixon Hire capital expenditure programme for 2015, which, due to business growth and an upturn in market confidence, will see the largest fleet investment ever made by the company.

‘It’s important we continue to invest in our fleet to ensure our customers receive modern and reliable equipment which fulfils all necessary safety standards.’

The EC140D and EC220D are powered by Volvo four- and six-cylinder engines developing 114hp and 175hp respectively.

An advanced integrated work-mode control system provides high efficiency, rapid dig cycles and low fuel consumption, while ensuring that the maximum possible hydraulic horsepower available is delivered at a constant engine speed under varying load conditions. Hose rupture valves are fitted as standard to the boom and dipper cylinders, as are quick-fit hydraulics and a hammer/shear service.

Excellent all-round visibility is provided by the roomy Volvo Care Cab with its 14-vent climate-control system, while an adjustable, easy-to-read LCD colour monitor provides real-time information of machine functions, key diagnostic information and a wide variety of work-tool settings, as well as doubling as a monitor for the rear-view camera.

All 14 new machines have been supplied complete with full guarding around their superstructures, hydraulic quick-hitches and a full set of digging and grading buckets. They will be based strategically at Nixon Hire centres located in the north of England and in the Central Belt and north of Scotland.