Plant hire firm forecasts fuel-efficiency savings with new JCB fleet
AMD Contract Services to save £10,000 a year on fuel costs following purchase of new JCB excavators
A SCOTTISH plant hirer and contractor is expected to save thousands of pounds per machine after adding eight fuel-saving JCB tracked excavators to its fleet. Dumfries-based AMD Contract Services have purchased JS130, JS145, JS220 and JS290 tracked excavator models as they expand their plant holding.
The machines are already in use on a range of construction, groundworks and forestry projects, including a major wind farm construction project in the Scottish Borders for Galeforce.
Impressed by the fuel efficiency, AWD Contract Services have carried out a direct comparison between the new JS220, powered by a T4i-compliant JCB Ecomax engine, and an existing 2010 machine. On exactly the same heavy-duty application, the new excavator used 6 litres/h less fuel than the older machine – a trend now seen right across the company’s fleet.
AMD Contracts Services director Fraser Dykes said: ‘The fuel economy on the new machines is impressive – up to six litres per hour when compared to previous models. We are saving approximately £4 per machine per hour. For our contracts division, which could typically complete 2,500 hours per annum, that’s a saving on fuel of £10,000 in a year. It’s also a great sales message for our plant hire business that customers could save so much on fuel when they select machines from us.’
Powered by the Ecomax 4.8-litre diesel engine, the JCB JS220 delivers 129kW (172hp) and is equipped with 2,000 bar common-rail fuel injection, a variable-geometry turbocharger and full electronic engine control, resulting in a 10% reduction in fuel consumption and improved engine responsiveness. As with all JCB Ecomax engines, the clean-burn technology means there is no requirement for a costly and bulky diesel particulate filter (DPF).
Mr Dykes said: ‘We are equally impressed with JCB LiveLink system which allows us to monitor fuel consumption as well as every other aspect of our fleet’s performance. It makes a massive difference to our ability to make informed decisions and run the business more efficiently. It has even helped us resolve disputes over machine use when on hire in remote areas of Scotland.’
AMD Contract Services have been a JCB customer for 45 years. In addition to the latest models, the business runs an extensive fleet of JCB backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers and articulated dumptrucks.
