Quinn boost productivity with Renault Trucks

Company increases payloads and efficiencies with 5-axle Range Cs and 50-tonne Range K Xtrems

QUINN Building Products are driving productivity and efficiencies across their operation by specifying four 50-tonne Range K 8x4s and two 39-tonne Range C 10x4s from Renault Trucks, as part of an ongoing investment programme that will see their full fleet replenished over the next four years.

Supplied by Northern Ireland dealers Diamond Trucks, the four 13-litre, 50-tonne Range K480 Xtrem 8x4s, which feature Bennes Marrel tipping bodies and an Optidriver automated gearbox with Optibrake plus retarder, are on steel suspension throughout – three-leaf on the front and ultra-heavy-duty 11-leaf on the 32-tonne bogie. The 34-tonne payload allows each Range K to carry 6–8 tonnes more on every load.

The Range Ks are part of a fleet of 26 eight-wheelers that are used to transport 1.4 million tonnes of limestone rock and crushed stone from the company’s Swanlinbar Quarry, via an 11km long private road over the Slieve Rushen mountain, to Quinn’s Portland cement production plant at Ballyconnell, in Co. Cavan.

Following extensive research to find a road truck that could operate at 50 tonnes, Quinn Building Products’ transport manager, Gearoid Gilheany, identified the Range K480 Xtrem as the truck that met all his criteria.

‘This is all about productivity,’ he said. ‘We’re already running vehicles at 35–42 tonnes, and we wanted to move to 50-tonne road trucks. Most of the equipment on the Range K Xtrem is standard, and payload advantage is fantastic.’

Each truck runs across the mountain 12 to 14 times a day, which amounts to a daily increase in productivity of 100 tonnes per vehicle.

‘It’s very impressive,’ continued Mr Gilheany. ‘We will be replacing more of our fleet shortly, and the improved productivity of the Range Ks will allow us to reduce the number of vehicles to twenty.’

He added: ‘Although it’s early days, we’re pleased with the performance of the Range Ks. The Optidriver automated gearbox has been very well received by the drivers, and the trucks are working well on the challenging terrain, both in the quarry and over the mountain road. Fuel [economy] is impressive too.’

Meanwhile, transporting bagged cement and thermal blocks across Ireland for Quinn Cement and Quinn Lite, the company’s two new 39-tonne Range C380 10x4s provide the flexibility of five axles in the South whilst reverting to 32 tonnes when operating in Northern Ireland.

The trucks, with their fifth rear steerable lift axle, Thompson off-loader body and Palfinger PK 18001 L crane, are able to handle an increased payload of 4 tonnes over standard 32-tonners.

‘The payload difference on the Range C five axles gives us an additional 22.5% every load, which means improved productivity and fewer journeys,’ commented Mr Gilheany.

All maintenance work on Quinn Building Products’ total fleet of 150 trucks and 150 trailers is undertaken at the company’s in-house workshop.

Although located some 90 miles from both Belfast and Dublin, the company enjoys good back-up support from Renault Trucks, with Diamond Trucks holding impress parts for the Range Ks and Range Cs, as well as the existing Kerax trucks, available for same-day or next-day delivery.