Volvo flagship excavator makes UK debut
Breedon Aggregates take delivery of a new Volvo EC700C excavator for their sand and gravel operation at Norton Bottoms Quarry
A NEW Volvo EC700C excavator equipped with bespoke long-reach digging equipment has been delivered to Breedon Aggregates for their newly acquired sand and gravel operation at Norton Bottoms Quarry, near Newark, Nottinghamshire.
Having bought the sand and gravel pit and concrete batching and distribution business of C&G Concrete in July 2011, the need to improve the output at the quarry with a new long-reach prime mover was identified by Breedon. ‘The Norton Bottoms operation is a critical piece of the jigsaw in supplying the other newly-acquired batching plants and it became immediately clear that a larger capacity machine was required,’ said operations manager Carl Ashurst.
Following evaluation of the marketplace, Breedon Aggregates opted for Volvo’s flagship excavator – the EC700C. Mr Ashurst explained: ‘The overall package on offer from Volvo and the specification of the EC700C, including the attention to detail with regard to on-board safety features and a highly acceptable operator environment, tipped the scales in Volvo’s favour.’
Replacing a Akerman EC650, the new EC700C has been supplied with a bespoke 20m digging rig designed and manufactured by Messrs Kokurek of Ipswich, complete with additional counterweight and a 1.6 cubic metre digging bucket. While the majority of sand and gravel extraction is above the water table, the bucket pins and bushes have been sealed with protective caps to prevent the ingress of dirt, water and sand.
Working on bench heights averaging between 7 and 9 metres, the machine still has plenty of reach and added capacity to keep the field hopper at maximum capacity – the quarry aiming to increase annual production from around 300,000 to 400,000 tonnes each year.
Health and safety is of paramount importance to Breedon and the EC700C has been supplied with robust safety rails around its superstructure, while a bespoke hydraulically retractable ladder has been installed for safe and easy access to the cab for the operator. The ladder is retracted as soon as the hydraulic control lock out in the cab is activated yet the machine’s hydraulic system remains inactive until it is raised completely to the stowed position.
The excavator is powered by a Volvo 16-litre Tier III V-ACT engine developing 430hp, which operates in conjunction with an advanced mode control system ensuring the maximum possible hydraulic horsepower is delivered at a constant engine speed under varying load conditions. A maximum torque of 2,250Nm is achieved at just 1,275 rev/min and this, in conjunction with the machine’s advanced hydraulic system, ensures maximum fuel efficiency is delivered through every work cycle.
