Avondale Environmental Ltd of Polmont, Falkirk has opted for a Gold service agreement to support its latest acquisition – a Volvo EC220D.
The new twenty two tonne excavator has gone to work at the company’s Avondale landfill site undertaking a variety of duties which include handling incoming material, loading cover material into dumptrucks along with digging trenches for the installation of methane extraction pipes. “We have operated Volvo loading shovels and dumptrucks on the Avondale site but this our first Volvo excavator,” says Operations Manager David McCulloch. “And our chief reason for choosing it is down to the quality of the existing Volvo machines on site coupled to the high level of service we get from Volvo’s support centre at nearby Stirling,” he continues.
For complete peace of mind Avondale Environmental Ltd has opted to take out a Gold service agreement on the new EC220D which means Volvo Construction Equipment will take care of the total maintenance programme of the machine for a fixed monthly figure. In a nutshell the Volvo Gold service agreement ensures the machine is inspected and serviced at regular intervals, ensuring essential maintenance work is done at the right times using genuine Volvo parts and carried out by a Volvo trained technician. The agreement also covers all repairs to major components but excludes repairs due to site damage. This means that Avondale Environmental can make long-term financial plans and eliminate unexpected cost peaks especially when the machine has clocked up a significant number of machine hours.
The EC220D benefits from the use of Volvo’s Stage IIIB D6 engine, delivering 175hp (129kW) of power and 849Nm of torque, coupled to an improved hydraulic system with larger pumps which in turn significantly improves hourly fuel consumption with shorter cycle times. Operators can select the best work mode for the task at hand, ensuring optimum performance and fuel efficiency. Modes include: I-idle, F-fine, G-general, H-heavy or P-power, with the machine automatically setting the appropriate engine speed for the work mode and ECO mode is a new feature that works in G to H (or P) mode. Pump flow is controlled for combined digging and swinging operations to reduce the flow loss through the overload relief valves, while maintaining digging power and maximum swing torque. Eco mode provides better fuel efficiency without loss of performance in most operating conditions.
The new ‘smart’ hydraulics system is designed for high productivity, high digging capacity, easy manoeuvrability and class leading fuel economy. It features improvements that increase total flow and cycle times. Independent and simultaneous movements of the digging equipment are controlled by an ‘automatic sensing work mode’. It can also prioritize flow according to the work being done – e.g. to the boom for faster raising when loading or in deep excavations; to the arm during levelling or swing during large slewing angles.
Avondale Environmental, formed more than a decade ago, is one of Scotland’s most important waste management and renewable energy generation companies, working responsibly with both private and public sector customers. The site at Polmont, Falkirk in Central Scotland is home to one of Scotland’s largest landfills and landfill gas generation sites. The Company invest in, develop and support Scotland’s’ sustainability ambitions by harnessing the power of waste as a source of renewable energy.
