To say that Tim Cooper (AKA Tim the Dig), proprietor of TG Cooper Contracting Ltd is as pleased as punch with his new Volvo ECR145E would be something of an understatement! The plant hire and landscaping contractor based at Beanacre near Melksham in Wiltshire is over the moon with his new machine as he takes delivery of the first 16 tonne reduced swing machine complete with a two piece boom in Great Britain.

Established 25 years ago Tim Cooper has developed his plant hire and landscaping business specialising in bespoke, prestige house and property developments with the help of Pel Job and Volvo equipment. “Originally I started out with another make of machine but  having then purchased a Pel Job compact excavator, that led me on to owning and operating Volvos,” explains Tim. “I would start out buying second hand, be that impressed that I’d then buy new. I did that with my EC15B and EC55B and I still run the EC55B today. I then bought a second hand fourteen tonne EC140B as a lot of the projects I was undertaking demanded the use of a bigger machine.”

“As the scope of my work got broader, about twelve months ago I decided I needed to consolidate the type and size of my excavators and look for something that ticked all of my particular boxes,” continues Tim. “I’d got a flavour of what I was looking for when I made the investment of adding a Steelwrist tiltrotator to my EC140B. This revolutionised a lot of my work on site but I still wanted more flexibility with the equipment.”

After some careful consideration Tim decided to order a Volvo ECR145E short swing radius machine complete with a two piece boom, swapping his Steelwrist tiltrotator and a comprehensive range of attachments from the old EC140B. “My only concern was the stability but since the machine has arrived I really cannot fault it at all. Even at full reach the machine is rock solid, the two piece boom arrangement gives a fantastic working envelope and the reduced swing characteristic of the machine is extremely beneficial getting into tight corners. The whole combination has taken much of what I do to another level,” continues Tim.

The new ECR145E belonging to TG Cooper has been further enhanced with the addition of a Novatron 2D machine control system which has been supplied and installed by AgCon (UK) Ltd. Using GPS technology, this system enables the machine operator to optimise the different phases in the earthworks process from the safety of his cab and eliminates the need for additional personnel setting out on site. “Again this was another investment but it will pay dividends in the long run. Apart from not having to engage additional personnel on job sites, it’s a positive health and safety feature which is appreciated by the contractors I hire into,” says Tim.

Powered by a four cylinder Volvo engine developing 121 nett hp the ECR145E offers the latest in engine technology and operating sophistication. For example pump flow is controlled for combined digging and swinging operations to reduce the flow loss through the overload relief valves, whilst maintaining digging power and maximum swing torque. When Eco mode is selected the machine provides better fuel efficiency without loss of performance in most operating conditions.

The Volvo Care Cab offers a large roomy interior with plenty of leg room and foot space. The excellent all round visibility is enhanced by pressurized and filtered cab air

supplied by a 14 vent, climate control system. An adjustable easy to read LCD colour monitor provides real time information of the machine functions, important diagnostic information and a wide variety of work tool settings. The monitor also doubles as a monitor for the rear view camera.

Opting for the two piece boom arrangement and intermediate 2.5 m dipper arm, gives a generous digging envelope with a forward reach of 8.6 metres, a dig depth of 5.6 meters and a maximum dump height of 7.1 metres. Monitoring of the machine’s vital functions and whereabouts is made easy thanks to Volvo’s CareTrack telematics system which is standard on ECR145E and Tim Cooper has the added peace of mind having taken out a Volvo Blue service agreement meaning his new machine will be regularly maintained and serviced by Volvo trained technicians using genuine Volvo parts.