The Hull-based Ashcourt Group has added a further eight machines to its growing plant fleet from Volvo Construction Equipment. In total the company has now purchased no less than 27 Volvo’s since October 2013.
This latest package of machines is a mix of loading shovels and crawler excavators ranging from 15 to 38 tonnes and all are incremental to the Ashcourt fleet. These include a D and an E series reduced swing ECR145 – the latter equipped with a Steelwrist Tilt rotator, a twenty two tonne EC220E, two 30tonne EC300E’s and a 38 tonne EC380E. All of the new excavators will be deployed on both existing internal and external contracts currently being undertaken as well as new projects to be started by the Ashcourt Group.
The two loading shovels – namely a 9 tonne Volvo L50G and the larger Tier IV final L120H have been purchased specifically to take charge of a new recycling facility and concrete batching plant located in Hull, recently acquired as a new venture and an important addition to the Ashcourt Group’s portfolio.
The L50G complete with hydraulic quick fit and 2.5m³ materials handling bucket is fully occupied running the concrete batching plant loading sands and ballast material into the various hoppers and bins. The machine is fitted with optional boom suspension to maximise load retention and an RDS Loadmaster 8000 weighing system. The larger 20 tonne L120H powered by a Volvo Tier IV final 8 litre engine developing 276 hp becomes the prime mover at the newly acquired recycling facility handling a wide range of inert materials. Equipped with a quick fit 3.8m³ rehandling bucket, the new L120H also benefits from the optional boom suspension system to aid maximum load retention on load and carry duties. The machine is deployed sorting and handling incoming materials, rehandling crushed product and loading material out onto both Ashcourt’s fleet of predominantly run Volvo FMX tippers as well as external contractors vehicles.
Commenting on the recent arrivals, Ashcourt’s Plant Manager Andy Nicholson said, “Since purchasing our first Volvo machines two years ago we’ve been impressed with the overall quality of the product, their reliability and fuel efficiency. Our operators certainly appreciate the cab comfort and the way the machines perform.” And Mr Nicholson’s sentiments apply to the complete mix of machines that have so far been purchased by Ashcourt which includes not just the excavators and loading shovels but articulated haulers and a soil compactor as well. “It’s not just the machines themselves, we are absolutely delighted with the level of after sales support we get from Volvo and in particular, Luke Powell their local mobile engineer who goes the extra mile to assist us when it’s needed,” continues Andy.
The Ashcourt Group has a range of operating divisions, from constructing purpose-built luxury student accommodation through to new build housing and civil engineering projects. This led to a demand for quality aggregates that saw Ashcourt purchase two quarry operations in Yorkshire last year and just recently the acquisition of a concrete batching plant and an inert materials recycling facility. In addition, the Company has a growing transport fleet that includes Volvo FH low loaders and Volvo FMX eight-wheeler tippers.
