“It’s one of the best adverts Volvo ever had…”

So says owner operator Peter Horrocks as he bids adieu to his 13 year old EC140B and takes delivery of a brand new EC140E for his contracting business. 

Peter Horrocks, proprietor of PB Horrocks Contracting based at Barnoldswick Lancashire, has just purchased a brand new 14 tonne EC140E crawler excavator on the strength of the performance and reliability of the EC140B he operated since 2003. “Back then I was actually a machine operator for a plant hire business based in Colne who purchased the machine from Volvo. It then got sold to a housing development business in Clitheroe and I went with it until nine years ago when I decided to go on my own and was able to buy the machine for my own business,” explains Peter. “It really never put a foot wrong and even though I had new track assemblies fitted at 10000 hours, when I decided to sell it on a year later I got back what I originally paid for it. In truth it didn’t owe me a penny and I’d say it’s one of the best adverts Volvo ever had,” he continues.

And Peter is equally pleased with the new E version of the fourteen tonne machine. “I literally purchased the new machine based on my old machine’s performance and I’m very impressed with the latest features in the cab and the machine’s stability,” he says. As most of his contracting work is agricultural based working for farmers and land owners around Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales, Peter Horrocks has added the optional X3 rotation circuit to his machine in order to operate a selector grab and a crusher bucket. “Even on the farms the work can be quite varied so adding this option to the standard hydraulic features such as the hammer / shear circuit is a must.” The new machine has been enhanced further by adding extra LED working lights to the operator’s compartment and at the base of the boom for when operating in the hours of darkness. 

The EC140E is powered by four cylinder Volvo engines developing 122 nett hp and 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.

The EC140E is the optimal tool for Peter Horrocks’ typical contracts in terms of its size for transporting and its digging geometry. For instance the machine boasts a generous forward reach of 8.85 metres, a dig depth of just over 6.0 metres and a practical load over height of 6.3 metres when equipped with the standard 3.0m dipper arm. The machine also demonstrates excellent stability across carriage with a lifting capacity of 1860kg at full reach and at 1.5m above ground level.