Volvos a-plenty for Collins Earthworks

Collins Earthworks of Kirby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, has made a significant expansion to its fleet of predominantly badged Volvo equipment with thirty-eight machines since the start of this year and a further twelve units on order.

The mix of machines ranges across A30 and A40G articulated haulers and, of particular note, it is the first muck shifting company to take delivery of a brace of Volvo’s flagship hauler, the 55-tonne capacity A60H. A full range of excavators has also been supplied ranging from 1.5 tonnes up to 75 tonnes capacity, with a third EC750E on order.

The machines have been ordered to keep pace with the muck shifting programme taking place at the East Midlands Gateway close to Junction 24 on the M1. With already 2.2 million cubic metres of material moved in 2017 to prepare for a large rail freight and container terminal, the company is about mid-way through the remainder of the six million cube project.

“We’re really pleased with the way this project is unfolding,” comments, Managing Director, David Collins. “It’s a massive undertaking and the fact that the eleven planned industrial units are selling way before completion is really encouraging. It’s putting us under the spotlight to maintain our cut –and-fill and soil stabilization programme to bring the individual plots in on time for the structural work to take place. But we are in good shape and everything is extremely positive.”

Apart from equipment not manufactured by Volvo, everything in the Collins arsenal is a Volvo and besides the 29 articulated haulers they have two EC750Es, three EC700C and an EC480E acting as the prime movers, along with four EC220Es and an EC300E on various duties around the site. To keep pace with this monster project and other muck shifting project in the pipeline, Collins Earthworks has a further EC300E, EC380E and an EC480E on order together with eight more A30G articulated haulers. They have even purchased another secondhand EC700C, making them the largest fleet user of some fifteen EC700 and EC750’s in the country.

“The residual value is one thing which is very positive, but it’s the overall reliability and performance of the machines and, this isn’t a cliché, but all of our operators prefer sitting in a Volvo as opposed to anything else. We took delivery of the very first EC750E to be delivered in Great Britain and that machine has since clocked up 4,000 hours in its first two years and hasn’t put a foot wrong - this speaks volumes.”

And Collins Earthworks is the first muck shifting contractor to take a brace of the flagship A60H articulated hauler. With an industry-leading 55-tonne (60 ton) payload, the A60H brings a new dimension to reducing the cost per tonne of material moved using tried and tested frame and powertrain designs with the emphasis on fuel efficiency. The A60H is powered by a 16-litre Volvo engine, delivering 495 kW and 3200Nm of torque and has a maximum speed of 54.9kph. It shares the same features and benefits in terms of design and overall layout as its smaller brothers in the Volvo articulated hauler range.

With the A60H, valuable data is on hand to improve onsite efficiency and save costs. With intelligent systems from Volvo, such as MATRIS™, CareTrack™ and the On Board Weighing system, customers can optimize production and minimize operational costs. Volvo uses the latest technology to monitor machine operation and status, advising on the best ways to increase profitability. The On Board Weighing System guarantees the optimal load every cycle. This maximizes production, boosts fuel efficiency and reduces machine wear in all site conditions and operations.

The ground breaking A60H features the latest innovations from Volvo. With matched drivetrain, automatic drive combinations, including 100% differential locks, all terrain bogie, hydro mechanical steering and active suspension, this machine is unbeatable. Fitted with an active hydraulic front suspension for higher hauling speeds in tough conditions, the A60H optimizes operator comfort and stability during travel, allowing more material to be moved in a shorter time for unmatched productivity. The A60H’s dump support system, Hill Assist and load and dump brake, all help the operator to stay in control at all times, for extra productivity and safety.

Based in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Collins Earthworks Ltd is ideally placed to cover contracts the length and breadth of Great Britain specialising in muck shifting, aggregates, demolition, civil engineering and general haulage with a fleet of Volvo powered tipper trucks and low loaders. The company has recently announced that it has been named as Nottinghamshire’s fastest growing business for the second consecutive year and has come in at sixth place overall in terms of employment growth, according to The East Midlands Top 200 2018 List.

This list is compiled using the most recent publicly available accounts of companies that are run and managed from the East Midlands, highlighting the regions 200 fastest growing companies on the basis of profit growth and was published on May 9 2018 by the regional office of business and financial advisers Grant Thornton UK in partnership with the CBI.

Furthermore, Collins Earthworks Ltd has been identified as one of London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain. The report is a celebration of the UK’s fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium sized businesses across the UK. The company has also picked up a prestigious RoSPA Gold award in recognition of its practices and achievements in helping its staff get home safely at the end of the working day and will be presented with the award during a ceremony in July 2018.

SMT GB markets Volvo Construction Equipment products which include wheeled loaders, articulated haulers, hydraulic excavators, Volvo utility equipment and Volvo road equipment products in Great Britain. There are eight strategically placed customer support centres, a dedicated National Used Equipment Centre and a network of utility equipment dealers to ensure high quality customer support is maintained throughout the country.

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