A Dumbarton-based quarry has made its first move to the Volvo brand, having recently taken delivery of a pair of L180H wheel loaders.
Thompson Quarries, a division of William Thompson & Son (Dumbarton) opted for the machines to carry out activities at the Sheephill Quarry.
The two machines have been equipped with heavy-duty L5 tyres and 6.0m3 rehandling buckets. One is equipped with a straight edge for rehandling material at the wash plant, while the other is kitted out with teeth for working at the quarry face, where it is dealing with hard whinstone basalt.
The 25-tonne L180H wheel loader is powered by a 13-litre stage-IV final engine, which develops 334hp in a range between 1,300 and 1,400 rpm. The machine, complete with large capacity rehandling bucket, offers a full turn tip load of 17.3 tonnes.
The wheel loaders feature Volvo’s Co-pilot load assist option, which the manufacturer describes as “the very latest in weigh loading sophistication”. This option allows the operators to calibrate either the bucket or block handling forks via a touchscreen pad in the cab. The touchscreen automatically becomes a rear view screen when the machine is put into reverse.
The Co-pilot system is linked with Volvo’s telematics system, Care Track, which can feed back information to a remote location.
Managing director, Andrew Thompson said moving to the Volvo brand had been “a great experience so far”. He explained, “Our operators certainly appreciate the comfort and responsiveness of the machines which already are proving to be the optimum sized shovels for our operations at Sheephill Quarry, returning high productivity with good fuel economy.”
Established in 1946, William Thompson & Son is a fourth generation family quarrying business serving all of Glasgow. Besides its quarrying activities, the firm provides additional services including recycled aggregates, crushing, landfill and recycling, concrete and ready mix, as well as plant hire and general haulage.
