JAMES Jones & Sons has taken delivery of new new Volvo loading shovels to assist with the firm’s log handling activities.
An L110H has been deployed at the Mosstodloch mill in Moray, while the larger L120H is in operation at the company’s Lockerbie yard, both replacing competitive makes of machine.
Log yard manager Iain Gale said, “We have operated Volvos at our Mosstodloch site for some time and quite aware of their abilities, but it’s been some 15 years since we ran them here at Lockerbie. An opportunity arose to introduce an alternative make of machine into our Lockerbie operation, and here we opted for the larger L120H.
“There were several reasons for choosing the Volvos, these being a competitive package, sound third party references but the absolute key was the fact that Volvo offer external axle cooling as an option, and this really clinched the decision. The machines work at speed across the concrete pad, handling in excess of some 2000 tonnes of logs per day. So having this option is essential in avoiding axle and brake failures, which we experienced with the previous (competitor) models.”
The TP loader linkage system on Volvo wheeled loaders has been described as lending itself ‘perfectly’ for log handling applications due to a high degree of breakout torque when crowding. This is due to the crowd ram pushing on the positive side of the cylinder rather than pulling on it. The breakout torque on the L150H is 347KNm.
Iain added, “It’s all about the weight and length of the logs in the log grabs, and the daily production activity. In essence, we handle five tonne of logs in the grabs at Mosstodloch whilst, here at Lockerbie, we handle a greater volume of longer logs, weighing between five to five and a half tonnes in weight and the L120H gives greater stability when the logs are 4.8m long. So for both yards, the machines we chose in the L110 and L120 are correctly sized and specified in our opinion.”
Both models are powered by a Stage V Volvo eight litre engine developing 190 and 276 nett hp respectively. Features specified by James Jones & Sons include: the optional single lever cinematic control, the external axle cooling option and a safety feature installed in the cab that alerts the operator to personnel, wearing an appropriate tag, who might be standing or walking in the vicinity of the machine.
