AN Aberdeenshire-based contractor has added two new reduced swing Volvo ECR235Es and an ECR355E to its fleet.
Civil engineering and groundworks specialist Nicol of Skene has snapped up the 25-tonne ECR235Es equipped with Stage V 6-litre Volvo engines, and its ‘larger brother’, the ECR355E, which boasts an 8-litre Stage V Volvo unit, after a change of heart over the benefits of reduced swing diggers.
Chief executive Derek Nicol explained, “A few years back we tried a reduced swing machine, not a Volvo I hasten to add, and it was most unimpressive when it came to its overall stability and digging performance. That made us quite sceptical about the zero or reduced swing design concept, favouring conventional excavators for our plant fleet. That is until we took an ECR235E on hire for a specific job.
“The ECR235E has changed our opinion, with it demonstrating excellent stability, across the carriage, powerful digging attributes, operator comfort and, above all, general all-round safety.
“Originally, we were only going to buy one machine. However, after taking the stability, build quality and all-round specification of the machines into consideration, together with our desire to improve in all aspects of our safety and performance, we decided to take a pair of ECR235s and the larger 35-tonne ECR355E for the fleet.”
All three machines feature an advanced mode control system, said to ensure the maximum possible hydraulic horsepower available is delivered at a constant engine speed under varying load conditions. Both models of machine feature hammer/shear circuits, quick fit hydraulics and hose rupture valves fitted to both boom and dipper cylinders as standard.
