BUILDING materials specialist Heidelberg Materials UK has worked with SMT on a project to extend the life of a Volvo L350F wheeled loader and boost the firm’s environmental credentials.
While the majority of Heidelberg’s emissions stem from the production of cement, a ‘small yet significant’ portion comes from the operation of quarrying equipment. The company has been scrutinising its fleet of heavy mobile equipment and crushers and planning how it should evolve over the next five years.
The ideal future fleet would consist entirely of zero-emission machines powered by electricity or hydrogen generated from renewable sources. However, transitioning to these technologies requires the development of considerable supporting infrastructures. In addition, many of the company’s diesel machines are described as ‘highly durable’ and have years of service life remaining.
To bridge the gap, Heidelberg Materials UK collaborated with Volvo dealer SMT to refurbish an older wheeled loader.
“Rebuilding existing machines is a sustainable practice,” explained Dominie Carver, a strategic account manager at SMT. “Rebuilds can extend machine life, recycle major components and significantly reduce carbon emissions. Refurbishing a used engine for continued use, for example, can save around 56% in CO₂ emissions, and a transmission of about 60%.”
Heidelberg Materials UK and SMT selected a 14-year-old Volvo L350F wheeled loader, which was used to load limestone into crushers at the Ribblesdale cement works in Clitheroe – one of Heidelberg’s three UK plants producing Portland cement. Despite the 21,341 operating hours on the clock, the machine’s condition indicated it could continue to operate reliably and productively with necessary repairs and upgrades.
The rebuild was carried out at SMT’s Newcastle depot, with lead engineer Michael Christer and welder Rhys Nixon assigned to oversee the project. The L350F was stripped back to the chassis, with new hydraulic pumps, hoses, steering systems and refurbished cylinders installed to factory standards.
Work included the replacement of the driveline components as well as full line boring and repair of the load frame and bucket, fully overhauled with strengthened wear plates. Upgrades also included new lighting and high-intensity decals for better visibility.
Enhancements to the cab included a refurbished seat, new floor mats, replacement headlining and an updated switchgear. The Comfort Drive Control system was also installed to reduce strain and stress.
“Despite the sheer size and power of the L350F, it’s so easy to operate,” added Andrew Graham, who operates the loader. “It’s just like being in an armchair at home. It’s got great visibility and, due to the large bucket size, we can reduce the number of trips to the crusher. This efficiency translates to better fuel economy and reduced tyre wear.”
The SMT rebuild process typically takes around 12 weeks, with machines selected based on national guidelines, service history, oil samples and component ageing. It also uses genuine Volvo parts, meaning the machine is covered by a 24-month warranty on major components.
“Collaboration with suppliers such as SMT is crucial for achieving Heidelberg Materials UK’s sustainability goals,” stated Elliot Wellbelove, carbon innovation manager at Heidelberg Materials UK. “We can rely on SMT to provide emissions reduction data for rebuilt machines, which is essential for calculating environmental benefits and integrating them into our data systems.”
Heidelberg Materials UK now plans to extend the rebuild programme to other sites across the UK.
