The order comprises fifteen EC18C and nine EC27C machines, replacing a proportion of five-year-old Volvo EC15Bs and EC25Bs.
They follow two Volvo DD24 tandem rollers that were supplied to Shorts Group last October.
All 24 of the new machines have been supplied with the Cesar P1 identification system and Enigma skyline P2 immobiliser package.
Shorts’ plant depot manager Jason Southam said: “We felt the time was right to refresh our fleet of 1.5t and 3t excavators and settled on the Volvo offering once again thanks to the outstanding service the outgoing machines have given us, coupled with a competitive package and the residual values. These new machines are both a replacement and an increment to our fleet in order to satisfy current and future demands.”
Features of the 1.8t EC18C that attracted Shorts include the two-speed automatic travel motors, load sensing hydraulics and hydraulically extendable undercarriage. The machine is powered by a 12.3Kw (16.8hp) engine and is a direct replacement for the EC15B XTV model. One significant change on the new models is that hydraulic hoses for the digging equipment are now routed through the boom and cylinders are top mounted to minimize on site damage.
The relatively new EC27C replaces the previous EC25 and EC30 models. Powered by a Volvo 1.6 litre low-emission Tier III engine, this machine delivers the performance in the range of the previous Volvo EC30 but is as compact as the smaller EC25. Simultaneous control of slew and offset movements provides faster, more precise performance, according to Volvo, due to an electronically proportional roller on the right joystick.
All hydraulic functions are performed independently for more control and less delay when handling multiple tasks. An automatic two-speed travel system engages when operating in high speed mode, automatically shifting gear from high to low according to the travel load. A standard auto-idling system lowers engine speed to idle if a control is not used for five seconds. The engine reverts to the pre-selected speed when any control is moved. This system is designed to reduce fuel consumption and noise, and increase engine life.
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