Suttle went for a Volvo L180H, based on the more than satisfactory performance of its other Volvo machines over the years across its three operating sites. It becomes the largest Volvo shovel in the company’s fleet of seven machines.

Suttle went out to tender for new machinery for Swanworth quarry where it has also invested in a new crushing and screening plant for the site.

“The package on offer from Volvo was very competitive, so it wasn’t a difficult decision to choose the L180H based upon our past experience when it comes to performance and reliability,” said plant manager Jimmy James.

“Having run Volvo machines for many years now they are a firm favourite with our operators in regard to comfort, good visibility and user friendliness,” he adds.

Duties on site include stock rehandling, cleaning up around the belts and screens, loading out stone lorries with occasional work at the face. So the L180H has been fitted with a 4.4m³ straight lipped bucket complete with teeth and segments, Volvo’s optional ride control or boom suspension system together with Bridgestone 26.5 x 25 VSDT L5 tyres. The machine thus configured has a generous load-over height of 3.0 metres, a full turn tipping load of 20.7 tonnes and a break out force of 225kN.

 

 

The Suttles group has been part of the local stone industry in the Isle of Purbeck since the 1930s as stone merchants and quarry owners. Swanworth quarry is in Worth Matravers, near Corfe Castle and Lulworth Cove. Suttle also set up a sheet piling division in 2008.Besides its seven Volvo loading shovels the company runs a fleet of 16 Volvo tipper lorries, while Suttle Projects has pile drivers, augers and a couple of Doosan excavators – a DX140LC-3 and a DX255LC-3. (See previous news report here.)