Chepstow Plant International grows their fleet with 99 new Volvos
Chepstow Plant International has signed a deal with SMT GB for the supply of 99 machines for its mineral, aggregates and earthmoving fleet. The deal sees CPI continuing to grow its fleet as it moves forward with sustainable, practical and safe machinery solutions for its customers throughout the UK
The assortment of machines includes twenty excavators ranging from the EC250E to the EC480E (25 – 50 tonnes); twenty wheeled loaders from the L120H up to and notably for the first time for CPI, the recently introduced 24 tonne, 5.6m³ capacity L260H and fifty-nine articulated haulers, of which nearly half are comprised of the ever popular A30G.
“Opting for premium brand equipment helps us and our customers in many ways,” explains John Corcoran, Managing Director of Chepstow Plant International. “Primarily, it benefits our firm through safety, uptime, fuel efficiency, residual value and image, and I’m pleased to say that Volvo equipment now accounts for in excess of 60% of our fleet.”
“With significant and continued growth along with new business opportunities presenting themselves, it’s vital we can rely on performance and service back-up, along with advances in machine telemetry and operating data,” says John. “To this end, we are at the vanguard, working proactively with SMT GB and Volvo Construction Equipment in helping to shape and enhance safety in our equipment.”
As an example, with the latest batch of Volvo articulated haulers, Chepstow Plant International has collaborated with SMT GB and Volvo CE in developing a means of recording the number of ‘fail tip’ situations that can potentially arise on site utilizing Volvo’s CareTrack telemetry capability.
All of the new articulated haulers are equipped with a Volvo designed inclinometer, while some will have an on-board weighing system and a proportion of the existing fleet will undergo retrofits. If the operator attempts to tip the load when the hauler is sitting at a 9º + lateral angle, the body will not raise and the attempted tip will register as a ‘fail tip’ or near miss occurrence. This is then recorded by CareTrack which will lead to subsequent investigation and corrective action being taken.
“The good news is that since we have been equipping our articulated haulers with this system we have witnessed a significant decrease in unsafe tipping,” continues John. “However, it’s dangerous to assume that by fitting this safety device the problem goes away. Part of the equation is supporting the use of said systems with rigorous and continued training to eliminate complacency, and again, we are at the forefront of providing training programmes for both our own, as well as our clients’ operators.”
Apart from safety, fuel burn and tonnes-per-litre moved are equally important issues for CPI’s customers and when it comes to re-handling materials, John Corcoran considers Volvo wheeled loaders with OptiShift, are among the leanest in the industry when it comes to fuel efficiency. And for material transport, he believes that Volvo’s articulated haulers are very much the preferred option.
“Volvo ADTs are hard to beat for operator comfort, durability and residual value,” he says. “And the latest G-series has an increasingly important role to play for our mineral and aggregates clients. When it comes to litres-per-tonne moved, there is little that comes close to the efficiency of a Volvo ADT.”
Chepstow Plant International Ltd is a privately owned business with over 40 years trading experience within the plant industry, resulting in unprecedented knowledge of both new and used equipment. Chepstow Plant International can offer expertise in both divisions: used plant equipment and plant hire and contracts, along with operator training. Within the Hire and Contracts division, equipment is supplied on a national basis, to provide all sectors of industry, including general earthworks, quarrying, operated and non-operated hire.
SMT GB markets Volvo Construction Equipment products which include wheeled loaders, articulated haulers, hydraulic excavators, Volvo utility equipment and Volvo road equipment products in Great Britain. There are eight strategically placed customer support centres, a dedicated National Used Equipment Centre and a network of utility equipment dealers to ensure high quality customer support is maintained throughout the country.
