Volvo L90H is the loading shovel of choice for Robins of Herstmonceux Chalk Pit
Robins of Herstmonceux, Hailsham, East Sussex has opted for a new Volvo L90H loading shovel which joins existing Volvo L90s at its Newtimber chalk pit located at Pyecombe on the outskirts of Brighton.
“We’ve been operating Volvo L90s since 1998 here at Newtimber chalk pit and have been extremely satisfied with their performance and reliability. They are the optimum size of loading shovel for our operations and are definitely our machine of choice,” says Quarry Manager, Gary Robins. “In fact, one of our older machines has clocked up around 15,000 trouble-free hours and is still in excellent running order – not just the powertrain, but the linkages on the loader frame and articulation joint are just as they were from new.”
The 15.6 tonne loading shovel is powered by a Volvo six-litre Stage-IV engine developing 188hp with a maximum torque achieved at just 1,400rpm, resulting in low fuel consumption with maximum efficiency thereby achieved at a relatively low rpm. The machine also benefits from Volvo designed and manufactured driveline components designed to offer considerable fuel savings each shift. Fuel savings are further enhanced by the Volvo Eco-pedal, encouraging the operator to run the machine at its optimum rpm in the engine’s torque curve.
“Opting for the L90H gives us the flexibility on site to load either our fleet of tippers or smaller loads onto private pickups and trailers, and having the benefit of the hydraulic attachment bracket means we can interchange buckets to suit the different applications around the pit,” continues Gary. “From a performance and an aftersales support perspective, Volvo wins hands down in my opinion and being around loading shovels for a long time, I’m very confident in saying that.”
Robins of Herstmonceux is very much a family run business which was established 56 years ago by Gary’s grandfather as a local haulage company. Today the company specialises in chalk extraction, recycled aggregates, earth moving and muck away supported by a fleet of 12 eight-wheeler tippers, and ten and seven tonne lorries.
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.
