Shorts Group refreshes its compact fleet

Ascot based Shorts Group Ltd has taken delivery of fifteen Volvo EC18C and nine EC27C compact excavators as replacements and additions to its compact excavator fleet.

The new additions to Shorts plant hire fleet replace a proportion of five year old Volvo EC15B and EC25B’s which according to Shorts’ plant depot manager Jason Southam have served the company well and kept their integrity as far as reliability and overall product quality are concerned.
“We felt the time was right to refresh our fleet of 1.5 and 3 tonne excavators and settled on the Volvo offering once again thanks to the outstanding service the outgoing machines have given us coupled to a competitive package and the residual values,” he said.
“These new machines are both a replacement and an increment to our fleet in order to satisfy current and future demands,” he continued.

The Volvo 1.8 tonne EC18C compact excavator was selected for the additional benefits it brings to the Shorts Group when hiring to end users — specifically the two speed automatic travel motors, load sensing hydraulics and hydraulically extendable undercarriage. The machine is powered by a 12.3Kw (16.8hp) engine, being one of four ranging between 1.5 and 2.0 tonnes 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 the machine delivers the performance in the range of the previous Volvo EC30 — yet with a compact design reminiscent of the smaller EC25. The conventional excavator design provides exceptional stability along with minimal superstructure swing. Simultaneous control of slew and offset movements provides faster, more precise performance due to the right joystick control lever that features an electronically proportional roller. This allows the operator to accurately adjust hydraulic flow as needed.

All hydraulic functions are performed in total independence 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. Another feature for increased efficiency is the standard auto-idling system that lowers engine speed to idle if a control is not used for five seconds. The engine reverts to the pre-selected speed almost instantly when any control is moved. This system delivers lower fuel consumption, longer engine life and less environmental noise.

The EC27C features Volvo’s industry-leading comfortable cab for less fatigue and more production. The ergonomically-designed cab offers greater leg and foot room, making it one of the most spacious in its category. The floating dozer blade is another plus for the Shorts Group since a large majority of their customers who hire this size of machine are landscapers who will find this feature of immense benefit for ground profiling.

All twenty four machines have been supplied with the Cesar P1 identification system and Enigma skyline P2 immobiliser package to maximise the safe guarding against theft and to help bring down the cost of insurance premiums for end users. They follow two Volvo DD24 tandem rollers that were supplied to Shorts Group last October.

Shorts Plant Hire is a division of Shorts Group Ltd, a long established independent family run business who besides operating their self drive rental operation offer a full and comprehensive service to plant hire in general, agricultural contracting, demolition, skip hire and waste management. Headquartered in Ascot, Berkshire, the company provides its comprehensive services throughout Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and the surrounding counties.

Volvo Construction Equipment Division markets wheeled loaders, articulated haulers, hydraulic excavators, graders, Volvo utility and road machinery products in the U.K. There are eight strategically placed customer support centres and a network of utility compact equipment dealers to ensure high quality customer support is maintained throughout Great Britain.

www.volvoce.co.uk