James Penman Plant Hire of Kirkcaldy, Fife has acquainted itself once again with Volvo Construction Equipment by purchasing a new ECR235E reduced swing radius excavator for its plant hire and contracting fleet of equipment.
“We ran a smaller fourteen tonne EC140B some time ago and found the performance and reliability to be very good,” comments Managing Director James Penman.
“As we were in the market for a larger machine around the twenty tonne size class featuring a reduced swing radius we were quite taken with the look of the Volvo ECR235E,” he continues.
“So, considering the specification and lifting capacity of the machine, along with our previous experience of operating a Volvo we made the decision to buy one.
And so far the 25 tonne ECR235E has exceeded Mr Penman’s expectations. “We’re really impressed with the smooth control of the machine, the build quality and by no means least its excellent stability across carriage when lifting 3 tonne trench boxes,” he continues.
“The short swing characteristic is a must for a good proportion of work we undertake which involves maintaining roadside drainage working on busy carriageways. Having this weight of machine and a good lifting capacity across carriage with plenty of reach gives us a distinct advantage.”
The new ECR235E forms part of the investment made by James Penman Plant Hire when the company acquired Meiklem Drainage in September 2015.
James Penman Plant Hire has been in existence since it was established by the late James Penman senior back in 1975 and is very much a family run business now headed up by James and his two sisters employing 65 personnel.
The company has a long pedigree for providing general plant hire in Fife and across the Central Belt of Scotland and over time has expanded into civil engineering, agricultural contracting and now handles a portfolio of drainage contracts with last year’s acquisition of Meiklem Drainage.
The ECR235E is equipped with a Stage IV 6 litre Volvo engine producing 174 hp which operates in conjunction with an advanced mode control system ensuring the maximum possible hydraulic horsepower available is delivered at a constant engine speed under varying load conditions.
Equipped with a 5.7m monobloc boom and 2.9m dipper arm, the maximum reach is a generous 9.5 metres, dig depth meaures 6.75 metres and practical load over height equals 7.87 metres.
The lifting capacity across carriage at full reach is an impressive 3.1 tonnes and the all up operating weight is 25 tonnes.
Volvo Construction Equipment markets 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 and a network of utility equipment dealers to ensure high quality customer support is maintained throughout the country.
