Britain and was number 98 in the production run,” says Gary.
“It has clocked up 13,800 hours to date, and the only thing I’ve had to replace is a fuel pump – everything else is original!” Needless to say, Gary has no intention of moving the machine on. “There’s nothing wrong with it, and it doesn’t owe us anything, so what’s not to love?” he asks.
Gary isn’t the only member of the family who is machine proud! Jason Pope (Gary’s son) has been operating excavators since before he should have and now has the responsibility of operating the company’s largest machine – an EC250E. The machine was purchased back in 2015, replacing an ageing EC240B, and has since clocked up 5,600 hours. To look at the condition of Jason’s machine, you would be forgiven for thinking it was brand new. It is immaculate in all aspects, and the cab is maintained to showroom condition. Elsewhere, long-standing employee Mike Thompson swears by his ECR145E. “I’ve had this now for about a year, and it does everything I want it to,” says Mike. ”It’s well balanced and has plenty of digging power – I cannot fault it in any way.”
In all, J D Pope & Sons Ltd own and operate six Volvo excavators. All are covered by an SMT LEVEL 2 service agreement, whereby the machines will be maintained by highly trained and qualified SMT Engineers, using genuine Volvo parts at the correct service intervals. From its base located at Highbridge, Somerset, the company is active across the south-west of England working on contracts for the local water authorities, pipeline and drainage contracts, general civil engineering and muck shifting projects. ■
CONTINUED OVERLEAF a The cab is maintained to showroom condition
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