Excavators & Ground Clearance


Volvo ECR50D lifts Francis Homes into the premier league Francis Homes, the Solihull-based developer of exclusive and luxurious family homes, has just bought its first excavator - a Volvo ECR50D, supplied by SM Plant Sales The new excavator purchase represents the company’s first step towards


expanding its house building operation, as it looks at taking more control of operating costs and make greater use of its own resources. Francis Homes is run by former professional footballer Trevor Francis, in


partnership with his eldest son Matthew. While the business has been growing, its heavy machinery needs have been met


through hiring. But the progression of the business to a ‘premier league’ housing developer has enabled the father-and-son team to invest in their first excavator. “Having our own midi-excavator permanently on site means we can take


advantage of its capabilities without having to consider short-term hire costs,” explained Matthew. “Its compact size means it will be easier to move between sites than a larger


machine, and it has enough power to pull footings and carry out other odd jobs on site.” The ECR50D, Volvo’s first true five-tonne excavator, packs extra weight and


brings a longer under carriage, offering better stability which means a 1.8m ‘long’ dipper arm becomes standard fitment. The short radius machine will make it easy for the business to work in confined


spaces, while its powerful blade will be useful for tidying up on site. “We do see Volvo as a premium brand and its values fit with our company ethos


which includes using the best to deliver the best.” Supplied with four buckets and equipped with a hydraulic quick-coupler, Francis


Homes’ ECR50D will be used for footings, grading, landscaping and general duties on site. SM Plant Ltd is Volvo Construction Equipment’s utility dealer covering the


Midlands and central southern England and is headquartered in Rugby, Warwickshire.


JJ Groundworks adds more Volvo


excavators to the fleet Having taken delivery of the first EC160E to be sold in Great Britain twelve months ago, JJ Groundworks of Buckingham has added a further five new Volvos as both replacement and additional machines to its plant fleet. JJ Groundworks is owned by Jack and Ben Radford, a father and son


partnership which was established in 2001 specialising in all types of groundworks activities. This includes drainage, ground infrastructure including sewer work, footings for domestic and commercial properties, landscaping and finishing jobs. The company also undertakes bespoke house building projects and major house extensions in the private sector. “We’ve been really impressed with the performance of the EC160E since it


replaced our six year old C model and in particular the fuel consumption has dropped by an impressive 18% making it very efficient indeed,” comments Bed Radford. The additional machines that JJ Groundworks has purchased are a reduced


swing 121hp ECR145E weighing in at 15 tonnes, two reduced swing 9 tonne ECR88Ds which replace two older units , a new 6 tonne zero swing ECR58D and the latest 3.5 tonne zero swing machine in the guise of an ECR35D. Whilst Ben utilises the EC160E to carry out the bigger bulk muck-shifting


duties on site he has favoured going for the reduced swing, or zero swing option for the smaller machines. “The compactness of the machines means we can get into very tight spaces to dig foundations, lay sewer pipes, utilities and other services which is becoming especially important on many of the smaller building plots we get to work on,” continues Ben. “The Volvo machines are well built, are smooth to operate and in my opinion are a best buy all round. Capital Plant Solutions (GB) Ltd based at Cole Green Hertford, is Volvo


Construction Equipment’s appointed utility equipment dealer for North London, Middlesex, Essex, Herts, Bucks, Beds and Cambridgeshire and is headed up by husband and wife team Iain and Ursula Johnson. Capital Plant Solutions has supplied the two ECR88Ds, ECR58D and ECR35D to JJ Groundworks.


22 ToolBUSINESS+HIRE www.toolbusiness.co.uk


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