Acorn Hire of Staplehurst, Kent has broken with tradition and purchased a quintet of Volvo compact excavators from Volvo CE's utility dealer - the Glosrose Group.
"We liked the look of the Volvo range of equipment and were in the market to replace some of our older equipment," explains proprietor Andy Glenie. Having made contact with Volvo's local utility dealer, a demonstration of both the EC27C and ECR25D was arranged.
"In fact we asked one of our most important clients to make an objective appraisal of the machines on our behalf and we got a very positive thumbs-up straight away," continues Andy. And as a result of that, together with a competitive package on offer, an order was placed for four conventional EC27C's and an ECR25D zero swing variant.
The new arrivals are part of a continuing investment plan in Mr Glenie's plant and tool hire business and join a mix of small plant available for non-operated hire including site dumpers up to 3 tonnes, walk behind rollers, access platforms as well as a comprehensive range of scaffold towers.
Andy Glenie, who started his career as a builder by trade established Acorn Hire in 2006.
Twenty three years ago, a serious accident pursing his passion for grass track racing left him paralysed. "As a result, I started out helping my Dad refurbish houses and then bought a beaten-up old Pel Job mini excavator and started hiring it out. The business took off from there and we officially set up Acorn Hire ten years ago and haven't looked back since," he says. Very much a family business Acorn Hire employs a complement of five personnel taking care of the hire desk, deliveries and collections, plant and tool maintenance and a consumables shop servicing the whole of Kent and East Sussex.
The ECR25D is the smallest zero swing model in the Volvo compact excavator range and is powered by a 1.1 litre low emission engine developing 21hp. With an operating weight of 2.5 tonnes the ECR25D is available with a choice of short or long dipper arm giving a reach of either 4.48 metres or 4.77meters and a dig depth measuring from 2.67 metres to a generous 2.96 metres. The zero swing excavator design provides exceptional stability which can slew within the width of its tracks and is therefore ideal for working in close proximity to walls and fences. The 2.7 tonne and slightly larger conventional Volvo EC27C is powered by a Volvo 1.6 litre low emission Stage III engine.
Both models feature simultaneous control of slew and offset movements provides faster, more precise performance and all hydraulic functions are performed in total independence for more control and less delay when handling multiple tasks. An added bonus is the ability to operate the wide range of hydraulic attachments using proportional control if required.
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.
Glosrose Construction Equipment, part of the Glosrose Group based just off the M20 near Maidstone in Kent is Volvo Construction Equipment's utility dealer covering Kent, Sussex, Surrey and South London.
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.
