JJ Groundworks adds more Volvo excavators to the fleet

Fri 12 May 2017

JJ Groundworks adds more Volvo excavators to the 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. “With the increase in the volume of contracts throughout 2016 and well into the new year we needed to add as well as replace some of our older machines in the fleet. Based on our positive experience of operating Volvo machines, their reliability and high residual values when it’s time to trade, we decided to stick with what we know,” he continues.

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. In particular, the ECR145E is certainly a well-balanced machine and extremely stable - even handling larger buckets across carriage.

Support for the machines in terms of service and parts availability was another important factor for JJ Groundworks’ decision to opt again for Volvo. “Not that we’ve had any serious problems with any of the machines but when it’s needed, the service support when we need it from Volvo and Capital Plant Solutions is second to none,” says Ben.

The new arrival joins a mix of eight excavators ranging from 1.5 tonnes up to 18 tonnes in operating weight which are highly specified featuring Miller twin lock quick hitches and Scoop buckets. The company has also fabricated bespoke tool boxes which are mounted on the front of the cabs and has added side mounted scratch plates in stainless checker plate to protect the machine superstructures. From its base in Buckingham JJ Groundworks is ideally positioned to undertake contracts across the northern Home Counties concentrating in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire. 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.

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