Volvo D Series first for Wooldridge Demolition

Bagshot, Surrey-based contractor Wooldridge Demolition is the first UK contractor to take delivery of a D Series Volvo high reach demolition excavator in the shape of a EC480D, which has been supplied with a three piece demolition front supplied by Ipswich-based Kocurek to replace a EC460B machine. At the same time, Wooldridge also took delivery of a demolition specification EC360C machine, which will be used for secondary demolition applications.

The Kocurek front on the EC480 gives the machine a maximum pin height of 26 m (85 ft) with a forward reach of 14 m (50 ft) and a maximum tool weight of 2.5 tonnes. The machine is also fitted with a Kocurek-designed hydraulic modular joint to allow rapid boom changes, allowing the machine to carry its high reach rig, a straight boom or a standard backacter for digging duties.

Power comes from a Stage IIIB compliant Volvo V-Act 13 litre diesel developing 260 kW (348 hp) that is matched to the carrier's automatic load sensing mode hydraulic system. Standard features in high reach configuration include a tilting cab, heavy duty belly plates, Volvo's Side Impact Protection system (SIPS), five tonnes of additional counterweight, double thickness side panel doors and an X3 grab rotation hydraulic system that is additional to the standard hammer shear hydraulic system. With all these additions, Wooldridge's EC480D now weighs 60.2 tonnes, excluding tool.