Volvo Excavators Drive Efficiency in British Park Development Projects_News

Volvo Excavators Drive Efficiency in British Park Development Projects

Time： 2025-06-10

Volvo EC950F Excavator Powers UK's Largest Park Construction Breakthrough

Derbyshire-based Collins Earth Engineering has taken delivery of the UK’s first Volvo EC950F—the 104-tonne flagship of Volvo CE’s excavator range—deploying it alongside a fleet of nine 60-tonne A60H articulated haulers, four A40s, and three A30s at the Mercia Park project in Leicestershire. The machine’s arrival marks a pivotal upgrade from Collins’ existing EC750 fleet, enabling the company to achieve unprecedented earthmoving efficiency.

volvo-excavator

Productivity Leap: 100,000 m³/Week Efficiency

"After the EC750 delivered exceptional performance on prior projects, the EC950F has elevated our productivity by 200%," stated Wayne Naylor, Contract Manager at Collins Earthworks. The machine’s debut coincided with a milestone: moving 100,000 cubic meters of material within the project’s second week, achieved with 33% fewer vehicles than Collins’ East Midlands Portal (EMG) project.

Load Cycle Optimization:
The EC950F’s 6.75 m³ bucket fills an A60H hauler in just 4 passes—20% fewer than the EC750’s 5-6 cycles—completing each loading sequence in 45-50 seconds with a 60-62 tonne payload.
Fleet Rationalization:
16 total trucks now replace the 24 previously used, cutting operator requirements and equipment overhead.

Engineering for Heavy-Duty Performance

Collins specified the EC950F with:

7.25m Boom with Float Function: Enables precise silt discharge per project requirements
2.95m Mass Excavation Arm: Generates 43 tonnes of breakout force for dense materials
Life-Sealed Floating Pins: Extend bucket component life in abrasive conditions
Automatic Lubrication System: Reduces maintenance downtime on critical pivot points

A 14.5-tonne hydraulic removable counterweight, paired with a custom low-loader bracket, allows the machine to transition from 3.55m working width to 2.79m transport width—streamlining inter-site mobility.

Operator Perspective: Power Meets Agility

"Having logged thousands of hours on the EC750, the EC950F’s speed is revolutionary," said operator Mark Oakley. "Despite its 104-tonne mass, the machine feels incredibly agile—its balance keeps it stable even with a fully loaded bucket. The hydraulic system responds instantly, making light work of what used to be heavy-duty tasks."

Industry Impact: Redefining Project Timelines

The EC950F’s integration has slashed Collins’ projected completion timeline to under 27 weeks—30% faster than conventional fleets. "This won’t be our last EC950," Naylor confirmed. "The combination of fewer machines, lower fuel consumption, and reduced maintenance makes it a game-changer for large-scale earthworks."

Volvo CE’s UK market manager added: "The EC950F exemplifies our commitment to matching equipment scale with project demands. In Mercia Park, it’s not just moving earth—it’s moving industry standards."