As picking waste from the top of steep stockpiles can be difficult with standard height cabs, Volvo Construction Equipment is now offering its EC210C crawler excavator with the option of a hydraulically elevating cab, which significantly increases the operator’s visibility when sorting, loading or compacting waste into trucks or high-sided containers. Allowing operators to see clearly into truck or container bodies means they can ensure an even spread and compaction of the load across the axles. (Badly loaded trucks can be unstable on the road.)

These options recognise the growth in recent years of transfer stations where waste material – wood, steel, paper, plastics, general waste etc. – is sorted. As a lot of the work in modern transfer stations is done indoors on level concrete floors, the elevating cab is also available on Volvo’s EW160C wheeled excavator. The cab height can be adjusted to any level to suit the application. At its maximum, forward visibility is raised to 4.18m. The maximum cab height is 5.47m.

The maximum working height for the EW160C, with articulated, two-piece boom and 3.1m grab arm, is 10.11m – with a total lifting capacity of 2.9t at full reach (excluding attachment).

Suitable for where surface protection and space restrictions are not an issue, the larger and more productive 22-24t EC210C crawler model is in its element. Both models can be fitted with either a mono or two-piece boom and a choice of arms, including a grab arm that is designed for waste handling – 2.95m long for the EW160C and 4.2m for the EC210C.

Transfer stations can be dusty environments, so preventing clogging of coolers is essential. Clogging can quickly result in engines overheating, machine downtime and a resultant loss of productivity. This is where Volvo Construction Equipment’s Special Waste Package, designed for such an environment, provides the solution.

Special waste package

The waste package comprises a micro mesh top screen and further mesh screens over the side opening panels to prevent ingress of dust and debris into the cooling compartment. Sealing around the inside of the panel doors provides further prevention against ingress of dust and fine particles.

An engine pre-cleaner prevents contamination that could result in costly downtime and a reversible fan, operated from inside the cab, ejects any fine particles that enter the cooling compartment, in addition to blowing away dust and debris that collects on the screens. This prevents clogging of the screens themselves and reduces the need to frequently clean the radiators.

In line with Volvo’s core value of Environmental Care, both the EC210C and EW160C can be fitted with a Diesel Particle Filter to further reduce emissions, especially important equipment is being used inside buildings.

Operator environment

In such a harsh environment, operator comfort and safety are especially important. Volvo’s Care Cab features ample leg and foot space and a variety of ergonomic features designed for comfort and the reduction of operator fatigue. Supported on hydraulic dampening mounts that absorb shock and vibration, the cab is fitted with a sound absorbing lining and good all-round visibility is provided by large glass screens and thin pillars. The front windshield slides up out of the way into the ceiling void; while the lower front glass can be removed and stored in the door. The pressurized and filtered cab air is supplied by an automatic fan, distributed via 13 air vents. The operator’s seat has nine different adjustments to accommodate operator seating preferences.

As waste and recycling sites are often congested, the addition of a rear view camera – now a standard feature on Volvo wheeled and crawler excavators – provides additional security. The demands of differing attachments can also be accommodated via an adjustable hydraulic flow facility, which can be pre-selected on the in-cab monitor.

With Volvo wheel loaders already a familiar site at waste transfer stations; wheel loaders and articulated haulers at landfill sites, the introduction of an elevated cab and Special Waste Package at Intermat 2009 sees the strengthening of Volvo’s excavator line-up to cater for the demands of this segment.

For further information, please visit: www.volvoce.com/press
Or contact:

Bill Law
Director, External Communications
Volvo Construction Equipment
Avenue du Hunderenveld 10
B-1082 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: int + 32 (0) 478 92 43 26
email: william.law@volvo.com

Brian O’Sullivan
SE10
Tel: int +44 (0) 77 333 50307
email: osullivan@se10.com