5 minute read
FLEET FOCUS
TRANSMITTING FUEL ECONOMY
Paul Argent reports on the hydrostatic dozers and CVT-driven loaders on the fleet of Swindon-based Earthline
Advertisement
stablished over 30 years ago,
ESwindon-based Earthline operates eight sites across the region, which offer primary and recycled aggregates, along with inert tipping facilities. With 86 eight-wheelers, the firm runs one of the largest privatelyowned fleets of tipper trucks in the area. They are used both for the distribution of aggregates from their quarrying and recycling activities, and delivering inert material back on to their sites to restore former quarry workings.
Across their sites, Earthline currently runs 65 items of operated plant, plus numerous examples of mobile crushing and screening machinery. Over the past few years, Liebherr has been steadily supplying more machines into this fleet. This has been largely driven by the need to improve fuel efficiency, something Earthline’s MD, Philip Coplestone, is eager to progress.
The first Liebherrs – three hydrostatic PR746 dozers – were delivered following a successful trial in 2017. They were replaced in 2021 by PR736 models. With a maximum operating weight of 25 tonnes, the PR736s were smaller than their predecessors, but they have more than kept up with production requirements, while delivering good fuel economy.
Above, below and inset: A batch of Liebherr L566 XPower wheeled loaders joined the fl eet in 2021 and are proving to be comfortable, productive and fuel-effi cient. WHEEL LOADERS
Alongside the arrival of the PR736 dozers in 2021, Earthline also took delivery of four Liebherr L566 XPower wheeled loaders, which feature a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The transmission constantly adjusts the ratio of power diverted through the hydrostatic and mechanical elements of the box, in response to any given demand on the machine. One result is a smoother drive and seamless increases in speed and
power, together with an unrivalled increase in torque and almost zero wheelspin when pushing hard into a stockpile.
Another benefit of the XPower transmission is improved fuel economy, as the power demands made by the CVT system tend to result in the engine running in a lower speed band, closer to its maximum torque.
There is no doubt about it, a CVTequipped machine requires a different operating style to one with a standard transmission. Earthline’s operators didn’t like their first few shifts in the Liebherr loaders, but within a week or so had settled into the new style. Today their feedback, partly thanks to the transmission, is that they are far more comfortable to operate than their previous machines.
They are used across both Earthline’s quarrying and recycling operations, handling a variety of materials, either feeding crushing and screening plants, or loading finished products into HGV trucks for onward delivery.
In operation they can fill their 4.2cu.m capacity, straight-edged bucket quickly and smoothly, whatever the material they are handling. For load and carry operations, something the Earthline machines undertake on almost a constant basis, the Liebherr loaders accelerate quickly. This provides faster travel times between stockpiles, resulting in considerable productivity gains over traditional mechanical drivelines.
LATEST DOZER
Earthline has recently added a further PR736 dozer to its fleet, to help manage its inert tipping site at Shellingford. This latest Generation 8 model was specified in full low ground pressure (LGP) configuration and is powered by a four-cylinder, seven-litre Liebherr engine rated at 238hp, which drives through Liebherr’s tried-and-tested hydrostatic transmission.
In this application the three ranges provide a maximum speed of 6.8mph in either direction. The infinitely variable hydrostatic drive is electronically
“THE LIEBHERR LOADERS controlled and automatically adjusts
AND DOZER AREN’T travel speed and drawbar FREQUENT VISITORS TO THE pull to match the changing load conditions. DIESEL TANKS,WHICH HAS At the time of our visit, a spell of good weather had dried the tip area out nicely. MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE Any prolonged rain can turn it into
TO OUR FUEL BILL” a no-go area for the constant flow of eight-wheel tipper trucks depositing their loads. In these circumstances, two dozers are required to push the material a considerable distance from solid ground to the live tipping area. However, the tip was dry and firm, allowing the trucks to deposit their loads close to the dozer. Equipped with a 4.1cu.m straight blade on outside draft arms, the PR736 easily pushed out a full 20-tonne load in just two passes, easing the material further into the worked-out cut.
Earthline’s latest Liebherr dozer is a 238hp PR736 LPG model, on duty spreading material on the inert material tip at Shellingford.
CONCLUSION
Earthline’s latest Liebherr is a 30t capacity TA230 articulated dump truck, which joins a mixed hauler fleet used to carry material from the extraction areas back to the screening and stockpiling area. It is early days yet, but indications are extremely positive. The site manager at Shellingford said, “Our prime objective is to get material out of the gate as quick as possible and get the returning trucks tipped as quickly and safely as possible. The Liebherrs have been performing exceptionally well since they arrived and have impressed us all. The loaders are more than up to the job and the dozer matches the performance of the larger machine we also have on the tip. They have plenty of grunt when it comes to digging into the stockpiles.
“We don’t keep a detailed check on the fuel consumption, but we check the number of times they are filled up in a week and, so far, the Liebherr loaders and dozer aren’t as frequent visitors to the diesel tanks. This has made a huge difference to our fuel bills following the changeover to white diesel.”
