For what seemed like forever, a huge 20-ton interior rotor part
salvaged from a hydroelectric dam sat in the scrap yard at Thompson
Metal Services, Kingsport, Tenn.
"Nothing we owned could move it, we couldn't even budge it," said vice
president Bradley Thompson. "It was simply easier to just work around
it."
It was not long after Thompson Metals took delivery of its new Volvo
EC360B excavator in April 2006 that someone decided to put the machine
to the test on the rusting 41,000-pound lawn ornament.
"The EC360B not only lifted the rotor, it towed it 75 or 80 yards to the
metal processing area," said Thompson. "Right then we knew we had
something special on our hands."
Bradley Thompson has become a huge fan of the Volvo EC360B excavator. He
said the Kingsport, Tenn. industrial scrap metals recycler has been
working it hard at least 55 to 65 hours a week ever since. The company
recycles all types of ferrous and nonferrous metals, with a special
niche in working with stainless steel and alloys.
Tough and unusual jobs are the norm for Thompson Metal Services. Bradley
Thompson said that over the years the company has recycled boats, cargo
barges, airplanes, even railroad cars and locomotives. And in doing
these jobs they've come to rely on Volvo excavators.
"We bought a used EW170 rubber-wheeled excavator in 2001," he said. "It
has worked hard ever since, and we've never had a problem with it." In
2002, Thompson acquired a Volvo EC240B excavator to operate a metal
shear.
"Again, that machine has been reliable in what amounts to a very tough
job," he said. "Those machines convinced me of the quality and
reliability of Volvo. So when we started looking for a new excavator to
handle the big shear, I was confident Volvo would be a good choice."
According to Thompson, the firm had run a Cat 330B excavator on its yard
since 2002. Last spring, Thompson realized he needed a stronger, heavier
machine with optimal pressure hydraulics to add efficiencies to his yard
operations.
"We had some very specific things we were looking for in our new
excavator," Thompson said. "We wanted a strong, stable machine that
could lift and carry more, reduce the amount of handling time and
increase throughput."
Thompson consulted with Scott Harvey of ASC USA's Knoxville branch, who
suggested he take a close look at the Volvo EC360B.
"We knew we could get more productivity out of our shears if we added a
machine capable of handling higher hydraulic pressures," he said. "And
we were right."
In addition to greater hydraulic pressure, Thompson said the
"out-of-the-box" readiness of the Volvo EC360B made that machine even
more attractive.
"We wanted an excavator with standard capabilities, one that would be
ready from the get-go," he said. "With our last excavator, it took eight
weeks of downtime and $20,000 in optional add-ons to get it job-ready.
We didn't want that again."
According to Thompson, the immediate need was for an excavator that
could effectively operate his new LaBounty 2500R SL shear. "The LaBounty
is a very powerful, capable piece of equipment, but to get the most out
of it, you need to operate at the right pressures," he said. "The EC360B
was the only machine we could find that could run all day that way."
Thompson said his experience with his other Volvo excavators taught him
that Volvo made high-quality, reliable equipment, "and would give us a
lot of value without breaking the bank."
A high-pressure shear like the LaBounty 2500R SL puts a lot of wear and
tear on the machine and the hydraulic system.
"Volvo could handle the optimal pressure settings for this tool and even
has a booster button when a little extra is needed," Thompson said.
The high-force hydraulics on the Volvo EC360B allows the shear to
generate 1,500 tons of force at the big 36-inch mouth. That means the
shears can slice right through significantly heavier gauge steel.
"With the Volvo we go through 1-1/4-inch steel like butter," Thompson
said. "Before, we had to torch these items into 'more manageable' pieces
before we could reduce them. This has meant huge time and cost
savings."
Thompson says the higher-pressure muscle of the EC360B hydraulic system
has made a big difference in productivity and profit. "It makes it
possible for us to work more efficiently, with faster cycle times, fewer
steps and less torch work," he said. "We can handle larger pieces of
metal and heavier gauge metal a lot easier."
Thompson explained other factors in his firm's decision: the EC360B was
the largest model the company could transport without breaking it down;
and it was a heavy, powerful machine that could handle even the toughest
jobs in the yard without as much stress on the machine.
Thompson added that the EC360B has "all the big stuff" including power,
high-pressure hydraulics, faster cycle times and excellent fuel
economy.
"It's also the best machine I've ever seen ergonomically," he said.
Thompson added that other "seemingly small features" -- like logically
placed controls, buttons and easy-to-read gauges -- make the EC360B
operator-friendly.
"You could say these aren't the most important things, but they're very
important to the man who sits in that chair 10 to 12 hours a day,"
Thompson said. "I don't think any big excavator on the market has as
much to offer as the EC360B... or gives as much value for the money."
