Morrison Utility Services has taken delivery of 45 Volvo EC17C compact excavators, swelling its fleet of Volvo minis to over 100 machines.

The new additions represent the sixth time Morrison Utility Services has placed a bulk order for Volvo 1.5 tonne mini excavators from Chippindale Plant Ltd, Volvo’s utility dealer for Yorkshire and north east England and equates to a ten year old association between both companies. The machines have been supplied in the Morrison Utility Services’ red and white livery and feature the Cesar identification and Enigma immobilisation systems, track locks, and manual quick hitches. All the digging buckets have been supplied with heavy duty cutting edges as opposed to teeth to minimise the risk of damage to underground utility services whilst excavating.

Whilst joining a mixed fleet of equipment, the Volvo 1.5 tonne machine has carved a niche for itself in Morrison Utility Services’ armoury due mainly to product reliability and ease of serviceability. Covering the whole of the U.K., good after sales coverage for parts and service is vital so again, with machines working outside Chippindale’s territory, Morrison Utility Services can rely on the nationwide support provided by Volvo Construction Equipment.

The Volvo 1.7 tonne EC17C compact excavator was selected for the additional benefits it brings to Morrison Utility Services – specifically the two speed automatic travel motors, load sensing hydraulics and operating weight for towing. The machine is powered by a 12.3Kw (16.8hp) engine, being one of four ranging between 1.5 and 2.0 tonnes and is a direct replacement for the EC15B XT model. One significant change on the new models is that hydraulic hoses for the digging equipment are now routed through the boom and cylinders are top mounted to minimize on site damage. The hammer lines have been modified to allow the fitting of remote hand held hydraulic equipment.

All forty five machines have been supplied with the Cesar P1 identification system and Enigma skyline P2 immobiliser package to maximise the safe guarding against theft and have additional track locks fitted for good measure.

Morrison Utility Services is one of the U.K.’s leading utility services providers working with clients in the electricity, gas, water and telecommunications sectors. The company’s business is centred on the provision, replacement, repair and maintenance of the utilities network infrastructure and has locations and depots strategically covering the whole of the U.K.

Chippindale Plant Ltd of Leeds is the dealer for Volvo utility equipment including compact excavators, compact loaders and backhoe loaders covering Yorkshire and the north east of England. The company, established in 1949, currently provides a hire and sales service for Volvo utility equipment and complementary products such as site dumpers, rollers and telehandlers.

Volvo Construction Equipment Division markets wheeled loaders, articulated haulers, hydraulic excavators, graders, Volvo utility and road machinery products in the U.K. There are eight strategically placed customer support centres and a network of utility compact equipment dealers to ensure high quality customer support is maintained throughout Great Britain.