Concrete firm set for growth with Liebherr fleet expansion

Ready mixed concrete supplier The Ashcourt Group has returned to Liebherr GB for additional equipment to satisfy increased demand for its products...

The company already runs a Betomix batching plant, a number of HTM 404, 704 and 804 mixers and a mobile concrete pump operating at its Hull headquarters but with major expansion in the pipeline has added a second batching plant for a new site in Pocklington.

Ashcourt is the leading independent supplier of ready mix throughout Hull and the surrounding area, a position it has achieved just four years after forming a concrete division. The group also has interests in construction, civil engineering, aggregates, plant hire and waste management.

The site in Pocklington has seen the company significantly expand its operations, explained Marketing Manager Luke Stocks. "The centralised location puts both York and Hull within easy reach and also gives us the chance to increase our coverage around the outskirts of both cities."

The plant is identical to that at Hull which has served the company well over the past four years. Capable of batching up to 100m3 per hour, the Betomix 2.5 plant relies on a 2.5m3 twin shaft, mixer to deliver a steady and consistent flow of material. "We have been very pleased with the way in which the Liebherr plant has operated," said Ian White, General Manager for Concrete Operations. "The two plants are the largest in East Yorkshire and are indicative of the service the concrete division gives to its external customer base and for the work it undertakes within the group."

The batching plant has been joined in the fleet by a pair of new HTM805 truck mixers, both mounted on Volvo FMX tridem chassis. "The tridem chassis is a new departure for us," said Ian. "It matches the Liebherr drum well and ensures we are correct on our axle weights at all times. The rear steer axle really adds to the agility of the unit."

The HTM805 is designed for a full 8m3 load but to ensure the vehicles remain within the 32-tonne limit, Ashcourt limits them to a 7.5m3 load. "We have been impressed with the build quality of the Liebherr products, especially the mixer drums," Ian added. "Our operators love the Liebherr drums. saying they are robust and very easy to use."

That robustness is due partly to the high-quality lightweight LICRO 500 steel used in the drum's construction. Optional Litronic-EMC mixer controls were specified for both units and allow demand-based control by the operator of the truck's engine speed and torque, returning significant fuel savings and reduced wear on the carrier's drive train. Constant Speed Drive, with its ability to reduce the amount of revolutions the drum requires, also helps extend service life.

Following the successful performance of an initial 37XXT model, a pair of new concrete pumps have also been added, offering 24m and 35m vertical pumping heights. Both are mounted on Mercedes chassis, the smaller on a 6x4 configuration and its bigger brother on an 8x4 set-up.

A narrow boom construction allows it to be fed into buildings through very small openings while the XXT outrigger layout on the larger model has various support positions for work in tight locations. "The Liebherr concrete pumps are in high demand for us," Ian said. "They are very well-made products and extremely easy to use."

With the narrow support option, the front outriggers can be extended up to the front of the vehicle to enable a greater working range, including pumping over the cab. A radio control system allows the operator to fully control the flow of the material exactly at the point it is being discharged.

"Over-all, we are very pleased with the build quality of the Liebherr equipment we run," Ian added. "They may cost more to start with, but the quality and reliability means there is very little to worry about over the life of the equipment."