Rock Solid Mixer Hire of Coventry has taken delivery of a Volvo FM 8×4 with B-ride suspension and a 9m3 capacity Putzmeister P9G concrete mixer featuring the company’s Ergonic Mixer Control system with remote control, designed to reduce fuel consumption, noise and wear. The truck is believed to be the first Volvo with this system in the UK.
Supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia in Coventry, the FM 8×4 is already heading-up the company’s ready-mix operation. “We recently invested in a Danfords batching plant which has increased our ready-mix capability to approximately 500m3 per day,” says Partner, Bobby Saundh.
He adds, “In order to gain the maximum benefit from this investment we knew an additional high capacity mixer truck would be required for the fleet and the new Volvo FM ticks all the boxes. We can run up to the 32-tonne GVW with 8m3 on board, which gives us a significant daily throughput.”
The newest addition is the company’s third new Volvo in the past 12-months and sees the overall fleet grow to 14 trucks. “We have a mix of both volumetric and ready-mix bodies and the majority of our trucks are Volvo FMs,” says Bobby. “We find the I-Shift automated transmission ideally suits this business as the gear changes are so efficient and smooth. Furthermore, I-Shift has the added benefit of drivers not burning out clutches, which improves uptime and reduces R&M costs.”
Bobby also praises the residual value of Volvo trucks. “Volvo builds solid, reliable trucks that are comfortable,” he says. “When it comes to selling them, they realise good money and are always sought after.”
Rock Solid’s FM 8×4 is powered by the 11 litre D11K engine producing 410hp and up to 1950Nm of torque at between 1000 and 1400rpm. The truck will generally cover an area within a 25-mile radius of base, so annual mileage is expected to be in the order of 35,000km. “Mileage isn’t really an issue,” says Bobby, “it’s much more about hours for us as the engine’s always running.”
