Increasing payload and productivity to aid investment programme

Supplied by the Northern Ireland Renault Trucks dealer, Diamond Trucks, the four 13l 50 tonne Range K480 Xtrem 8x4s, with Bennes Marrel tipping bodies, Optidriver automated gearbox with Optibrake + retarder, are on steel suspension throughout – three leaf on the front and ultra-heavy duty 11-leaf on the 32-tonne bogie. 

The 34 tonne payload enables each Range K to carry six to eight tonnes more on every load.

The Range Ks are part of a fleet of 26 eight-wheelers that transport 1.4 million tonnes of limestone rocks and crushed stone from the company’s Swanlinbar quarry running on an 11km private road over the Slieve Rushen mountain to its Portland cement production plant at Ballyconnell.

Following extensive research to find a road truck that could operate at 50 tonnes, Quinn Building Products’ Transport Manager, Gearoid Gilheany, identified the Range K480 Xtrem as the truck that met all his criteria.

Gilheany said: “This is all about productivity. We’re already running vehicles at 35-42 tonnes, and we wanted to move to 50 tonnes road truck.  Most of the equipment on the Range K Xtrem is standard, and payload advantage is fantastic - each truck runs 12-14 times a day across the mountain, which amounts to increasing productivity per vehicle by 100 tonnes each day, it’s very impressive. We will be replacing more of our fleet shortly, and the improved productivity of the Range Ks will allow us to reduce the number of vehicles to 20.”

He continued: “Although it’s early days, we’re pleased with the performance of the Range Ks. The Optidriver automated gearbox has been very well received by the drivers, and the trucks are working well on the challenging terrain, both in the quarry and over the mountain road.  Fuel is also impressive, too.”

Working for Quinn Cement and Quinn Lite, transporting bagged cement and thermal blocks across Ireland, the company’s two new 39-tonne Range C380 10x4s provide the flexibility of five axles in the South and reverting to 32 tonnes when operating in Northern Ireland. The trucks, with fifth rear lift and steer axle, Thompson off loader body and Palfinger PK 18001 L crane, handle an increased payload of 4 tonnes over standard 32-tonners. 

“The payload difference on the Range C five axles gives us an additional 22.5% every load, which means improved productivity and fewer journeys,” commented Gearoid.