The vehicle - an L220H wheeled loader with Volvo Co-Pilot – was delivered at the end of June.
In 2002, Chepstow Plant International placed its first package order with SMT GB for 10 Volvo A25 articulated haulers. Two decades later, it regularly orders more than 100 Volvo machines a year from SMT GB.
Before arriving at the Chepstow Plant yard in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, the Volvo L220H was featured on the SMT GB stand at the Hillhead quarrying exhibition in June, featuring a special livery to celebrate 20 years of partnership between the two companies.
John Corcoran, managing director of Chepstow Plant, commented: “It’s a proud milestone for myself, the business, and our chairman, Eddie Hayward, that we can install that accolade as a memory of all those transactions, all those livelihoods we’ve positively affected in the industry, and the strategic presence that we’ve developed alongside one of the biggest manufacturing giants on the planet."
He added that Volvo CE's brand values of quality, safety and environmental care chime perfectly with Chepstow Plant's own mission to provide sustainable and practical solutions for resource extraction in a zero-risk environment.
“It was that feeling of ‘these people think the same as us’, which has made it easy to work alongside Volvo and SMT GB,” Corcoran said.
In particular, Volvo and Chepstow Plant’s close collaboration has helped standardise inclinometers on articulated haulers in the UK, transforming both operator and site safety.
“The industry, historically, was suffering a lot of ADT turnovers," said Corcoran. "Volvo listened to us and our strategic clients and didn’t hesitate in investing and bringing that forward. Now, pretty much wherever you buy a truck from in the UK, it’s fitted with an inclinometer."
Beyond the addition of this product feature, Volvo and Chepstow Plant developed training programmes together to instil safe behavioural practice.
Volvo and SMT GB are also supporting Chepstow Plant’s decarbonisation programme. By the end of 2022, more than 90% of the contractor’s fleet will be operating with Stage 5 engines, helping to reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, Chepstow Plant is using Volvo CareTrack telematics data to manage and reduce fuel consumption from both an environmental and cost perspective.
In terms of uptime, all Volvo machines in the Chepstow Plant fleet are covered by SMT GB’s customer service agreements.
“SMT GB delivers a consistent and high standard of service,” said Corcoran. "They’ll, wherever possible, get a part to us overnight, but that’s not special treatment for us. I think it’s in the mantra of the business for all customers.
Nick Allen, CEO of SMT GB, commented: “1,000 machines is an incredible milestone, and we are so grateful for Chepstow Plant’s support over the years. Their honest feedback and willingness to collaborate have challenged us to continuously improve and develop solutions that have a genuinely positive impact on the industry."
