In 2015, the company decided to replace its existing generator at one of the crushing plants due to rising annual fuel and maintenance costs. After extensive research, they selected the Volvo Penta D16 engine generator platform. Since then, they’ve standardized on the Volvo Penta D16 engines at all three crushing plants.
John Thompson, company president, said, “The 600 kWe Volvo Penta D16s are providing us exceptional power generation without fail in any kind of weather and extreme temperatures.”
“We decided to go with the Volvo Penta-powered generators for the fuel savings, power output, ease of operation and customer service,” said Joshua Ott, operations manager at Thompson Recycle. “We also were very impressed with its cold-start system. It just always does what it’s supposed to do.
“The Volvo Penta-powered generators save us about 15 gallons an hour adding up to about $113,000 a year in fuel costs,” said Ott. “Equally important is the reduction in downtime, which can cost us more than a thousand dollars an hour in lost revenue.”
“Those on-site love the D16,” said Thompson. “It’s quieter, has a smaller frame so it’s not as heavy in the trailer. We also save money from the longer maintenance intervals. Instead of needing an oil change every 250 hours, Volvo Penta’s intervals are 500 hours.”
The custom trailer, which was designed and sold by General Equipment Company, ensures easy mobility as the plant moves from site to site.
Ott is also a big fan of the extended service contracts offered on the engines by Volvo Penta dealer Alta Equipment Company in Michigan. “The service never changed as we progressed in hours on the machine. We have good customer service. They come out whenever we need them. They bend over backwards to get us whatever we need to keep our plant running.”
“The fuel savings of more than 38,000 gallons a year that Thompson Recycle is experiencing with our solution is a testament to our commitment of not only improving the bottom line for customers, but the environment as well,” said Darren Tasker, vice president for industrial at Volvo Penta of the Americas. “With the backing of trusted service partners like Alta Equipment and a full-range of reliable, fuel efficient solutions, customers can be confident in the complete offer we deliver.”
About Thompson Recycle Company
Founded in 1995, Thompson Recycle Company is based in Saline, Michigan. The company started with a single mobile crusher plant and over the years added two more. The mobile plants have logged more than 1,200 moves and recycled more than 30 million tons of scrap asphalt which can be reused as a component in new asphalt mixes for new road construction.
About Volvo Penta
Volvo Penta, with approximately 3,500 dealers in over 130 countries, is a world-leading and global manufacturer of engines and complete power systems for boats, vessels and industrial applications. The engine program comprises diesel and gasoline engines with power outputs of between 10 and 1,000 hp. Volvo Penta is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of heavy trucks, buses and construction equipment.
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For further information, please contact:
Christine Carlson
Volvo Penta of the Americas
Phone: +1 (757) 382 4084
E-mail: christine.carlson@volvo.com
Jim Rhodes
Rhodes Communications, Inc.
Phone: +1 (757) 451 0602
E-mail: jrhodes@rhodescomm.com
