Volvo FL par excellence

Premier suppliers of turf care equipment, Ransomes Jacobsen, have invested in three new Volvo FL 18 tonners to transport their demonstration mowers to major golf courses across the UK and into Europe.

Ransomes Jacobsen Demonstration Manger, Matt Gough explained, “This is a new venture for us. We’ve only operated a couple of light 4x4s up to now and sub-contracted the heavier work, but we decided it was time to do the job ourselves and the Volvo trucks are going down really well”.

Based in Ipswich, the FL’s will be operating into Ireland, France, Belgium and Holland as well as all over the UK.

With the trucks in operation for just over a month, the drivers have taken to them readily after a short familiarisation. “There’s a friendly rivalry developing between the drivers to see who can get the best fuel figures, so along with the trucks bedding in, the numbers are going up and up”, said Matt Gough.

The Volvo FL 290 four-wheelers were supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia in Ipswich so local service and parts support will be close by.

They will be ideal for this UK and European work with 290hp and over 1,000 Nm of torque, while rarely being up to full gross weight. The third truck goes on the road as soon as the driver gets a date to take his category C test. He can’t wait!”

An official supplier to the Professional Golf Association (PGA), Ransomes Jacobsen is a subsidiary of US-based Textron Inc, a multi-industry company with well known businesses that include the Cessna Aircraft Co and Bell Helicopter. Ransomes Jacobsen’s mowers will feature at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where they will maintain the playing surfaces at several of the stadiums and training facilities.