The FH16 is the first heavy-haulage artic to be operated by the Manchester- and London-based company, and is being used to transport its own machines, including a Powerscreen Premier Trak 300 crushing plant and Volvo EC700LC 70-tonne excavator.
Northbank Demolition owner Paul Richards says the rig is also available for third party work, and explains that its purchase is due to significant expansion of the company.
"Machines need to be positioned on sites around the country with precision and on time, so we decided to take control and operate our own heavy-haulage rig," he states.
And he adds that, since the rig had to be capable of transporting its largest machines as well as offering services to other operators, the Volvo was a logical choice.
"We saw Volvo as being able to provide for our transportation requirements while also promoting an image associated with quality," he says.
The FH16 has a 3,400mm wheelbase and weighs in at 10-tonnes, including the additional tool lockers fitted by SB Components. Twin fuel tanks provide 650 litres of capacity.
Rear suspension is T-Ride 2 multi-leaf. Drive axles are hub-reduction and the rear bogie is rated at 26-tonnes. This FH16 tractor was also fitted with a 10-tonne front axle (C&U rating).
As for the powertrain, Volvo's 16-litre, D16K550 Euro 6 engine is rated at 550bhp and drives through a VTO2814B manual gearbox, with splitter and overdrive. The D16K550 delivers 2,800 Nm of torque between 900 and 1,350 rpm.
Beyond that, a Volvo gearbox-mounted retarder has been fitted, delivering 3,250Nm braking torque and 630kW of retardation – 920kW when used with the Volvo engine brake (VEB+). The latter can deliver 425kW of retardation on its own.
This FH16 tractor unit is also big on safety equipment, according to Tim Richards is Northbank Demolition Company's STGO manager, who makes the pointy that the firm is a member of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) and accredited to FORS (Fleet Operator Registration Scheme).
As a result, safety equipment on the FH16-550 includes a back-up monitor, three cameras and a talking left-turn alarm (with side view camera) to alert vulnerable road users when manoeuvring.
In fact, the FH16 tractor is the seventh truck to join Northbank Demolition's fleet, which includes five Volvo FMX 8x4 tippers (one powered by Volvo's 13-litre 500bhp engine). Four of the FMXs are also new-series Euro 6 trucks.
The FMXs, FH16 and the company's Nooteboom four-axle low-loader trailer were supplied by Thomas Hardie Commercials, at Trafford Park.
As for that trailer, it has been equipped with driver-controlled, radio remote steering on all four axles, as an aid to manoeuvring on sites. It also has Nooteboom's single axle Jeep-Dolly – providing an additional axle, equipped with its own fifth wheel to optimise weight distribution and centre of gravity at higher gross weights.
Unladen weight of the outfit, minus the Jeep-Dolly is 35-tonnes. While the FH16 HGV is on a Volvo Gold R&M contract, the trailer is on a Volvo Blue contract with MOT.