Page 55 - Hub-4 Magazine ISsue 64

Recycling
The step up to a larger machine has impressed regular operator Chris Scott. “I’ve been driving for 25 years and the new Liebherr is an excellent machine. It is so comfortable and well laid out, it is a pleasure to operate. The site can be quite congested and tight at some points but the view from the cab, even with the large bucket in front, is excellent.”
Carrying around four tonnes at
a time, depending on the
moisture content, the Viby bucket is much valued and, as it is no longer manufactured, was retained for the incoming machine.
When it comes to loading bark and sawdust into a number of vehicles around the plant Chris’s experience is evident, negotiating the machine into the bays to quickly load 27 tonnes of material on to a waiting truck. It takes just six or seven passes to fill a bulker to capacity and Chris will repeat the procedure up to 25 times a day.
Whilst fuel efficiency ranks below reliability on Scott’s list of plant requirements, the L 556 XPower has been impressively frugal during its bedding-in period on site and that’s attributed to the steady operating style of experienced driver Chris and the XPower transmission. “It’s a very smooth machine to operate,” said Chris. “The way it just wants to push into a pile of material with no wheelspin is excellent. We do a lot of shuttle runs from various parts of the plant with material and the way the loader handles the load and carry work is exceptionally good.”
The arrival of the L 556 XPower has contributed to the fast and efficient removal of residue from the plant, accompanied by an increase in performance compared to the older machine. And although there is no increase in bucket size, Chris and Fritz are very happy with the early performance and productivity of their new loader.
Spec Check:
Power is from a Liebherr 6-cylinder diesel delivering 228 hp and meeting Stage IV emissions regulations through an updated SCR system. Access to the engine compartment is simple thanks to an electrically operated engine canopy that opens fully to provide safe access around the whole engine bay.
Working in a dusty environment causes issues for the air management system on any machine and Liebherr’s solution is to position the radiators in front of the engine and high up behind the cab. This reduces build-up of dust particles that cannot only affect the machine’s performance but, in extreme circumstances, can result in fires. If that unlikely scenario were to develop, it would be dealt with by the Fireward suppression system incorporated into the machine.
www.hub-4.com Sept/October 2020 - Issue 64
| p55 |