Page 9 - Hub-4 Magazine Issue 80
P. 9

 Cover Story
   The entire operation is computer-controlled and shown on screens, allowing David to adjust the batching process quickly and easily. ‘The speed of batching has almost halved with the Liebherr unit and we are able to batch almost double the amount at any single time. This plant has revolutionised the way we work and has allowed us to service far more clients.’
'I’ve spent more years than I care to remember working with concrete and this Liebherr batching plant has to be the best I’ve worked with’ –
Plant Foreman David Hodgens
To enable the plant to supply small quantities of material directly into trailers and pick-ups, a secondary, heavy-duty trunk has been fitted and swings into use hydraulically when needed. To keep trucks and the plant clean, a pressure washing system was specified and mounted to the frame of the plant to the side of the loading area.
The increased capacity of the plant also demanded an increase in loader capability and again, Liebherr was the choice.
Already familiar with the manufacturer’s wheeled loader range, Grange specified a new L566 XPower to ensure bins are kept fully stocked throughout the working day.
The L566 XPower is one of six models in a wheeled loader range combining class-leading fuel efficiency and power and with a bucket capacity of 4.7m3 makes light work of managing the material stockpiles. James Mains is the regular operator and says the Liebherr is a huge improvement over the
smaller machine he sat in when servicing the older plant. ‘If we had a wind farm pour, I could spend almost an entire 14- hour shift moving material. The Liebherr makes the job easier and less demanding on me and ultimately uses less fuel.’
Meanwhile, David Hodgens has been impressed with the manufacturer’s service ethic. ‘From the installation through commissioning and now into our few weeks of operation, Liebherr have been able to answer our questions and give us detailed training and instruction on the best operating methods to get the best out of the mixing plant. The same goes for the wheeled loader and the instruction they have given us on that.’
Stuart Dodd is similarly impressed: ‘Since the first loader arrived on the fleet, we have seen improvements in our fuel usage, a major plus point for any operator these days. The reliability and build quality of the Liebherr products has impressed us, our plant managers and our operators and we are hoping the new batching plant will meet our expectations on those fronts too.’
   www.hub-4.com May/June - Issue 80
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