Page 27 - HUB-4 Magazine Issue 84

Recycling News
Speaking to the market the team at Hill Barton opted for a new Sennebogen 818E electric drive with K10 ULM boom and stick configuration allowing an impressive 11m reach. Supplied by Molson Green, part of the larger Molson Group based just up the M5 at Avonmouth, the Sennebogen has an operating weight of around 22 tonnes and to meet with the company’s requirements for an electric machine, is fitted with a 90kW electric motor replacing the standard Cummins diesel engine. A fixed trailing cable supplies the Sennebogen with power and whilst this is ideal for a machine that remains stationary, we all know these machines do have to be relocated from time to time. As the cable gives a modicum of flexibility for the 818E, this isn’t too much of an issue, but should the machine require a little more mobility, Sennebogen designers have replaced the standard cast counterweight with a powerpack solution for short-distance mobility.
Working from the fixed electrical connection, the Sennebogen is almost silent apart from the noise generated by the hydraulic system. More importantly, it generates no exhaust fumes making it ideal to work inside the recycling centre. Sitting on a four-outrigger undercarriage, identical to that found on the diesel version, ¬¬¬it is only the material handler’s upper structure which has come on for any cosmetic changes. On the offside of the machine, the former home for its diesel engine is now filled with a state-of-the-art 90kw, 400V electric motor. The only major change lies behind the hydraulically elevating Maxcab where a larger vertical electric cabinet has been fitted.
While there is an obvious cost implication to buying a highly specified electric material handler, this cost is hugely offset against the machine’s lower maintenance costs. The electric drive machine offers significantly longer maintenance intervals compared with diesel engines along with reduced maintenance costs, as there is no need for fuel and oil filters or oil changes, although these will have to be considered with the use of the powerpack. Another notable plus point is the massive reduction in vibration throughout the machine when in use thanks to fewer moving parts. An added bonus for production is that when connected to the power cable, the electric-powered 818E will instantly be ready to work with no waiting for the engine to reach optimal working temperatures. All of this equates to almost a 50% reduction in service and maintenance costs over a fossil fuelled machine.
The 818E supplied to EMS happily sits adjacent to their in-feed hopper on the Kiverco picking station with the machine using its 450 litre NPK selector grab to pre-sort and load the incoming material into the plant. With its hydraulically elevating cab rising over 6m off the ground, the operator’s eye-line is now around 5.5m giving them an unimpeded view across the incoming material and the in-feed hopper of the picking line. The comfortable and well-appointed cab offers a quiet and relaxing workspace and even at full elevation, is an impressively stable location.
Handling in excess of 150,000 tonnes of material on an annual basis with the Sennebogen will not only reduce the plant’s cost per tonne but also reduce their carbon impact hugely over a year. Dave Peacock for Molson Green said, “We are seeing a huge increase in customers looking at swapping diesel- powered machines for their electric equivalents as they are providing lower running costs over the year as well as reducing a company’s impact on the environment.”
www.hub-4.com Jan/Feb - Issue 84
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