Page 22 - HUB-4 Magazine Issue 94

Material Recycling Facilities
A new lease of life
with Liebherr
A change in purchasing policy has given a recycling company the confidence
that its new Liebherr materials handlers will always be in peak condition.
Until recently, all machine acquisitions by J.
Dickinson & Sons (Horwich) Ltd were of the
outright capital expenditure variety based on
package cost. However, the business has
decided it will now acquire major items through
two-year operating leases, a move that will
enable director James Dickinson and his finance
team to monitor the costs more accurately.
‘This type of lease gives us far more flexibility than before and
puts the onus on the manufacturer to service the machines in
a timely fashion and ensure they are in perfect working order
at all times,’ said James.
With two Liebherr LH 30 M handlers due for renewal the
company took the decision to canvass the wider market for
replacements. ‘Some dealers came back with figures, others
didn’t but it was the relationship we have built up with John
Tierney [Area Sales Manager] at Liebherr Great Britain and his
insistence that the reliability of the machines would be
ensured that swayed us to return to the brand. The package he
put together is based on a variety of factors which we believe
will benefit our company in the long term.’
A 22-tonne class machine with 13-metre reach, the LH 30 M
uses a lightweight stick fitted with a tipping link allowing it to
carry a selector grab with a 0.85m3 capacity. ‘While these
Liebherrs are large machines for picking and sorting work,
their additional reach over more traditional 9- or 10-metre
reach models allows them to work far more efficiently around
our site,’ explained James.
The upper structure uses Liebherr’s own hydraulically raised
cab to provide more than 2.3 metres of additional height for
the operators to load the bulk walking floor trailers that leave
the yard each day. Dickinson chose the standard cab with a
traditional opening door rather the sliding version, eliminating
the need to fit a walkway which would have increased the
machine’s width. ‘We have a big site here but it can be quite
tight in some places,’ James pointed out. ‘Removing the need
for the walkway ensures less damage and less cost for us in
repairs.’ Inside the cab, the operators enjoy to a stick-steer
option to reduce fatigue and to increase the forward visibility
from the seat.
The business uses several smaller excavators and wheeled
loaders around the yard but the two Liebherrs with their D934
four-cylinder diesel engine delivering 190hp, will be at the
forefront of the recycling operation. ‘We work the machines
hard, including a night shift to make sure the plant is clean
and tidy for the next day,’ added James.
‘We needed the assurance that the machines we were taking
on were not only up to the job in terms of build quality but we
also wanted to ensure they were reliable. Having Liebherr take
care of the servicing and maintenance takes the hassle away
from us and puts it back on to the manufacturer. So far, the
machines have lived up to Liebherr’s reputation of being the
best material handlers out there.’
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www.hub-4.com Sept/Oct - Issue 94