Page 29 - HUB-4 Magazine Issue 97

Recycling - Special Feature
Like all Liebherr material handlers, the LH 50M is available
with a variety of front-end equipment designed to suit loading
conditions and materials. Muddle selected the GA17 option
consisting of a 9.6 metre straight material handling boom
matched to an 7.5 metre angled stick carrying a 0.9m3 GMM
50 five-tine scrap grab. Although the GA17 designation claims
a maximum usable grab height of 18 metres, the ability to
safely handle a stockpile of material closer to 15 metres is a
bonus for the Muddle operation says Wills: ‘I know I have
plenty of capacity to work safely placing material at the top of
the stockpiles.’
Brought into replace a competitor’s machine of similar
capacity, the new machine has made a big impression on the
man at the controls. ‘What I noticed instantly was its speed
and precision. Lifting the boom up under full load is far quicker
and smoother and having that precision to place the grab
exactly where it needs to be helps speed up the truck loading.’
Other important machines on site include a Liebherr A 924
with shear attachment to reduce larger items for further
processing and an LH 26M with 13 metres reach, the latter
differing from its stablemates in that is electricity-powered,
using a 90kW motor to run the standard hydraulic system.
Muddle has opted to service the new LH 50M in-house using
genuine Liebherr parts. ‘We do, however, have a
comprehensive warranty on the machine to 10,000 hours
which will ensure peace of mind for its entire operating life.’
Welcoming Muddle back under the Liebherr umbrella, area
sales manager Andy Goddard commented: ‘We were
disappointed they looked elsewhere for their machines for a
couple of years but we worked hard to regain
the business and it paid off.’
THE CUSTOMER
Charles Muddle Ltd has been trading in the metals
industry over 40 years is currently under the second-
generation stewardship of Stuart Muddle with son
James running the day-to-day business in the yard. At
the heart of its operation is a direct drive shredder
which processes light iron and end-of-life vehicles to
produce foundry-ready steel and non-ferrous metals.
www.hub-4.com March/April - Issue 97
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