Page 4 - HUB-4 Issue 98

Cover feature story
Liebherr Rental supports cost-efficient
production at Holcim’s Torr Works
Stand Z6
Holcim’s Torr Works quarry in Somerset is one
of the UK’s most productive limestone
operations, producing more than five million
tonnes of aggregate each year. At the heart of
this output is a long-established mobile
crushing system that processes material at the
face before transferring it via conveyors for
secondary and tertiary crushing further up the
site.
While the primary plant, now approaching 40 years in service,
continues to deliver up to 2,500 tonnes per hour through an
electrically powered, cost-effective process, attention has
recently turned to optimising other areas of the operation.
Rising costs from suppliers and subcontractors prompted the
Torr Works team to reassess how mobile plant is sourced and
managed across site.
“We have seen rising costs from both our suppliers and
subcontractors over the past few years,” explained Works
Manager Ash Lockyer. “Whilst we understand the challenges,
we still need to be as cost effective as possible in producing
each tonne of material. Taking a more localised approach to
our equipment has started to reduce operational costs and
allows us to look beyond traditional supply arrangements.”
A core part of the quarry’s day-to-day activity is handled by a
fleet of medium-sized wheel loaders, responsible for
everything from stockpile management and truck loading to
wash plant support and general maintenance duties.
Historically, this work had been carried out using machines
from a single supplier on fixed-term contracts. However, with
three loaders due for replacement in 2025, the team took the
opportunity to review the market.
Assistant Mobile Engineering Plant Manager Jody Herridge led
the evaluation, establishing clear criteria centred on versatility,
fuel efficiency and supplier support. “We approached all of the
main players in the industry,” he explained. “One company
stood out in terms of communication, willingness to listen and
attention to detail—and that was Liebherr Rental.”
Working closely with the Torr Works team, Liebherr Rental
supplied two L 586 XPower® wheel loaders. Designed to
handle a wide range of applications, the machines have been
deployed across the site, from loading aggregates and
handling rock armour to supporting the recently installed wash
plant.
At 34 tonnes, the L 586 XPower® sits at the top of Liebherr’s
wheel loader range. Its XPower drivetrain combines
hydrostatic and mechanical drive systems to deliver both
efficiency and performance across varying applications. During
low-speed tasks such as digging into stockpiles, the
hydrostatic drive ensures smooth, controlled operation, while
at higher travel speeds the mechanical drive increases
efficiency during load-and-carry cycles.
This intelligent power distribution, combined with Liebherr’s
Power Efficiency technology, has delivered strong fuel
performance in demanding quarry conditions. “Not only did
we like the build quality of the loaders, but the fuel
consumption also aligned with our goal of lowering
production costs,” Ash added.
Machines supplied through Liebherr Rental are equipped with
a comprehensive specification designed to support both
productivity and safety. Features include a 360-degree camera
system with active rear personnel detection, which can
distinguish between people and objects to enhance site safety.
An adaptive lighting system automatically adjusts illumination
based on loader arm position, improving visibility in low-light
areas.
| p4 | www.hub-4.com May/June - Issue 98