Bloomfield Resources invest in a fleet of new machinery supplied by Molson Equipment.
Birmingham based Bloomfield Resources have recently taken on a new challenge with the purchase of A&A Recycling near Wolverhampton.
The purchase gives Bloomfield a huge operating centre conveniently located to major road networks. The only downside is that the yard isn’t up to the company’s high standards, yet!
Whilst the yard is still in use on a daily basis taking in a variety of waste products, Bloomfield are currently investing substantial sums of money to redevelop the entire site to bring it up to their exacting standards.
The substantial program of works includes the erection of perimeter fencing designed and built to allow material to be stored against it, the installation of a new drainage system and the concreting of the yard and once this is completed, new material processing shed will be constructed to allow material to be worked on in a stable environment.
To undertake their redevelopment and recycling operations, Bloomfield has also invested heavily in a fleet of new machinery, all of which have been sourced from Dan Bailey at Molson Equipment. The order includes machinery from Hyundai, Sennebogen and Kobelco with recycling equipment next on the list.
The largest arrival is a 36 tonne Sennebogen 830E material handler which will handle the large volumes of metals the company will be handling. For the general waste products, and already hard at work, Bloomfield has added a Hyundai HL955A HDXT waste specification wheel loader and Sennebogen 822G material handler.
The Hyundai has been supplied in the Korean manufacturer’s HDXT specification designed for the recycling industry. With an operating weight of just over 16 tonnes, the HL955A HDXT comes with a range of additional features designed to increase productivity and to protect the machine and operator working within the waste industry. The most noticeable addition is that of a set of longer loader arms. Offering an increased reach of 600mm over the standard machine’s 3940mm pin height, the HDXT version retain the Z-Bar linkage to retain digging forces for penetrating stubborn materials. Included in this specification is a choice of tyres to suit particular applications with Bloomfield opting for a semi-solid puncture proof version. Additional guarding around the machine covering lights, front and rear cab windows and underbelly increase the durability of the machine. A high-tip bucket and fire suppression kit complete the loader’s specification.
The busy yard sees the processed material loaded out onto a fleet of 44t gross walking floor artics with most of this operation carried out by the Hyundai. Positioning the loader as close to the piles of material, the loader moves quickly between material and the trailer dropping the material into the body. As the material reaches the top of the trailer, the added reach of the HDXT coupled with the high-tip bucket allows the operator to push down the material ensuring the load is packed in to stop it blowing about under the sheeting.
The Sennebogen 822G is the latest generation of material handlers coming from the manufacturer’s Straubing factory in Germany. The G Series machines have been designed to increase service life and increase their future value. The 10m reach machine has been specified with K10 ULM front end equipment with tipping linkage and an NPK selector grab. The 22t material handler will provide a front line service for the business picking and sorting incoming waste to the site before it is processed. The 822G is a compact machine designed for smaller sites whilst still offering class leading performance. The G series have been designed with upgraded access points around the machine including a substantial boxing ring surrounding the upper structure. Power to the material handler comes from a tired and tested Cummins powerplant. With fuel efficiency at its heart thanks to an F3.8 Cummins powerplant, the 822G has joined another manufacturer’s material handler and is currently impressing the team at the site.
At the time of our visit the Sennebogen was busy loading waste plasterboard into one of the many walking floor trailers passing through the yard. Sat on its four-point stabilisers, the machine quicky picked the pieces of plasterboard up quickly loading them into the back of the trailer. The raising cab aiding the job by offering the operator a clear view across the top of the trailer ensuring the trailer is loaded evenly. The Maxcab offers unparalleled vision for the operator thanks to a combination of joystick steering doing away with the need for a steering wheel and column and huge areas of glass throughout the cab.
Undertaking the yard redevelopment works, Bloomfield has added a new Kobelco SK270SRLC compact tail swing excavator. With an operating weight just under 28 tonnes, the first few weeks of operation for the Kobelco was spent on ripping up the existing, poor quality concrete around the yard.
One of four large compact tail swing models in the Japanese manufacturer’s range, the SK270SRLC uses a fuel efficient, 4-cylinder Yanmar engine delivering 127kW. Housed in a curvaceous upper structure, the engine, cooling pack and hydraulic system is easily accessed thanks to wide-opening doors right around the body. Unlike some compact tail swing machines, the SK270 boasts a large and spacious cab offering the operator comfort levels mirroring those of a standard machine. The Kobelco cabs have come in for praise from many operators for its layout and comfort levels. The updated operator interface allows for quicker and easier navigation through the machine’s various menus.
Working alongside a hammer equipped 25 tonne excavator, the Kobelco swaps between loading the broken material into tippers taking it away for crushing and screening to spreading out the returning crushed material to form a base for the new reinforced concrete yard to be laid on.
The huge investment being made by the company both on machines and infrastructure only goes to show the way in which the UK is driving forward this industry. Constantly pushed to increase recycling figures, it is companies like Bloomfield who are at the forefront of raising the bar for the UK recycling sector.
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