Ireland’s first electric Fuchs Materials Handler goes to RiverRidge Recycling.

RiverRidge Recycling has just taken delivery of Ireland’s very first electrically powered Fuchs MHL820 long-reach materials handler from appointed distributors Blue Ireland.

RiverRidge Recycling is a well-established waste management company based in Northern Ireland, operating from four sites. As part of the company’s continued investment in modern, efficient waste processing machinery and materials handlers and following intensive appraisal of the equipment market, RiverRidge opted for the electric Fuchs MHL820 from Blue Ireland and this versatile materials handler is now hard at work at their state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Coleraine.

The Fuchs MHL820 has an operating weight of 20 tonnes, a reach capability of up to 10.4 metres and, in this case, is equipped with an Arden S1102B grab. With a total power output of 95kW, there is power to spare even for heavy loads and the four point hydraulically operated outriggers provide total stability for stationary operation. The MHL820 is quick and agile around the working area and the electric cable feeding power to the machine has a generous range. The hydraulically elevating cab provides an excellent raised line of sight for the operator which is particularly important for maximum load and site visibility and enhances safe operation. Controls, including the familiar CAN BUS system, are almost identical to the diesel version, so operators can easily transfer without having to learn to work the machine afresh. The electric drive not only reduces operational costs but the exceptional ease of maintenance also allows good savings on running costs as well.

RiverRidge’s MRF at Coleraine is capable of segregating high value products found in the waste streams to a high quality for recycling or reuse. The MRF is also capable of recovering and refining Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) which is exported to Europe for use in waste-to-energy plants. The company’s new Fuchs machine is fully occupied handling MSW and C&I delivered by RiverRidge’s large and varied fleet of skips and specialist waste collection vehicles. It is stockpiling the waste and feeding it into a Doppstadt DW 3060 for pre-shredding before it is fed into the MRF, which is housed in a tailor-made building. Being used under cover, the zero emissions of the electrically powered machine, coupled with its extremely quiet operation and minimal heat output, are highly beneficial features which contribute considerably to the working environment. Additionally, since RiverRidge Recycling has taken the prudent and self-sufficient step to capture the landfill gases on the site to generate its own electricity, the running costs of their new materials handler are fairly insignificant! In fact, RiverRidge estimates that the comparative operational saving on the new Fuchs machine over a conventionally powered materials handler is around £20,000 per annum.

In choosing a Fuchs materials handler from Blue Ireland, RiverRidge Recycling is drawing on their past dealings with Blue, having purchased a Fuchs 331 materials handler and a Doppstadt DW 3060 – another of Blue Ireland’s distributorships – for their Portadown site back in February this year. “Our first experience with Blue Ireland earlier this year proved they provide a good service” said Tony Kirkpatrick, Operations Director at RiverRidge, “and Blue’s commitment to excellent spares availability and a first rate warranty cover were also major factors in making the purchasing decision; additionally, their field service engineer is local to us so the response time is good should the need arise. Couple that with the proven build quality, reliability and productivity of the plant and machinery Blue Ireland has to offer and our choice was comparatively easy.”