PR Bates rise above with the Sennebogen 340G

PR Bates Services has strengthened its operations with the addition of a Sennebogen 340G Multi-Handler from Molson Green. This machine combines the capabilities of a telehandler, wheel loader, and material handler, delivering excellent load capacity, impressive reach, and outstanding visibility. With a new yard on the horizon, PR Bates needed equipment that could handle a wide range of tasks efficiently, and the 340G has proven to be the ideal choice.

The story of PR Bates goes all the way back to 1992, when things started with nothing more than a truck and a willingness to take on whatever work came in. Driveway digs turned into small jobs, small jobs turned into steady contracts, and over time the business grew into the full recycling and aggregates operation it is today. Now the company handles between sixty and seventy thousand tonnes of material every year, and one thing hasn’t changed along the way: their commitment to making sure nothing goes to waste. Everything that comes into the yard is fully recycled, and that reputation for reliability and quality has helped them build long‑standing relationships with key customers including Sentara, Essex County Skips and W H Roads.

PR Bates Services is all about making sure good materials don’t go to waste. At their yard in Towerfield Business Park in Benfleet, they take over 200 loads from tippers, grab lorries, and skip trucks from loads between 1-20 tonnes every day and turn it all into reusable aggregates and materials. Everything gets recycled and comes back as quality products like sharp sand, ballast, pea shingle, granite, Type 1, and topsoil. It’s simple, nothing gets thrown away, making them be able to offer high quality materials to their customers.

A multi-handler like the Sennebogen 340G isn’t something you’d normally see in an aggregate yard, it’s usually found in industries like waste handling or agriculture because of its versatility. That’s why Paul Bates was surprised by how well it’s performed. With a lift capacity of around 4 tonnes and a reach of up to 9 meters, it can load trucks quickly and keep pace with the demands of a busy yard. The telescopic boom and bottom-dump bucket make unloading fast and efficient without constant repositioning, which saves time and keeps operations moving smoothly. The machine has also been fitted with an RDS Alpha, Loadmaster Alpha 100 onboard weighing system, giving operators precise control over what they’re loading, an important factor for accuracy and compliance. In short, its combination of strength, reach, and precision has turned out to be a real advantage where speed and productivity matter most.

In practice, the 340G has plenty of real‑world muscle. Lifting up to 4 tonnes, and it still feels strong when you stretch it out, roughly 2.6 t at full lift (7.7 m) and about 1.7 t at full forward reach. In the yard, that translates to fewer second attempts and fewer trips back to re‑weigh. Add the elevating cab for a clear view into truck bodies and the Loadmaster α100 onboard weighing for spot‑on loads, and operators can hit targets first time and keep trucks moving.

Paul Bates summed it up: “We didn’t expect a multi-handler to perform this well in an aggregate yard, but it’s kept up with everything we’ve thrown at it.” That’s down to working closely with Molson Salesman Brian Bell to make sure they got the right machine for the job. By understanding the yard’s challenges and matching them with the right setup, the 340G has delivered the strength, reach, and precision needed to keep operations running smoothly.

What really makes the Sennebogen 340G stand out is its hydraulic system. It’s built to deliver serious lifting power while keeping everything smooth and controlled, even when the boom is fully extended. That means operators can move heavy loads confidently and place them exactly where they need to without wasting time. The hydraulics work hand in hand with the Cummins F3.8 Stage V engine, which provides the power behind the scenes, but it’s the precision and efficiency of the hydraulics that make the biggest difference when the yard is flat out.

Build quality was another key factor, and it’s something Sennebogen is known for across its entire range. These machines are built to last, and PR Bates saw that first-hand. From day one, the 340G has handled constant loading and moving without issues. It’s strong, reliable, and simple to operate, which is exactly what’s needed in a busy yard. The team described it as hassle-free, a machine they can put to work without worrying about downtime.

The buying experience with Molson Green was built on that same approach. Rather than offering an off-the-shelf solution, the team spent time understanding how the yard operates, the materials coming in, and the pressures of a busy schedule. That meant the 340G arrived ready for work and set up for the job from day one. Paul Bates explained, “Brian knew exactly what we needed. he asked the right questions and made sure the machine was configured for the way we work.” That attention to detail made a big difference, and it’s one of the reasons PR Bates had no hesitation in ordering a second 340G for the expansion.