Problem? Let Liebherr handle it

Liebherr’s answer to double trouble...

When you’re recycling more than 200,000 tonnes of timber a year it’s crucial that your frontline machines are up to the job. The Purvis Group’s telescopic handlers weren’t: it was time to give Liebherr a call.

The Fife multi-faceted group had been running a pair of waste spec handlers at its biomass facility but it was becoming increasingly evident they just couldn’t cope. Site manager Wayne Campbell takes up the story: ‘Because both machines were extremely important to the business, they needed to be reliable. We could cope with one machine being out of service for a very short time but when it became a regular occurrence on both, we knew we needed to look elsewhere for a solution.’

The answer was found at Liebherr GB in the form of two T60-9S telescopic handlers which were acquired following a successful demonstration exercise and put into operation at Purvis’s recycling park close to its headquarters in Lochgelly. There, virgin timber and material sourced from the company’s recycling operations are processed into several grades to supply biomass to power stations. The machines’ duties include handling the huge volumes of material being generated by the timber processing operations and loading up the continuous stream of walking floor trailers that take the material off site.

Liebherr’s telehandler range encompasses models with lift capacities from 3.3 tonnes to 6 tonnes and with maximum lift heights to 10m. The most popular models in the UK are the heavy-duty, waste specification T 55-7S and T 60-9S, both armed with upgrades to equip them for work in the tough applications found in the waste industry. 

Purvis initially had their eye on the smaller T 55-7S and took it on demo but, as managing director Craig Purvis explained, it was agreed that better load-over height of the larger machine would be more beneficial. He added: ‘Liebherr organised a second demo, this time with the larger machine which has worked out perfectly and handles our 4m³ and 5m³ buckets with ease.’

‘The large, general-purpose buckets mounted on hydraulic quick couplers has allowed the Liebherr’s to cut the loading time for each truck to a minimum and with the increased height of the 9m boom, the machines can stay well away from the trucks on each pass.’

In the case of the T 60-9S, the Camso semi-solid, puncture-proof tyres provide solid grip when the concrete surface becomes wet and greasy. The machine rides on heavy-duty Spicer axles with a range of steering options and its 3.15m wheelbase offers rock-solid stability. The two-piece boom is mounted low in the chassis to give the operator a wider field of visibility.

Operator duties are split George Nicholson and Ross Black who have given the handlers the thumbs-up. Nicholson said: ‘They are great machines to operate – powerful, smooth and very comfortable with unbelievable visibility. On the previous machines you were forever rocking backwards and forwards in the seat to see the bucket but it’s so much more relaxing in these new machines thanks to the huge windscreens. There’s plenty of power too. Even though we are only moving woodchip, it compresses and needs a bit of a shove to get it into the bucket. The Liebherr’s do it easily.’

‘They are great machines to operate – powerful, smooth and comfortable’ - George Nicholson, operator

THE CUSTOMER

Founded in 1980 as a plant hire operation, the Purvis Group has expanded into a single-source business for the construction, recycling and haulage sector with interests in civil engineering, demolition, building supplies, screening and crushing, mechanical and electrical services and site accommodation. Founder and chairman Bob Purvis was awarded an OBE in the 2025 King's New Year's Honours for services and commitment to the community.