World’s First SHL885 Electric Fuchs Material Handler delivered to CEMEX

CEMEX UK have recently taken delivery of the world’s first Terex Fuchs SHL885 material handler, supplied by UK distributor Blue Fuchs. 

One of the ‘Big 5’ aggregate suppliers in the UK, CEMEX generates around £775 million in sales and employs over 3500 people in the UK. Two key areas of the business are the production of readymade concrete, as well as the supply of aggregates. CEMEX offers a wide variety of aggregate, from high-PSV and decorative stone, to sand, gravel, limestone and rock armour via a national network of quarries, depots and wharves.

The £1.5million investment in the new Terex material handler is connecting these two divisions within the CEMEX organisation. Ships carry limestone aggregate from the Raynes Quarry in North Wales to the Dagenham Wharf plant, where the new 95 tonne Fuchs material handler is located on a jetty. The Fuchs crane is attached to the jetty via two rails which allow the machine to seamlessly glide up and down the side of the ships, collecting the limestone via a 3m3 Arden Grab and depositing it within a 50 tonne capacity hopper. From there the limestone is transported via three conveyors, totalling 320 meters in length, to the recently constructed batching plant to help create ready mixed concrete.

The electric SHL885 material handler is the complete package. Featuring a cranked boom and a massive 23.6m of reach, CEMEX’s new machine utilises the REXROTH mobile hydraulics system, making for perfectly smooth movement. The hydraulics are powered by a mighty, yet economical electric motor generating 250kW at 1500 rpm. In fact this is one of three electric motors installed within this world first machine. The second 22kW motor supplies pilot pressure for machine operation and the third motor, providing 7.5kW is used to power the air conditioning system. All the electric current is delivered via a double cable roll which is connected to a switchboard located on the machine’s undercarriage. As you would expect from Terex Fuchs material handling machines, this electric SHL885 incorporates a hydraulically height adjustable cab with a maximum eye level of 8.8m from the quay. The cab is also horizontally adjustable by up to 2.2 m and is installed with sound and heat insulated panoramic windows for the ultimate all round view.
The machine sits on tracks which are similar in design to train tracks, but with a flatter profile to give more interaction with the machine itself. The tracks are virtually the entire length of the jetty, meaning the Fuchs can access all areas of the ships which will allow the machine to handle the projected 250,000 tonnes of material arriving each year.
Commenting on the purchase Steve Batty, Site Manager at CEMEX said, “While Blue Fuchs offered us a great deal, the decision certainly wasn’t made purely on price. We were very impressed with the machine and we see how popular the Fuchs equipment is becoming up and down the river”
CEMEX decided upon an electric engine as opposed to the more common diesel for a number of reasons. Firstly it was the environmental and safety benefits. There is much less noise from an electric material handler plus they are more efficient. The electric option also means instant torque, something a diesel engine cannot match, no matter how good it is. Finally there was also the ease of fuel supply. Fixing an electric supply to the jetty was much more feasible than constantly transporting diesel out to the machine.
Pat James, Key Account Manager at Blue Fuchs said, “We are delighted that CEMEX choose Fuchs. This is a highly customised machine, which required all parties, ourselves, Terex Fuchs and CEMEX, as well as Quality Freight Services who delivered the machine, to work very closely together”. This process has clearly demonstrated how Fuchs equipment can be adapted to perfectly suit a customer’s requirements”
Due to the size of the machine the machine was built at the Fuchs factory in Germany, tested, then disassembled again for transportation to Rotterdam. The machine was then reassembled at the Port before being transported via barge to Dagenham. Waiting for high tide due to the weight of the machine, the Fuchs material handler was then lifted into place by crane.

Associated Businesses

  • Warrington, WA4 4SN