NEW FUCHS MHL 434F CONTINUES TO R EVOLUTIONISE MATERIAL HANDLING

Blue Equipment Ireland, distributor for the TEREX FUCHS range of material handlers is excited to welcome the machine that was credited with revolutionising timber handling in the early noughties. And, with a host of technological enhancements, the FUCHS MHL 434F is set to stay at the forefront of timber and material handling. Plant and Civil Engineer talked to Ronan Brophy, director of Blue Equipment Ireland to find out why.

The MHL 434F was originally designed for the timber trade, which is a €2.3 billion industry in Ireland and one that is expected to double over the next 15 years. The machine’s applications extend beyond timber into multiple aspects of material handling, including quarrying and demolition, scrap and recycling.

What has made the MHL 434F stand out as a pioneer in material handling?

“When the MHL 434F was first launched it was described as a ‘Pick and Carry’. The original FUCHS Timber Boom did revolutionise the timber industry because it enabled much greater flexibility to pick and carry, allowing greater productivity,” Ronan Brophy explains. “The new FUCHS MHL 434F builds on this legacy of innovation, maintaining and improving the core features based on tried-and-tested technology and concepts and incorporating smart assistance systems and some newly developed options.

“The MHL 434F is the only machine in the 25-tonne class with the original “Fuchs Timber Boom”. The offset boom is mounted behind the centre of rotation, which improves the working range, piling heights and provides best-in-class all-around visibility. This advantage is particularly evident when looking through the right-side window - no boom interferes with the field of vision. This is invaluable in daily work, delivering increased safety, flexibility and work capacity.”

Mhl 434f Credentials

Weighing 25.7 tonne, the MHL 434F operates off a 154hp/115kW Deutz TCD 4.1 L4 engine with a maximum travel speed of 19km/h. Thanks to its compact dimensions, its turning circle is a neat 5.5 metres, which makes manoeuvring in tight spaces easy, but the MHL 434F is a heavy lifter and hard worker with a maximum horizontal reach of 10.7m.

The hydraulic and electronic components, as well as the diesel engine, are easily accessible from ground level. Numerous protective devices have been installed to maximise component and operator protection, most notably the front right impact protection, which protects the water and charge air cooler against ‘cold deformation’, and the newly designed front and roof guard. The operator’s cab comes with everything to make a hard-working day comfortable, safe and enjoyable. The cabin’s soundproofed, heat-insulated panoramic windows give superb all-around visibility at a, viewing height of 4m. Automatic air-conditioning and variable heating add to the comfort, as does the low-frequency suspension comfort seat with seat heating, ‘pas-sive’ seat climatisation and swinging armrests/