view from the cab
KOBELCO INCREASES EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY AT MULHOLLAND SCRAP METALS When Mulholland Scrap Metals wanted to increase both productivity and efficiency at the company’s already busy waste management site at Ballymena in County Antrim they opted to invest in a Kobelco SK210D dismantler from McSharry TRACK – and they haven’t looked back since, as Plant & Civil Engineer’s David Stokes has been finding out. Mulholland Scrap Metals was established over 25 years ago by director John Mulholland and today is regarded as one of the leading scrap metal dealers throughout the island of Ireland. Employing a team of fully trained staff, the company collects and efficiently and safely disposes of a wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, extracted from domestic appliances, farm machinery, corrugated steel, scrap cars and more. As a registered and licensed ATF, it operates a range of specialist equipment, including a de-pollution bay for hazardous substance removal.
The latest addition to its machinery fleet is the Kobelco SK210D which has been designed and built specifically for car dismantling, although the company can also utilise it on other tasks around the yard. The Kobelco comes with a car-dismantler nibbler, but John opted for a multidismantler nibbler, the difference being the clamp arms which open and close from the sides as opposed to an up and down movement, thus making it more versatile. “It means we can not only employ it on dismantling cars, but also on other products such as aluminium trailers,” says John whose team dismantle on average around 80 cars a week. The multi-dismantler nibbler rotates 360 degree, enabling effective twisting and stripping motions via a proportionate control button on the left joystick. Movements are quick, controlled and precise. The powerful shear/cutter blades at the back of the jar allow the operator to cut vehicle frames and chassis or downsize other materials. The interlocking
replaceable teeth are made to grip and hold material securely, yet nimble enough to grab and pick up a single wire. A cab interference prevention system is provided as standard equipment to prevent the nibbler from contacting the cab during operation. Audible and visual warnings appear when the nibbler tool approaches the cab, but the machine stops it before any contact to the cab is made. The system calculates the boom angle, arm angle, idler link motion angle to come up with the position and direction of the front attachment to control its motion. Machine operation feels natural and is simplified by making the clamp arms operate by foot pedals and the nibbler by the joystick mounted rocker switches. Levers, pedals and switches are easily operable without requiring excessive force to prevent fatigue during extended periods of use.
Comfortable Cab Working in a busy environment such as a scrap yard, of course, means good all-round visibility is essential for the operator, and the Kobelco doesn’t disappoint in that regard. The large roomy cab has a wide open view through the large front and side windows. Posts are small and minimised to further reduce blind spots and distractions. Large step makes it easy for the operator to climb into and out of the cab, while a standard grid type cab ceiling guard protects the operator against objects falling on to the roof. In addition, the front and right side windows have a tear and penetration-resistance film that would hold glass fragments together in the event of an accidental impact.
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PLANT & CIVIL ENGINEER
