MAXIMUM UPTAKE

SCRAP METAL RECYCLER RECYCAL UPGRADED ITS FLEET IN A BID TO CARRY MAXIMUM PAYLOADS ACROSS ITS NATIONAL COLLECTION SERVICE.

On the sprawling Victorian Hume Highway, an illuminated green truck transports scrap metal from Albury back to the city.

Family-owned and operated scrap metal recycler Recycal travels the country ensuring waste and recyclables reach an environmentally sustainable destination.

Jason Zorzut, Operations Manager at Recycal, says the business has grown exponentially over the past decade.

“We started off with a ute and a trailer and our business got to a point where it had to expand and replace the old fleet of vehicles due to reliability issues and downtime,” he says.

Jason says that as general manufacturing has changed rapidly over the past five years, Recycal diversified across a range of industry segments, including ferrous and non-ferrous metal, and this led it to reevaluate its existing fleet.

Recycal’s statewide operations, spanning major operations across Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Launceston and Hobart, meant it needed a national supplier to support its continued growth.

Gough Palfinger Australia’s national service network, reliability and strong service provision saw Recycal turn to the company for an entire fleet of cranes and hookloaders, with the relationship commencing in 2014.

Recycal has since invested in a diverse fleet ranging from smaller trucks with tailgate lifters to 10-axle hookloaders with trailer combinations.

With a variety of assets on their way,

Palfinger’s national service network was a key reason why Recycal chose to partner with them.

Recycal’s fleet will this year feature more than 20 Scania vehicles fitted with Palfinger equipment.

One of the most recent purchases was Recyal’s investment in five Scania 8x4s mounted with Palfinger T22A hookloaders.

Jason says that the lightweight design of the hookloader means Recyal is able to mount larger cranes with greater lifting capacity and longer reach. The telescopic arm of the T22A supports the use of a variety of containers with varying lengths.

“Truck and crane business are very similar in many ways. However, we feel the Palfinger equipment gives us a competitive edge. The double articulation of the T22A hookloader provides full versatility to swap truck bodies and do anything,” Jason says.

As a universally applicable machine, the 5975-millimetre-long T22A Palfinger hookloaders are the most popular models in the line-up and the ideal size for a range of 8×4 trucks.

Jason says that each year, the company has ordered up to three additional trucks with the Palfinger units attached, adding that the decision is supported by a strong relationship with Gough Palfinger.

He says that in Victoria alone, Recycal collects around 100 containers per day.

“Our Palfinger cranes load up to 2.5 tonnes, while the average hookloader collects up 10 tonnes,” Jason says.

The T22A Hookloader is capable of collecting containers as large as 36 cubic metres with a weight of close to 13 tonnes.

According to Stuart Cameron, Key Accounts Manager for Victoria, SA and Tasmania at Gough Palfinger Australia, the company’s statewide service partners ensures minimal downtime for Recyal. Through Gough Transport

Solutions, the company provides scheduled servicing, preventative maintenance and repairs onsite.

“Our national network of service partners provides customers with peace of mind that any repairs and breakdowns will be sorted promptly,” Stuart says.

He says that Palfinger’s specialised service begins with the company performing stability calculations to ensure the vehicle has the best available lifting capacity to suit the vehicle. The units are then fitted at Palfinger’s Melbourne office before delivery.

Stuart says the telescoping and articulating arm provides capacity for Recycal’s heavy scrap loads.

“A truck on the road in Victoria is allowed to lift around 15 tonnes at a maximum. The 22-tonne is a lightweight hooklift, so it provides a better lifting capacity,” he says.

“We are continually working on providing a high quality of service and maintenance for our customers. Knowing the ins and outs of the fleet makes it easy for us to fix any problems as soon as possible.”

Recycal’s fleet also includes a number of Palfinger cranes, including one Scania 8x4 with a front mounted Palfinger PK9001-EH-V and three Scania 6x3s equipped with a rear mounted Palfinger PK9001-EH-B loader crane.

Jason says that occupational health and safety is critical for Recycal and its multinational customers that require equipment to be certified for use on site.

“Having new Palfinger late model cranes with the latest safety features gives us a commercial edge and peace of mind,” he says.

He says that all in all, reliability has been the biggest advantage of the technology, with safety features protecting the gear from wear and tear.

The crane units comprise a wireless remote control for added safety and user friendliness. Jason says this enables the operator to have full visibility to observe any potential hazards whether it be power lines, surrounding infrastructure or other vehicles.

A remote display shows the cranes load capacity in percentage terms to allow the driver to ascertain how much the crane unit can stretch.

On the hook units, sensors and locking mechanisms support driver safety.

Jason says that after-sales support is strong and remains confident of the ability to turn to Palfinger’s national service centre should anything go wrong.

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