5 minute read
MAXIMUM PRECISION
LIEBHERR PRIDES ITSELF ON TACKLING CHALLENGES HEAD-ON. THE LATEST MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT IS NO EXCEPTION.
Liebherr credits itself on focusing today on the challenges that customers will face tomorrow. One of the biggest challenges it foresees is dealing with an increasing amount of waste.
The equipment manufacturer has witnessed a steady growth in the demand for material handling machines as the recycling sector continues to grow in response to more awareness of climate change.
Paul Findlater, National Key Accounts Manager for Liebherr-Australia’s Earthmoving and Material Handling Division, says recycling is becoming “more and more important” both internationally and domestically.
He says the LH 40 M material handler is particularly suitable for recycling operations including waste, scrap and timber.
“Liebherr has mastered key technologies so that it can offer its customers tailor-made solutions,” Paul says. “Every member of the team brings individual passion and unique ideas to find the right solution for every job, no matter what the challenges may be.
“There’s a shared goal of pushing the limits of what is possible for each customer.”
Paul says the sturdy design of the LH 40 M makes it ideal for pre-sorting of household, bulky and industrial waste, loading and unloading of trucks, shredding plants and containers and feeding sorting plants.
The material handler has high load capacities and long reach, due to optimised properties and robust construction. The latest engine and hydraulics technology, developed in-house by Liebherr, means the focus is on fuel efficiency, while enhancing material handling performance.
“One of the basic prerequisites for precise work and maximum handling performance is the overall stability,” Paul says. “The design of the Liebherr undercarriage minimises the application of force to the components and optimises their load and surface footprint.
“The technically-advanced componentry optimises the centre of gravity of the entire machine, thus enabling greater payloads.”
Equipment options for Liebherr material handlers include straight or angled booms in varying length, along with various stick configurations, including tilting kinematics for sorting grapple use, or industrial stick for suspended attachments. The optional hydraulically adjustable boom is also available in the smallest material handler for special applications in recycling where space is critical.
The modern cab design of Liebherr material handlers provides conditions for healthy, focused and productive work in maximum comfort.
The colour touchscreen display, controls and operator’s comfort seat are all co-ordinated to form an ergonomic unit. The large windows and range of cab elevation versions, particularly the optional 30° tilt function cab, provide
The LH 40 M material handler in Unanderra, New South Wales.
Paul Findlater, National Key Accounts Manager for Liebherr-Australia’s Earthmoving and Material Handling Division
the operator with greater visibility together with a low fatigue seat position which prevents neck pain.
“Precision control of the material handling machines are especially important in applications such as waste separation or scrap recycling,” Paul says. “Thanks to the standard proportional control, even such demanding operations can be mastered in style.”
InfraBuild is a leading integrated steel recycling manufacturing and distribution business in Australia, that processes 1.4 million tonnes of recycled steel per annum and supports 15,000 customers across 150 locations through the country.
As one of the largest processors and distributor of steel long products, InfraBuild commits to the safe, efficient and sustainable construction of Australia’s infrastructure and sustainability now and into the future.
Adam West, InfraBuild’s National Recycling Operations Manager says the steel manufacturing distribution and recycling business has relied on Liebherr products since 2008, when it purchased an A 934 C material handler.
Adam says the Liebherr material handlers meet the technical, health and safety requirements of the business.
“Productivity, efficiency and uptime is also important, even more reason why we purchase Liebherr equipment,” he says.
While fuel efficiency, operator comfort and whole of life costs are an advantage of Liebherr products, Adam says national support has also played an important role in the relationship.
InfraBuild has purchased in excess of 50 Liebherr machines to date, including 10 LH 50 M, 17 LH 40 M material handlers that operate at multiple sites across Australia such as Hemmant, Hexham, Laverton, Port Adelaide, Chipping Norton, Mackay and Gold Coast just to name a few.
Adam expects as the business continues to expand and machinery is replaced or updated, more Liebherr material handling equipment will be considered.
The design of Liebherr material handling equipment guarantees short servicing times, thus minimising maintenance costs. All the maintenance points are easily accessible and easy to reach due to large, wide-opening service doors and hatches.
The enhanced service concept places the maintenance points close to each other and reduces their number to a minimum. This means that service work can be completed even more quickly and efficiently.
“Liebherr always places it focus on customer satisfaction,” Paul says. “Customer focus doesn’t just extend to the company’s products but also to its services.”
“This particular customer is a very large user of the Liebherr material handlers. They have been using the product since 2008,” he adds. “Our machines are highly specialised and suited for their sites, which are demanding. In some applications the machines are used up to 18 hours a day at major sites.”
Paul says that fuel efficiency, performance and productivity are all key factors in Infrabuild’s choice to select Liebherr machinery and the service.
“I started with Liebherr in 2004 and have helped to service the needs of Infrabuild since their first purchase,” he says. “We make sure that the customers’ needs are met, as spec requirements are getting much higher these days due to the standard of Occupational Health and Safety requirements.”
Operators, along with the people who are working in the approved safe surroundings to the machine are the number one priority for safety Paul says. As a result, the machines are highly configured with components such as high impact glass, additional guarding on the cabin, multiple cameras and sensors plus other features to protect the operators and machine.
“We have built up their trust in the years, along with their trust in the product. They require the machines for a fixed term, which is then fully supported by a maintenance and repair agreement,” Paul says. “These machines are supported from the time they are delivered, up to the agreed time.
“The criteria for safety have increased over time, but fundamentally safety has been an expectation of Infrabuild from the start. We have always gone above and beyond for the expectation of their machines,” he says.
For more information visit: www.liebherr.com/en/aus/products/ material-handling-equipment/materialhandling-equipment.html
