Specialising in the recycling of non-ferrous scrap metals, Lancashire based Ashvin Metals has recently added a pair of material handlers to their fleet, supplied by Molson Group.
45 Years of Experience and Expertise
Ashvin Metals was founded in 2011 by John Howarth, a man with over 45 years of experience in the metals industry. Having grown up with a family-owned metal trading business, Howarth Metals in Manchester, John had all the necessary experience to found Ashvin, and grow it into the force it is today. After investing back into the business and growing organically, the company moved toPoulton-Le-Fylde on the Lancashire coastline in 2014, where they have continued to expand their operations over the last decade.
The company’s operations focus mainly on non-ferrous metal recycling, with the metals processed and baled before they are dispatched around the world for further processing. “Our Poulton yard doesn’t deal in huge volumes of material compared to other recycling yards,” Andrew commented. “What we do is clean and process the material correctly, ensuring it’s in a fit and proper state to be recycled easily and can generate a good return for us.”
Sennebogen Scrap Handlers Stand Out
Along with a fleet of small forklifts distributing material around the yard and loading palletised goods, the compact yard is home to a pair of frontline material handlers, both of which have been sourced from Molson Group.
The latest addition comes in the shape of a UK first from German material handling manufacturer, Sennebogen. The 835G scrap handlers are one of the latest generation of material handlers manufactured in Straubing, Bavaria.
With an operating weight of around 50 tonnes, depending on the exact specification, the material handler stands out on the site. “We’ve actually gone for a larger machine than we had before,” Andrew explains. “Our previous machine was around 40 tonnes, but the larger Sennebogen means we can almost keep it static in one corner of the yard and still reach the shear and scrap bays with ease.”
Made to Measure Material Handlers
Like all Sennebogen scrap handlers, the 835G can be built to meet your exact requirements from a huge specification list. This includes three different wheeled, tracked and pedestal undercarriages, with the wheeled and tracked undercarriages being available in either standard form or with a 2.5m pylon on the wheeled version and 1.5m or 4.5m on the tracked and pedestal versions.
As Dave Peacock, Molson Green’s material handling specialist explains: “Most of our customer requests are for relatively standard machines, on either wheeled or tracked undercarriages, which can be moved from site to site with little or no dismantling. Adding in a pylon increases the complications with transportation, but for those wanting unobstructed views over the trailers or boats that they’re loading or unloading from, the additional height a pylon brings is a massive help.”
Stable and Accessible
The 835G undercarriage specified by Ashvin is the standard, MP41 wheeled version which measures a little over 6m in length. Riding on 12.00-20 solid rubber tyres on heavy-duty axles, the undercarriage uses four-point stabilisers to create a wide, stable base from which to operate.
Access onto the undercarriage and onwards to the upper structure is helped with well placed, sturdy and galvanised handrails and steps. Each side of the undercarriage holds a convenient tool box and a removable ladder, which can be secured to each chassis rail, allowing safe and easy access to the engine, hydraulic system and cooling packs.
Innovative Fuel Economy
The 835G scrap handlers use a fuel-efficient Cummins B6.7, six-cylinder diesel engine developing 260hp, with peak torque levels coming in at just 1600rpm. The compact Stage V Cummins engine is proving to be a popular choice in construction equipment thanks to its ease of servicing, reliability and fuel efficiency.
Further efficiency gains are made with the inclusion of a third boom cylinder. While a standard cylinder uses hydraulic oil pumped in and out to open and close the ram, this design is much more efficient. As the arm is lowered, nitrogen in the third boom cylinder is compressed in a tank inside the upper structure, which then releases it under pressure as the boom is raised. This provides ‘free power’ as the release of the nitrogen aids in lifting the boom without putting additional stress on the engine, resulting in lower fuel consumption.
Everything Within Reach
The 835G material handlers are available with either an 81m or 20m industrial boom and stick configuration, and Ashvin has opted for the longer version, fitted with an 800 litre Kinshofer orange peel grab. The Sennebogen is operated by Luke Winter, who has nothing but praise for his latest machine. “It’s a really comfortable and reliable machine,” he says. “Having that extra reach over the previous machine makes life easier too. With the other of our scrap handlers in one corner of the yard and the shear opposite, I can sit in the middle and handle material all around the bays, the shear and the other machine from one spot. The only time I have to move is if we have a tipper come in for a specific material to be loaded straight out.”
The G280 cab elevation lifts the spacious Maxcab up to a working height of almost 6m, which enables Luke to clearly see inside the back of any tipper body. “It’s a great help being able to see into the body from these scrap handlers. The extra reach also allows me to load over the back end of the body and still reach the headboard on most trailers. I always had to move a little to do this with the old material handlers, as the boom fouled on the tailgate of the tipper.”
Kobelco SK140SR Completes the Team
Whilst the bulk material handling operations are carried out by the Sennebogen, a recent change from a Kobelco SK85 up to a Kobelco SK140SR has also increased productivity on the site.
“We have had good service from the SK85,” Andrew commented. “It was a great little machine, but with volumes increasing, we decided to look at our larger material handlers. The SK140SR was the ideal replacement, and whilst it is almost double the weight of the SK85, the footprint isn’t massively different, which is important for us as the machine will spend much of its time in a single corner of the yard.”
The SK140SR sits on a long undercarriage fitted with rubber tracks. With the longer and wider undercarriage offering enhanced stability, the rubber tracks allow the machine to track around the yard without causing any damage to the concreted surface.
The compact tail swing machine is powered by a fuel efficient four-cylinder Isuzu diesel engine which is said to be only slightly thirstier than the machine it has replaced. With a mono boom and 2.84m dipper stick, the reach on the SK140SR means operator Danny Moss can sit the machine right at the mouth of the baler and reach almost every bit of material around him without moving.
Shear Performance
The excavator has been supplied with a Zato shear and an NPK selector grab, and these attachments are regularly swapped to process material when it comes into the yard. “We quite often have to cut some of the incoming material into smaller pieces to allow it to be handled by the LeFort.” Danny commented. “Having the shear is a far safer option than hot cutting the material and is a lot quicker to undertake.”
Whilst the shear is used as and when required, the NPK selector grab is in almost constant use and has stood up very well to the constant handling of the metals.
Much of the work undertaken by the new arrival involves feeding a baling machine with used tin cans. The cans are brought into the site packed in dumpy bags. Already flattened, the bags carry around a tonne of the material. Danny’s job is to empty each bag and transfer the cans into the baler.
The metals are then fed into the baler, which compresses the material, turning around half a bag of tin cans into a cube around 300mm x 300mm. This reduces the volume of the material and makes it both easier to handle and more cost-effective to transport for onward processing.
Whilst the SK140SR has only been on site for a couple of months, it has already been impressing Danny and the management team with its performance. “It’s been a very reliable addition to the fleet,” Danny commented. “We’ve had no issues whatsoever with it. We’ve had a massive increase in the output with this excavator, and we’re only slowed down by the speed of the baler. It’s very impressive!”
Quality Machines with Support to Match
The company’s choice was not only swayed by the quality of the machines, but also the excellent service and backup they’ve received from Salesman Andy Wilkinson and the Molson team.
Andrew Whitmore, Depot Manager for Ashvin, explains: “You are buying quality when you buy from Molson, not just in terms of the product, but also in the way they look after you. We know there will always be issues with equipment, but with the technical backup from Molson’s Sennebogen specialists and the 24-7 service we get from Lisa and the team at the Warrington depot, we know that if we have any issue, whatever the size, they will always be there to get us up and running as soon as possible. You simply don’t get that from other dealers.”
