Material handler with a crawler undercarriage on a 15 foot (4.5 m) pylon powered by a 180 hp (132 kW) electric motor. This machine was purpose-built for the material handling conditions of Iwamoto Metal Co. Ltd.’s largest plant.
Kyoto, Japan – When Iwamoto Metal Co. Ltd.’s converted their excavator into a material handling machine, it proved to be a useful short-term solution. However, when it was time to replace it, they knew that their new machine had to be more powerful and more efficient in order to reduce operating costs. The solution was a custom-built SENNEBOGEN 830 E with a 15 foot (4.5 m) pylon and powered by a 180 hp (132 kW) electric drive motor that was purpose-built to meet Iwamoto’s material handling requirements on this site.
Iwamoto Metal Co. Ltd. is a major player in Japan when it comes to metal recycling. More than 90,000 tons of scrap metal is processed every month at 11 scrap yards spread across Japan. And with recycling experts predicting an increasing influx of scrap materials, particularly from the automotive industry, Iwamoto Metal Co. will only be busier as time goes on.
Modern material handler replaces modified excavator in metal recycling
An influx of scrap means that machines are subjected to higher loads, required to process more material within the same time frame and every square foot must be used more efficiently. Iwamoto Metal Co.’s new SENNEBOGEN acquisition will play a key role at the site, loading the metal scrap delivered by trucks and feeding the hopper of the 23 foot (7 m) high shredder. In fact, it was the reach and versatility that allowed for this decision to ultimately be an easy one. Swapping out a converted earthmoving excavator with a machine that is purpose-built for material handling operations and has been customized for the material handling conditions at Eichigawa is like having your suits tailor-made… they fit perfectly and you always look your best regardless of the situation!
Differences explained
What are the differences between an earthmoving excavator and a material handler? “Excavators often reach their limits in recycling and scrap handling in terms of load capacity, engine power and cooling,” explains Takeshi Iwanami, product expert at SENNEBOGEN’s Japanese sales and service partner Sun Earth Co. Ltd. Conditions in earthmoving differ from those in material handling: earthmoving excavators are designed to exert their force downwards, directly into the soil. Material handlers are designed to reach high heights with maximum payloads. In these situations, excavators don’t have the necessary power or reach to maximize their onsite performance.
The 15 foot (4.5 m) pylon and the hydraulically raised 9 foot (2.7 m) Maxcab provides ideal visibility into the 23 foot (7 m) high shredder.
Increased performance through customized configuration and electric drive
In addition to being right-sized, the Iwamoto Metal Co. Ltd.’s 830 E Series material handler continues to showcase the SENNEBOGEN philosophy that the more a machine is customized to the customer’s needs, the more efficient it is. Furthermore, in order to be environmentally responsible while also reducing their operating costs, they chose a SENNEBOGEN material handler with a 180 hp (132 kW) electric drive powerplant.
The 15-foot (4.5 m) pylon elevation provides the best possible view of the scrap piles being loaded on to the infeed deck of the 23 foot (7 m) high shredder. Thanks to the hydraulically raised Maxcab, the operator has a clear view of even the most remote corners from his vantage point now being 32 feet (10 m). This absolutely increases his efficiency while at the same time, reducing the risk of any accidents related to visibility challenges.
With a much better view, noticeably more power and precise control the operator is genuinely pleased with the new machine. For years, the Iwamoto Metal Co. had relied on the green machines “Made in Germany” at all their sites. “We are glad that we decided to go with the electric material handler. The machine performs much better than its predecessor and the operating costs are much lower,” emphasizes Hiroshi Iwamoto, Managing Director of Iwamoto Metal Co. Ltd.