A total of four SENNEBOGEN material handlers, including two with a trailer, are working for Pedersen Group in the Australian Tasman sawmill. From the smallest SENNEBOGEN Model, the 818 to the largest of machines, the 880 EQ.
Kawerau, New Zealand – The introduction of four key SENNEBOGEN material handling machines at one of the world’s largest pulp and paper facilities has helped create a substantially more efficient operation for the Pedersen Group, a mill service provider. The range of log handling equipment Pedersen implemented at their Tasman Mill operation is truly comprehensive; encompassing both the smallest and the largest material handlers, the SENNEBOGEN 818 and the SENNEBOGEN 880 EQ.
Pedersen Group provides a vital production link in terms of log yard logistics, mobile plant operations and whole log chipping and debarking services at the Tasman Mill, located on a 500 acre (200ha) site near the Bay of Plenty town of Kawerau in New Zealand’s North Island. The mill site hosts pulp production operations for both CHH Pulp & Paper and Norske Skog. The Pedersen Group team handles log volumes of 1.1 m. tonnes per annum on a seven day, double shift operation.
“Moving to SENNEBOGEN started a number of changes in our operation. The strength, reliability and innovation of the SENNEBOGEN units allowed us to look at our fixed and mobile plant and to reconfigure our yard for maximum efficiency,” says Pedersen’s Kawerau Site Manager Marty Hine.
The pedestal mounted 818 with its hydraulically controlled cab is the nerve center of the operation.
Electrically driven SENNEBOGEN 818 as comfortable control center
At the smaller end of the scale, a pedestal mounted, electric drive SENNEBOGEN 818 acts as the control center for the debarking drum and conveyor feed into a 3000 hp multi-log chipper.
“The hydraulic elevating cab raises and lowers so the operator has excellent vision of what’s coming from the power infeed, through the debarker and down the conveyor in front of him,” says Marty.
“Essentially the 818 is the nerve center for the whole plant, with the operator using a touchscreen and joystick controls in the oversized cab to control product flow at variable speeds and deal with jams using the 818’s grapple.”
SENNEBOGEN 880 EQ – Provides an enormous working radius
The electric drive SENNEBOGEN 880 EQ is one of the world’s largest material handling machines. Pedersen’s unit weighs in at over 600,000 lb (275,000 kg). Sitting on a 5 m pylon and paired with a 99 ft. (30 m) boom, the operator’s view is at over 36 ft. (11 m). While offering all the efficiency benefits of electric power, the machine is still mobile as it sits on crawler tracks and goes 110 ft. (33.5 m) with a tether.
Marty says he is impressed with the precision of the SENNEBOGEN 880 EQ. He cites the balance the machine exhibits, regardless of load, as exceptional. Even at the 880 EQ’s full reach of 99 ft. (30 m) and with the total weight in the grab of 26,500 lb (12 tons), the machine is rock steady. This is due to SENNEBOGEN’s equilibrium design, with a moving counterweight to help keep the load centered. The long reach of the SENNEBOGEN 880 EQ can unload from the trailers straight into the power infeed, or across to the storage area.
Although electrically powered, the 880 EQ has the flexibility of moving over 100 ft. (33.5 m) to best position itself.
Towing up to 60 t – SENNEBOGEN 830 trailer puller improves log yard logistics
Alongside the supersized handling capacities of the SENNEBOGEN 880 EQ are two SENNEBOGEN 830 M-T log loaders – which have proven to be real game-changers. The 830 M-Ts are the only log handlers that can tow 132,250 lb (60 tons)!
“Before the SENNEBOGEN 830s arrived we were using wheel loaders, which can’t stack as high as the 830s can. Wheel loaders can’t tow either, so we’re moving more logs and stacking them more efficiently with a bookend system. The way we use space within the yard has improved dramatically,” says Bruce Hutchins, Project Lead.
“This reconfiguration also eliminates our old log deck and waterfall system, which means the wood is handled less, resulting in fewer opportunities for damage and loss of fibre,” says Bruce.
Marty Hine says SENNEBOGEN parts and technical support from Australian distributor Pacific Materials Handling (PMH) has been fantastic.
“PMH has really been with us every step of the way on this. Couple this support with reduced operating costs, cheaper consumables and parts and less in the way of service costs and we’re ahead across the board.”
Pacific Materials Handling SENNEBOGEN Business Manager, Byron Judd echoes these sentiments: “From the initial phone call onwards, developing this plan alongside the Pedersen Group team has been a truly rewarding working partnership.”