Capital Equipment News February 2020

COVER STORY

to Nelspruit-headquartered Forestry Plant & Equipment, one of South Africa’s leading mechanised forestry contractors. One of the key talking points on the machine is that it is able to hook a trailer. Conventionally, log handlers carry the payload on the grab only. With the trailer, customers can now carry an additional 20 t of volume that they are able to move from point A to B in one go, which is very cost- effective, especially when handling logs between long distances. “The LH 60 M’s dual drive makes it strong enough to draw a trailer. The machine’s twin motor travel drive gives it greater pulling power at maximum speed. It also allows for more efficient driving without gear shifting for fluid working operation,” explains Kudumba. With an engine output of 200 kW, the system has maximum torque for high speeds at its disposal. The stepless drivetrain also maintains the speed at a constant level in the optimum range for maximum acceleration with consistently high pulling power. In this way, a high level of driving performance can be consistently drawn upon even on gradients. “The combination of a 200-kW engine output and a high pump delivery rate guarantees maximum acceleration and high speed of the working movements. The standard 4-wheel steering provides great agility and manoeuvrability of the log handler, even in the tightest of spaces often found in timber yards. Furthermore, the 4-wheel steering increases driving stability,” says Kudumba. In conclusion, Kudumba says the new generation of material handling machines are powerful and efficient. Liebherr achieves this difficult balancing act with its own engine technology manufactured in-house and optimised to meet the requirements of controlled hydraulics. For decades, Liebherr has been ahead of the industry with its knowledge of production and system solutions. Key components such as the diesel engine, electronic components, slew ring, swivel drive and hydraulic cylinders are developed and produced by Liebherr itself. “The great depth of in-house manufacturing guarantees maximum quality and ensures that components are optimally configured to each other,” says Kudumba. He highlights some of the key features that speak directly to operational economy – the Liebherr-Synchron-Comfort system (LSC) and the Liebherr-Power Efficiency (LPE). The cleverly engineered machine control system, the LSC, assures optimum adaptation of the hydraulics to the respective deployment scenario. b

Whether sorting out mixed scrap material, loading and unloading ships or loading shredders, shears and press plant, Liebherr's material handling machines have been developed for high productivity.

A major talking point in Liebherr Africa’s materials handling journey is its recent entry into the telescopic handler market.

“Liebherr develops machines and equipment options for every need and application. Our machines are used for a variety of tasks in recycling and waste management sector. Mobile materials handling machines, crawler material handlers, wheel loaders, telescopic handlers, bulldozers and crawler loaders all sort, separate and load recyclables and solid waste quickly and reliably. Material handled includes glass, metal, wood, paper and agriculture waste, to name just a few,” says Kudumba. Speaking of other equipment solutions that can be deployed in the waste/recycling sector, Kudumba says Liebherr Africa offers a wide range of dozers and wheel loaders. The dozer range available for the local market includes the PR734-4; PR744; PR754; PR764; and the PR776. The wheel loader range also comprises several models, including the L524; L538; L550; L566; L580; and the L586 X-Power. Timber handling For efficient timber handling, Liebherr offers a broad portfolio of machines, which are ideal for typical operations such as loading and unloading trucks and trailers, sorting logs or transportation. For this particular industry, Liebherr Africa offers its LH 35 (mobile); LH 50 (mobile) and LH 60 (mobile). In this range, Liebherr Africa recently launched the LH 60 M Timber. Last year, Capital Equipment News exclusively witnessed the handover of the first machine in South Africa

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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS FEBRUARY 2020