Keeping it in the Family!

• 
• 7th July 2008
• Recycling
 

Secondary metals processor, Norwood Metals Limited, has just taken delivery of another Liebherr scrap handler to boost their growing materials handling requirements. A new A 934C Litronic joins four other specialist Liebherr machines at this long-established, independent and family-owned company's premises in Norwood Industrial Estate, Killamarsh, near Sheffield.

Norwood Metals Limited has been in secondary metals processing for some 15 years and was founded by Brian Hull who has been in the business himself since 1957. A truly family affair, Brian's two sons - who joined the company straight from school - and their wives are running the day-to-day activities of Norwood Metals, with Brian still very much actively involved. A staunch Liebherr owner for 15 years, Brian comments "Liebherr makes first-class materials handlers and provides a good service. Like us, they go out of their way to keep their customers happy and we find their equipment extremely reliable. Another part of the family business is a building and property development company in Wales, Bryncoed Homes" Brian continues "and we've also got Liebherr excavators in our fleet there as well. Our operators like the machines which we always take with service contracts and, for the scrap metal handling operations, we like the Liebherr grabs too".

Norwood Metals runs a fleet of skip lorries, roll-on-off vehicles and bulkers for collection and delivery. Ferrous and non-ferrous raw materials are mostly sourced from the north east Midlands, although Norwood does obtain stock nationally as well. Sorting, stockpiling and shearing are carried out at the Killamarsh premises for onward sale to foundries and abroad through exporting merchants. All Norwood Metals' Liebherr materials handlers work full shifts and play a key role in materials movement, feeding the processing machinery, loading and unloading the various vehicles and stockpiling in the yard.

The Liebherr A 934C Litronic is, arguably, the UK's market-leading materials handler of its type and class in applications as diverse as timber handling, cargo vessel loading and unloading, loose bulk materials handling and, of course, the scrap metals industry. Norwood Metals has taken their machine with top specifications and a number of optional extras for versatility, productivity and operational safety.

A 40 tonnes class wheeled machine, the A 934C Litronic is powered by a D 934L turbo-charged and after-cooled Liebherr engine complying with Tier3/Level3A emissions and developing 150kW at 1800RPM. The heavy-duty axles feature front oscillation lock which can be either automatically or operator controlled and the eight wheels have been fitted with solid 12.00-20 tyres. Travel speed is infinitely variable and between 2.50 and 18 kmh (road speed) and four hydraulic outriggers provide optimum stability for stationary operations. Norwood Metals' machine is a long-reach version and is equipped with a monobloc industrial 8.60 metres boom and a 7.50 metres angled industrial stick, both with load-holding valves and giving a maximum load of 4.60 tonnes at 15 metres radius using outriggers; 2.30 tonnes free-on-wheels. An additional hydraulic service has been installed for a 360º grab swivel mechanism and the machine is equipped with a 20kW generator installation. Central automatic lubrication is standard.

For load visibility, the ergonomically designed operator's cab can be hydraulically elevated via a parallelogram system to give a line of sight raised to around 6.85 metres, which operators find extremely beneficial when loading high-sided bulkers and for feeding the shearing plant. The air-conditioned cab is fitted with armoured glass and provides a comfortable and safe working environment. Comprehensive instrumentation includes Liebherr's own Litronic engine and hydraulics management system, which provides real-time operational data and safe load indication. The fully adjustable seat is heated and equipped with an automatic ventral safety belt. The steering wheel is adjustable and twin joysticks are integrated into the seat armrests, providing positive and accurate control of slew and attachments. The cab's front windscreen and roof window are FOPS protected by guard grilles. Additional front and rear headlights, travel beacon and travel alarm have been installed.

For further information, please contact:
Liebherr-Great Britain Limited
Telephone: 01767-602100
Fax: 01767-602110