MHL434 F - An all-rounder at Westerwalder Holzpellets Gmbh
From early in the morning until late in the evening, a Fuchs MHL434 F is hard at work at Westerwälder Holzpellets GmbH, a company that processes up to 120,000 fm of roundwood annually into packaging lumber and pellets.
Initially established in 1925 by 21-year-old Emil Mann to transport building materials, the company evolved over the years to become the first large-scale wood pellet production facility in Germany. There is no waste in the processing of wood: bark and wood waste pieces are used to produce electricity and heat. Sawdust is processed into CO2-neutral wood pellets. Currently, up to 50,000 tonnes of pellets are produced there per year.
Due to the construction of the sawmill, called the MEO plant (material-energy optimisation plant) during 2015-17, non-sawable logs are partly used to produce packaging wood. After being cut, the wood is passed through the sorting plant, with scanners and trained employees ensuring that the state-of-the-art sawing line is efficiently operated. The wood can be sawn flexibly in standard dimensions or to size, according to individual customer requirements. Despite the high degree of automation, several employees work on the highly complex line, managing production and quality control. At the end of the production line, two state-of-the-art robots perform valuable services in packaging and palletising the end products. The plant’s interaction of the more traditional workforce with innovative technology meets the highest requirements for quality and efficiency.
The MHL434 F plays an integral role in the facility’s operation, removing roundwood from the delivery truck and taking it to the sorting line’s infeed. Here, the logs are debarked and sorted into boxes according to diameter and length. With its large-dimensioned gripper, the MHL434 F transports the wood to the spacious storage yard.
The key focus in the MHL434’s operation is to ensure that the sawmill’s feed table is permanently loaded. For the other areas of operation on site, both the MHL334 and the new MHL434 can also be used in trailer operation.
Due to the multitude of possible applications, the new MHL434 has become an all-rounder at Westerwälder Holzpellets GmbH: it is in a two-shift operation, five days a week. In addition to various manipulation tasks such as emptying boxes, stacking and loading the sawmill, it also supports the unloading of trucks and the loading of the sorting plant. “The excellent all-round visibility of the MHL434 through the rear-hinged boom greatly increases work safety in the log yard. The performance of the machine is impressive,” said Joachim Kessler, Operations Manager at Westerwälder Holzpellets GmbH.
Compact design
One of the biggest challenges for machine and driver is the narrow space available in the log yard. The small rear radius of 2.6 m paired with the small upper carriage swing diameter enables optimal working conditions, even with narrow aisle widths.
Fuchs Timber Boom
A unique feature in this machine class is the original Fuchs Timber Boom. Due to the arrangement of the boom behind the centre of rotation, the MHL434 offers the best visibility conditions, which increases working safety in the log yard. This concept also enables a greater pile height and thus better utilisation of the available timber storage area.
Fuchs Cabin
The generously dimensioned, elastically mounted and soundproofed cabin with sliding door and tinted windows provides the optimal environment for productive and fatigue-free work. Sun blinds, 10 air conditioning and heating nozzles, swinging armrests / joysticks and a driver’s seat specially designed for pick and carry operation offer the driver the best possible comfort.
Maintenance
Service work can be carried out comfortably from the ground. These activities are additionally facilitated by wide-opening maintenance flaps equipped with gas springs and closing aids.
Standard Features Specially Compiled for Timber Handling
The extensive standard features, which include the front and roof guard for timber application, the driver’s cab with 4 m viewing height, 8 LED work lights, boom cylinder damping system, wireless tyre pressure monitoring, external battery terminals, advanced automatic idle incl. engine shut-off function and reversing fans for the separately located engine and hydraulic oil coolers, has been specially compiled for the requirements of timber handling.
Sebastian Klein, Operator at Westerwälder Holzpellets GmbH said, “The large front, rear and side windows, as well as the excellent view to the right, thanks to the rearhinged boom, enable me to keep a close eye on all the processes around me. I also like the powerful yet sensitive work with the MHL434. Despite the large volume of work, I have activated the ECO mode on our MHL434 for over 70% of my daily tasks. This saves me up to 30% of fuel.”
The MHL434F is available to order from your local Fuchs dealer now. To find your nearest dealer, visit: web link. For more information on the MHL434 F or on any Fuchs material handling equipment, visit: www.terex.com/fuchs/en