the PeoPle - OPERC - Off-highway Plant and Equipment Research ...

able uK invests in specialist
liebherr industrial rehandler
Able UK Limited has
taken delivery of a
high-specification
Liebherr A 934 C HD
Litronic Industrial
Rehandler for their
ship recycling
operations at the
Teesside Environmental
Reclamation and
Recycling Centre
(TERRC) at Able
Seaton Port,
Hartlepool. A longstanding
Liebherr
customer, Able UK has
put its new specialist
Liebherr machine
to work as the main
materials handler on
this impressive facility,
loading, stockpiling
and managing the
scrap metal elements of
the vessels as they are
dismantled.
Able UK Limited is a privately owned
independent organisation which
was formed in 1966. A leading
specialist in complex demolition
processes, the company also has
expertise in site reclamation and
associated brownfield property
development. Drawing on its skills
and experience, Able UK has
evolved and expanded to become
recognised as market leader in the
decommissioning and recycling
of marine structures, including oil and
gas platforms and ships, operating a
number of riverside facilities on both
the Humber and Tees. Reclaimed scrap
metals from the ship decommissioning
and recycling process are sold on
to secondary metals merchants,
with a large proportion for export.
Large volumes of material have to be
handled at Able’s TERRC facilities where
the versatility, power and productivity
of the new Liebherr industrial rehandler
is being fully and successfully put to
the test. A 46 tonnes operating weight
wheeled machine, the A 934 C HD
Litronic is powered by a D 934 L turbocharged
and after-cooled Liebherr engine
complying with level IIIA / Tier 3 reduced
emissions and developing 150kW at
1800RPM. The heavy-duty axles feature
front oscillation lock which can be either
automatically or operator controlled and
the four wheels are fitted with Bergunion
16.00-25/CSE solid tyres. Travel speed
is infinitely variable and between 2.50
kmh (creep speed) and 18 kmh (road
speed), with four hydraulic outriggers
providing optimum stability for stationary
August 2010
NEwS
operations. This machine is a longreach
version and is equipped with an
hydraulic swivel for grapple operation,
an 8.60 metres straight industrial boom
and a 7.50 metres angled industrial
stick. Maximum load capacity is 4.90
tonnes at 15 metres radius using
outriggers; maximum lift height is 16
metres. Central automatic lubrication
is fitted.
For optimum load visibility, the
ergonomically designed operator’s cab
can be hydraulically elevated to give
a line of sight raised to approximately
6.85 metres. The Litronic engine
and hydraulics management system
provides complete operational data,
air-conditioning is standard as is
armoured glass, and the fully adjustable
seat is heated and equipped with an
automatic ventral safety belt. The
steering wheel is adjustable and the
twin joystick controls are integrated
into the seat armrests, providing
positive and accurate operation of
slew and attachments. The cab is
also equipped with a front screen
safety grille and a FOPS top guard.
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