ltd – summer 2011/12 - CablePrice

TRACK & WHEELnow permanently transferred from thebulldozer to the 724K wheeled loader.“With its foam-filled rubber tyres,the John Deere is sealing up the truckmanoeuvring pad so it doesn’t get muddy,and being a 20-tonne loader, it can pushrefuse quite readily,” Blair says. “We alsouse it for small jobs like ‘blading out’ ofearth on the pad, because we’re alwaysprogressing forward with the earth.”He says that, in addition, the loaderwill be employed to stockpile gravel andmove it into position for placing on topof the landfill’s plastic liner and fabricoverlay to further protect the liner.Blair continues that when TPI realisedit would have to buy a wheeled loaderto use on the pad, it surveyed whatcould be obtained locally. The JohnDeere not only came up to spec withall other comparable loaders but “itwas there – it was readily available. AndCablePrice’s service and parts are locallysourced – you don’t have to look outsideof New Zealand”.The Silverstream landfill’s long,planned life is matched by that of theJohn Deere 724K. Its turbocharged 9-litre,197kw, wet sleeve diesel engine deliversan impressive 1169Nm of torque, and itsall-round rugged reliability, durability andheavy-duty mainframe equip it to thriveon waste-handling and tough transferstation tasks.An innovative Quad-Cool (coolingon demand) system with proportional(reversible) fan ensures that everythingstays cool in dusty conditions. Extensiveguarding minimises debris build-upand helps to avoid close encounterswith obstacles from slowing downthe machine. A solid-state electricaldistribution centre, durable sealed-switchmodule and state-of-the-art diagnosticmalfunction monitor further boostuptime and productivity.Other features include inboard,planetary, wet-disc brakes that help toensure longer service life.While Blair has yet to fully assessthe 724K’s operating costs, he says thewheeled loader has been performingwell, fulfilling TPI’s expectations. It hasan ideal weight-to-power ratio and hisoperators have praised its accessibility,simplicity, cab comfort and ease ofhandling.“We’ve been through snow and a wetsix weeks and we’ve found that havingthe loader has been an asset. It was agood choice – we made a good decision,”Blair says.22 CablePrice