Sims Metal management recently added two Liebherr units to its fleet – each with a specific metal han dling task. Operator safety in the industry’s tough working conditions has received particular attention.

In SA, Sims Metal Management is using the R934C HDSL tracked material handler, which has a MH40 quick coupler system. This allows the operator to quickly change the five-fingered scrap grapple to a magnet attachment without having to leave the pro jectile-resistant air-conditioned cabin.

Liebherr SA state manager Peter Gouscos says the coupler system provides a substantial safety benefit for the operator especially when the machine is operating in a high-flow traffic area.

The MH40 quick coupler also completely removes the need for the operator to plug in the magnet, which has caused some electro cutions in the scrap industry. And, he adds, with a changeover time from grapple to magnet or vice versa of less than a minute it ensures the machine is used to its optimum.

Sims Metal Management SA/NT state engineer Adrian Ralph says Liebherr material handlers have been consistently chosen for superior quality of product, service backup and innovation with new products like the MH40 quick coupler. The fleet in SA now includes six Liebherr machines.

In NSW, Sims Metal Management purchased the L580 wheel loader which, says Gouscos, has been built to cope with the ongoing safety requirements in the scrap industry.

The L580 has gel-filled tyres, ROPS/FOPS cabin protection that includes a reinforced roof, projectile resistant windscreen, mesh guarding, handrail protected walk ways and a factory-fitted reversing camera integrated into the dash display.

The material handler is powered by a Liebherr D934L four-cylinder 150 kW Tier 3 diesel engine while the wheel loader’s power plant is a Liebherr D936L six-cylinder 200 kW Tier 4 diesel engine.