Sennebogen handler cuts trucks down to size

Walsall, United Kingdom-based F.W. Thomas deals in used trucks, trailers and spare parts on a global basis. In the course of its work, some of the vehicles it handles are in such poor condition they are ready to be broken down for parts. Company co-owner Bill Thomas says the machine he deploys to handle that job is his Sennebogen 830 E series material handler.

F.W. Thomas purchased the handler from Stoke-on-Trent, U.K.-based E.H. Hassell & Sons in April 2016, buying a model that is equipped with a 168-kilowatt Tier 4 emissions standards diesel engine. The 830 also has a mobile undercarriage with all-wheel drive and joystick steering, and a 14-meter (46-foot)-long boom with a reversing mechanism, and a quick-changer for attachments.

According to Sennebogen, the model is “tailored to the customer’s requirements, [and] the driver can easily change between the different attachments.”

Says Bill Thomas, “No other manufacturer can offer me such a machine.” He says attachments at his location need to be changed often, especially when dismantling truck trailers. In that process, all reusable parts and non-metallic components are first removed from the end-of-life trailer. With the scrap metal shears attached, things like tires and axles are removed, and the chassis is separated from the truck bed. The reusable parts can then be processed separately.

Next, a sorting grab is attached, and the Sennebogen 830 E starts to strip down the truck bed. Wooden planking is removed before the scrap metal shears are put back on to cut up the steel frame. Being able to switch between attachments quickly and efficiently is thus important, according to Sennebogen and its customer. F.W. Thomas also has a multi-shell grab, a load hook and other attachments available for use on site.

Bill Thomas identifies as another crucial feature the Sennebogen Maxcab cab, which can be elevated by 2.7 meters (8.9 feet). The elevated position is especially useful when material needs to be loaded into containers or trucks, according to Thomas. For this task, the driver has an unobstructed view of the work area and can position cumbersome parts easily, say the two firms.

“The Sennebogen 830’s robust design, the good hydraulic power and reliable service from sales partner E. H. Hassel have us convinced” the company made the correct purchase, says Bill Thomas.