JCB machines show their metal
Two newly launched JCB models help a customer increase productivity by three hundred percent
RUNTECH North – a division of Runtech Ltd – are contracted to supply all plant and vehicles to the SSI UK iron and steel manufacturing facility in Redcar. The firm has recently purchased a JCB JS370 tracked excavator and 457 wheel loader to carry out dredging and materials handling duties at the site.
The brand new JS370 – complete with 23m long-reach boom – is used to dredge the slurry ponds where waste iron from the manufacturing process is cooled. It works in tandem with the Tier 4 Final JCB 457 wheel loader, which loads the material into drying beds.
Runtech North’s site manager at Redcar, Mark Wood, said: ‘Since the introduction of the two new JCB models, productivity has increased by an estimated 300% on how the dredging and materials handling process was previously handled.
‘Both machines are performing absolutely brilliantly and the operators truly love them. The JS370 is easy to use, powerful and perfect for the job. The 457 is powerful, intuitive, extremely comfortable and does everything we have asked of it with ease.’
Supplied by dealers Holt JCB, the JS370 tracked excavator has been specified with a 23m long-reach boom and dredging bucket. It is used to dredge iron ore powder – a waste by-product of the steel-making process – out of slurry ponds into which it is placed to cool.
Once removed by the JS370 (which is also being used to widen these ponds) it is loaded directly into the 457 model which transports it to drying beds. Here the 457 WLS turns the powder to speed up the drying process. In total, the two machines will handle up to 40,000 tonnes (once dry) of this powder per year.
The SSI UK facility, built on a coastal site in Redcar, imports raw materials via a deep-water berth and ore terminal. The fully integrated facility carries out activities ranging from raw material collection and coke making, to iron and steel making and power generation.
The JCB 457 WLS is the first machine to boast the completely new JCB CommandPlus cab structure, engine cover and rear counterweight design, all of which contribute to improved visibility, reduced noise levels, increased internal space and an enhanced working environment for the operator.
In addition, the 457 is the first large JCB wheel loader to meet Tier 4 Final emissions standards, with the adoption of a powerful MTU diesel engine that is well matched to the machine’s operating duties. The engine contributes to a fuel saving of around 16% compared with the previous model.
As with other JCB machines, the engine in the 457 meets Tier 4 Final without the need for a costly diesel particulate filter (DPF), relying instead on an efficient combustion process, with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system and an exhaust fluid additive to meet the regulations.
The 37-tonne JS370 – JCB’s largest tracked excavator model – has been engineered for strength, productivity, efficiency, comfort, safety and ease of maintenance. Powered by a highly efficient Tier 4i Isuzu 210kW engine, it delivers 25% more power and 27% more torque than its predecessor.
According to JCB, a 155kN bucket tearout force makes the standard boom version of the JS370 model up to 12% more productive than its closest competitors. A 70/30 front screen split for a clear view of the front right track, plus a large laminated glass roof window ensure exceptional all-round visibility.
Runtech North specialize in site contracts and are responsible for the hire and maintenance of a fleet of approximately 300 vehicles and machines throughout the north and east of England, which they service from depots in Scunthorpe and Teesside.
The company is a division of Runtech Ltd, who were founded in 1988 in Port Talbot, South Wales, and now operate a fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles, including cars, vans, trucks, heavy-haulage vehicles, trailers and low-loaders, delivering full transport, hire and service solutions across the UK.
