Scottish firm acquires new JCB waste materials handler

Buchanan Skip Hire purchase 20-tonne JS20MH machine for waste-management duties

WEST Lothian-based Buchanan Skip Hire have taken delivery of a new JCB JS20MH material handler. Joining two JCB Loadall telescopic handlers – the 541-70 and 5550-80 Wastemaster – all three machines will be used to handle waste as part of the sorting process at Buchanan’s recycling plant, which is fully licensed by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).

The site receives in excess of 20,000 tonnes of material annually from the Edinburgh, Falkirk and West Lothian regions and currently recycles over 80% of this - significantly reducing the amount of waste going to landfill sites.

Powered by a 130hp JCB Dieselmax engine and fitted with a 5.7m straight boom, the JS20MH has been specially developed for excellent material handling performance. The machine purchased by Buchanan is fitted with a hydraulically raised cab for loading containers to improve vision and safety on site. It is also equipped with a JCB 530 SQ Selector Grab attachment for segregating waste.

The JCB JS20MH unit features a completely new undercarriage design and a centralized slew turret for increased all-round stability and uniform lift performance throughout a 360-degree rotation. The result is consistent operation and true material handler characteristics, aided further by a slew gearbox that delivers increased slew accuracy while loading.  

The machine also features an intelligent reversible fan that offers optimum cooling performance, a Turbo II air pre cleaner with additional engine filtration and a wide core radiator has been built in. Cab guarding, front and rear light guarding, and red and white chevrons on the machine’s rear end combine for machine protection and on-site safety.

Buchanan Skip Hire director James Buchanan commented: ‘What appealed most about the JS20MH is that it has clearly been designed and manufactured specifically for our industry. It is not just a conventional excavator with a few additions. Features such as the raised cab and reversible fan make a huge difference to safety and uptime when operating in a tough environment like we do.’