Scotline purchase Bobcat skid-steer loader

02 January, 2014

First published in the December 2013 issue of Quarry Management as No Holds Barred

New Bobcat S130 skid-steer loader for cement ships at Scotline

Scotline Ltd have purchased a new Bobcat S130 skid-steer loader from Bobcat of London, the authorized Bobcat dealers for London and the South East, for ship-trimming work at a new cement installation at Scotline’s Rochester transit terminal on the river Medway in Kent.

The new cement installation provides cement for customers in the London and South East region and is an important diversification for the Scotline operations in Rochester, where the company also runs the nearby Medway timber terminal. As well as cement, timber and wood pulp, Scotline handle other bulk cargoes and also own and operate a fleet of seven modern box hold vessels.

When a cement ship docks at the Scotline transit terminal, most of the unloading of the cement in the hold is carried out by a trailer-mounted extraction system on the dockside, which pumps cement from the hold via a new pipeline system to four large silos, from where it is loaded, via a hopper, into lorries for supply to customers.

As the hold on the cement ship empties there comes a point where the discharge tube cannot reach the corners, resulting in a significant amount of cement being left in the hold. At this point, the Bobcat S130 skid-steer loader, which is equipped with an optional front door, is lowered by crane into the hold, where it first forms new mounds of cement in the centre of the hold for the discharge tube to extract and is then used to ensure that the hold is cleaned out as much as possible.

Ian Gould, purchasing manager at Scotline, said: ‘We are very pleased with the performance of the Bobcat S130 loader, which has been designed specifically with the durability and reliability needed for tough applications like this. Working inside ship holds is particularly demanding because the job must be completed as quickly as possible in dusty and hot conditions. From our fleet of seven cargo vessels to all the equipment we run in our terminals, we ask a lot of all our machines, but we look after them very well and we have been rewarded with excellent long-term performance throughout the fleet.’

Providing support for the new S130 skid-steer loader, Bobcat of London, based in West Thurrock in Essex, are the authorized Bobcat dealers for London, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Hertfordshire and Middlesex. Their factory-trained engineers have many years of hands-on experience of repairs and servicing of compact and heavy plant and machinery, and all of the company’s service vans are fully equipped with workshop tools and extensive parts for on-the-spot service work.

Only original Bobcat parts are used in order to maintain the best mechanical standards and to optimize performance, reliability and protect machines’ residual values. Bobcat of London stock a full selection of genuine Bobcat accessories and parts to support every machine in the field and back these with flexible service agreements, including 24h a day coverage, depending on the requirements of the customer. In addition to essential spare parts stocked by the dealer, there is a back-up service with overnight delivery for other items.

For ship-trimming work, such as that at Scotline, one of the most important advantages of Bobcat skid-steer loaders is their high level of manoeuvrability in confined spaces. In the S130 model, the radius lift pattern and short wheelbase are combined with differential steering for highly efficient manoeuvring and exceptionally rapid cycle times in tight areas, a fast travel speed and more than ample auxiliary pump flow. In addition, the hydrostatic drive allows precise control of the speed and direction of the loader, both forwards and backwards, in any situation.

The S130 skid-steer loader has an operating weight of 2,465kg, a rated operating capacity of 597kg and a tipping load of 1,195kg. The machine has a reach of 575mm with a lift height of 2,781mm, while enhanced performance results from the use of a Kubota V2203-E diesel engine which produces 34.3kW of power at 2,800 rev/min.

As well as Bobcat skid-steer loaders, Bobcat of London are also responsible for the sales and service of Bobcat compact tracked and all-wheel-steer loaders, excavators, telehandlers and utility vehicles. The company also offers for sale more than 70 different types of Bobcat attachments designed to help deliver versatility and time-saving efficiency across a wide range of applications.

For further information visit: www.bobcat.eu