One of North Carolina’s longest running scrap yards recently added the lifting capability and operational reliability of a Sennebogen rubber-tired 835M material handler to its operation.
Bruce’s Iron & Metal, a mid-sized yard with 30 percent paved surface located in Gastonia, knew that it had to add a machine to the company’s existing fleet which included a Cat on tracks as well as an Ackerman and an 1804 Atlas on wheels.
In January, one of its machines blew an engine and it became an absolute necessity. According to David Gilmore, general manager of Bruce’s Iron & Metal, “Downtime is a killer. Our operation runs lean and therefore, we don’t have much spare equipment sitting around. When we are down, we can get behind quickly.”
Keith Ahlstrom, sales manager of Sennebogen North America, had previously called on Gilmore, so when the need for a machine was critical, Gilmore placed a call to Sennebogen’s North American head office just 20 miles west in Charlotte and decided to give the machine an opportunity to prove itself.
According to Gilmore, “Sennebogen got back to us quickly and offered us a demo which is exactly what is required in this industry. If you are going to try out a new piece of equipment, you really need to take it into your yard with your operators and see how it performs.”
Putting the 835M Work
The people at Bruce’s Iron & Metal were cautiously optimistic. On the con side of the ledger, the company was not familiar with the product. On the plus side, it could do more than any other machine Bruce’s Iron & Metal had in the yard. At 88,200 lbs. (40,007 kg), it had more weight, more reach at 54plus ft. (16.5 m) with standard equipment, more lifting capacity at 44,092 lbs. (20,000 kg), and came with solid rubber tires that made it more mobile in the yard. Increased mobility meant more productivity, which meant increased profitability at the end of the day. Bruce’s Iron & Metal also found that the hydraulically elevated cab, with its ergonomic design was very operator friendly. Gilmore talked with the company’s local Deutz engine dealer about the power plant. He was informed that if service was required, it was not going to be an issue.
So, the decision was made, Bruce’s Iron & Metal would take the machine on a demo and for the next two weeks, the crew put the 835M through its paces — lifting, loading, moving, measuring, observing, and comparing.
“What really impressed us was the Sales Manager Keith Ahlstrom. He was on the site every day and made sure that we knew all the details of the machine,” Gilmore noted.
According to Richard Centner, executive vice president of Sennebogen North America, “Keith is a very hands-on sales manager. He understands the machine and is not afraid of getting his hands dirty. Keith makes sure on every demo that the operators know how to get the most out of their machine.”
Taking Time to Meet the Staff
The next step in the purchase process was to meet the Sennebogen people in Charlotte. First, Bruce’s Iron & Metal met with Chuck Billman, manager of parts and traffic. “We were very impressed with Chuck’s knowledge. As well, the investment that Sennebogen had made in parts indicated that they were serious about competing in the North American marketplace. You cannot compete if you do not have the parts,” Gilmore said. Additionally, Billman was very familiar with the company’s 1804 machine and could assist them with that one as well.
From a service and training standpoint, Sennebogen has recently hired Jim Westlake, a man with more than 17 years experience in hydraulics and electrical systems who had run a lot of training and service schools over the years.
Bruce’s was looking for a machine to meet its defined requirements which included solid rubber tires, improved cycled times, the ability to handle its 67 in. (170 cm) Ohio magnet and proximity for service and support. As well, the company was looking for a working relationship with its equipment supplier.
The Final Decision
The company’s final selection on a piece it was looking for favored Sennebogen. “Dollar for dollar and pound for pound, Sennebogen is a bigger machine and the fact that Sennebogen was designed as a material handler from the ground up to do this job make it the right choice,” said Gilmore. On top of that, Gilmore felt that Sennebogen’s parts and service support, the people, the experience and the proximity were going to make them an ideal team member and equipment supplier.
Richard Centner, of Sennebogen North America, reported that the company has enjoyed its working relationship with Bruce’s Iron & Metal. “They are a professional organization that knows exactly what they need and we were able to deliver it in a timely fashion. Credit goes to our team. They spoke. We listened. We delivered.”
Gilmore noted that the company has been very happy with the performance of its new 835M material handler. He feels that when the time comes to add another machine to the fleet, they will be looking to Sennebogen for another 835M.
For more information, call 877/309-0099 or visit www.sennebogen-na.com. For more information on Bruce’s Iron & Metal, call 704/864-3671.
Today's top stories
