Bell Equipment make it a double

Challenging dust application at New West Gypsum leads to repeat double machine purchase with Bell

THE demands of a challenging and dust-heavy environment at a New West Gypsum plant, in Avonmouth, have led to repeat business for Bell Equipment with the purchase of two new L1506E wheel loaders.

NW Gypsum’s industrious plasterboard recycling operation is considered to be one of the harshest environments for a loader machine to work in, as the fine airborne dust created during the recycling process can permeate vehicular engines, causing machine failure and costly downtime.

The recycling operator’s experience in using Bell equipment has continued its loyalty to the heavy equipment manufacturer, as Luke Davidson, UK site manager for NW Gypsum, explained: ‘Before purchasing our first Bell machines, we used a competitor’s model that was susceptible to attracting dust within the engine and the associated problems that were caused by this.

‘Dust within our plant is unavoidable, as in the UK it isn’t possible to dispose of gypsum within landfill facilities, so it needs to be recycled and the powder created reprocessed. We perform this application at our Avonmouth plant.  It’s a task that requires powerful machinery, capable of manoeuvring waste successfully, securely and without being affected by the dust-heavy working environment.’

He continued: ‘This is why, four years ago, we decided to switch to Bell. We’ve found these loaders cope much better in our working environment and they perform superbly throughout what we consider to be a very realistic lifespan. The machines surpass the power capability of the machines we used previously and this has developed a sense of loyalty towards Bell. We’ve traded in our old Bell machines in favour of two new L1506s, which includes Bell’s pioneering ‘QuadCool’ technology.’

The QuadCool system has proved a significant advantage for NW Gypsum in that it combats the risk of dust build-up, using the ‘compartmentalization’ of radiator technology as part of its design. This, say Bell, prevents clogging and overheating which subsequently reduces downtown, as well as the required frequency of cleaning routines; helping to keep machines working productively.

Huw Davies, regional sales manager at Bell, explained: ‘The QuadCool system offers a real advantage to recycling companies such as NW Gypsum, where dust in the working environment is simply unavoidable.  With Bell machines, the inclusion of fine mesh pre-filters and wide core radiators succeed in channelling debris away from radiators completely. In addition, the QuadCool system has an automatic reversing fan which blows accumulated debris away at regular intervals. This serves to further improve efficiency and productivity.’

The new L1506 wheel loaders also feature a Bema sweeper, secured to the front of the machines to brush the yard of any gypsum that could track out of the gates.