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of a wheel loader for the job at hand.
Tuntland agrees, saying that this is very
significant. He is even of the view that
loading tool selection is critical and should
take place before “right sizing”. “Factors
such as underfoot conditions, face
height, mobility requirements and blast
fragmentation are all important factors
when selecting a tool,” he says.
Schmitt says if the wheel loader doesn’t
match the application, it is difficult to reach
the required production targets, or one may
not even be able to get the job done at all,
for example, when undertaking block handling
or log handling. “Furthermore, if the machine
size doesn’t match the application, you have
the risk of destroying the unit or reducing the
lifetime of the wheel loader significantly,”
he says. “Volvo provides special application
packages as ready-to-select options, making
a Volvo machine perfectly ideal for specific
applications, such as waste handling, block
handling, rock, quarry, hot slag and long
handling, among others.”
According to Brandauer, job conditions
are very important for the choice of the
right wheel loader, because they inform
several other decisions such as tyre choice,
dumping height, angle of articulation,
maximum height and bucket width, to
mention a few. “If you know your working
conditions you can also calculate service
intervals or even spare parts you need for a
particular project,” says Brandauer.
Torres shares the same view with
Brandauer, saying a good understanding of
the job conditions is key to specifying the right
machine to achieve the best results. He adds
that underfoot conditions largely determine
tyre choice, which is another significant
element of ownership costs, as well as the
configuration of the axle components to
match either hard standing surfaces or very
challenging, muddy or slippery conditions.
Machine sizing
Not sizing the machine to meet production
targets is a frequent gaffe on many sites.
How best can one determine the ideal size
of the wheel loader they need on site?
According to Torres, a good understanding
The Cat Production Measurement system
provides an integrated payload measure-
ment with accurate on-the-go weighing.
Understanding
material density and
the composition of the
material are important
for bucket selection
Payload is a key metric
that dictates the value
of a wheel loader
A good under-
standing of the job
conditions is key to
spec’ing the right
machine for the job
Most common reason
for high costs per ton
oversized machines
versus the required
production output
The choice of the
driveline is very
important for fuel
efficiency
Increasing operator
knowledge and
skills is another way
of increasing fuel
efficiency
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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
AUGUST 2017
11