Rethink and save: equilibrium handler to serve as backbone of wood logistics at Borg Manufacturing

Borg Manufacturing operates a large MDF factory in Oberon, a small town in New South Wales, Australia, that is about 2.5 hours West of Sydney. Since its founding in 1991, the family-owned business has become Australia's leading manufacturer of kitchen cabinet doors and decorative MDF panels distributed through the brand Polytec. The wide range of MDF panels are manufactured primarily at the Oberon site. This is where the new SENNEBOGEN handling machine comes into play.

Optimized logistics processes – SENNEBOGEN crane at the core

The SENNEBOGEN 8130 is the heart of the reorganized lumberyard. Whereas previously the conveyor belts of the loading system would be laboriously served by multiple vehicles using a ramp, these logistics are now covered by one stationary crane. The raw material, which can be between four and five meters in length, is unloaded and sorted all around the stationary balance crane. With its reach of 23 meters, the 8130 can easily cover an operating area of around 1,600 square meters. The reorganization added logistical value and also enhanced occupational health and safety, since only one central machine now does all of the loading. The loading line can now be safely filled from above, and vehicle traffic has been reduced.

Saving costs – working effectively with a stationary electric machine

Operating and maintenance costs have also been reduced, reported Borg. "Where numerous vehicles were consuming a lot of expensive diesel before, the electric equilibrium handler now only accounts for a fraction of the costs." The excessive ground wear from the vehicles is also a thing of the past. These vehicles would not only damage the surface when retrieving wood at ground level and result in yearly repairs, they would also introduce foreign material to the loading lines. This is now completely avoided thanks to the elevated machine position and grabbing from above.

Australian sales and service partner Pacific Materials Handling delivered the 8130 in the middle of 2014. The machine is equipped with a 132-kW electric motor, a 23-meter attachment, and the Maxcab Industry cab. The crane is mounted above the loading line on a 5.5-meter tall pylon. The equilibrium principle keeps the machine balanced thanks to a coupled counterweight. Only two hydraulic cylinders are needed to move the entire equipment. The electric drive proves itself with its strong performance and low noise level. In total, the longer maintenance intervals, small number of moving parts and the electric drive save up to 75% on operating costs – an argument that has persuaded not only Borg.