Waste management contractor Iolar was recently awarded the local government contract to operate the Redcliffe Waste Transfer Station in Queensland and has been using a JCB 426 HT wheel loader to get the job done.
Iolar has operations in both consultancy and operational services across Queensland and New South Wales, specialising in waste management, landfill engineering and environmental management.
Ahead of starting the Redcliffe contract, Iolar identified the need to add a wheel loader to its equipment fleet and settled on a JCB 426 HT.
“When we were awarded the Redcliffe contract we wanted to add a wheel loader to our fleet that was going to meet the needs of this job,” Iolar managing director Patrick Navin says.
“We needed a machine that was going to be both durable and flexible because it was going to be used in various waste management tasks, such as working in the push pit, stockpiling and loading materials.”
The 426 HT has an operating weight of just under 13 tonnes and is driven by a 113kW Cummins diesel capable of pushing out 633Nm of torque. The chassis design of the 426 HT is geared towards increased visibility, with a sloped engine cover at the rear and front quarter glass panels overlooking the central pivot area.
Work in the waste station involves the loading of various waste materials into trucks through a hole in the floor, a potentially dangerous situation that requires excellent visibility for the loader operator.
“Redcliffe Waste Transfer Station deals with a variety of materials from general waste, green waste, through to household paints and chemicals, and asbestos,” Navin says.
“It’s really important that our operator has maximum visibility when working around the general public and contractors alike.
“With the JCB 426HT, operators can easily see down the front of the machine to the bucket with ease.”