Popular Specialist SkipLoader returns to market
One of the UK’s best proven specialist skip loader designs has returned to the market. A new company, SkipLoader Limited of Stanton near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, has begun production of the unit, having acquired the assets of the former business of Retech - and secured the rights to the design.The SkipLoader range will retain the former ‘RT’ model designation, supplemented by a number, indicative of designed vehicle gross weight. The equipment is expected to find renewed favour for specialist applications, such as those in the metals recycling industry, where the hostile operating environment demands premium engineering, quality and durability.
The SkipLoader system is being built again to a design by leading waste handling engineer, Mike Howard and features a cranked arm and offset top tube assembly. This provides additional clearance and manoeuvrability over conventional designs - and importantly, facilitates handling and stacking of bins without increasing the travelling height.
The first production unit for some time - a SkipLoader RT26 - has just entered service with Hertfordshire-based ferrous and non-ferrous metal merchants, Robert Gibbs. The new unit, mounted on a Volvo FM 6-wheeler chassis, joins a fleet of thirty-five vehicles, which includes a significant number of similar loaders of Retech origin. SkipLoader is also currently building two further units of the longer RT32 configuration, for operation with 8-wheeler chassis and twin bins.
The SkipLoader unit incorporates a number of technical features, designed to enhance safety and reliability in operation. The rear jack stabilisers, which can be operated independently or together, incorporate parallel pivot arms to control the movement of the jack leg. Lateral guide tracks, coupled with a pilot operated load control valve system in the jack activating ram, improves controllability and stability. Roller or foot options are available for ground contact.
Close attention has been paid to the layout, ergonomics and operation of the four-section hydraulic control valve. Two control levers interlink mechanically with the valve spools to apply safety, logic and travel guidance to the operation. All pipes and hoses are routed for optimum protection and over centre valves are fitted to maintain movement control, especially during fast lower.
The hydraulic system uses a Dennison close-coupled high-pressure pump, designed to operate at 240 bar (3600psi) – and driven by a Drum PTO from the gearbox layshaft. The system, which also incorporates filtration down to 10 microns, carries 20 gallons of hydraulic oil, split between the circuit and a headboard-mounted tank.
Managing Director of the new SkipLoader operation, John Underwood says, “The volume skip loader market is well served by an established range of manufacturers. However, both our predecessors and ourselves have fully recognised that some specialist applications and operations require equipment which is more specifically tailored to meet their needs. These requirements often differ and one of the key features of our approach is to offer flexibility and modularity in the basic design - enabling us to cater for the individual handling application”.
The Robert Gibbs (Contracting) Company is one of Britain’s leading specialist ferrous and non-ferrous metal merchants. It operates throughout the UK from its five acre headquarters and processing site in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. It also owns its own wharf in Essex, from which it loads vessels for export to destinations including Spain, Korea and China. The company is fully qualified to ISO9001 (2000) and ISO14001 (2004), the latter covering environmental conditions. The firm is also Achilles UVDB (Utilities Verified Database) B2 qualified. It recently secured a contract for river clearance in the London area as part of preparations for the 2012 Olympics.
