Nigel Grist, chairman of the Grist Group of companies, based in Devizes in Wiltshire, purchased his first CX240B MH for subsidiary company Wiltshire Waste Recycling. The machine, fitted with a clam shell grab, is used to sort through building and construction waste as it arrives at the company’s waste handling site and also feed a trommel screen. So far it has proven very successful.
“The high rise cab is the first thing and it’s excellent, meaning you can see what you’re doing very well and work a lot more safely,” said Grist. “The specification of the machine is spot on in terms of power and reach, and the tracks mean it’s very stable. For what it does, it’s far better than having a wheeled machine as it doesn’t have to drop the stabilisers and there are no punctures.”
Grist is not completely averse to wheeled excavators, however, having also recently purchased a CASE WX185 20t machine to complement the CX240B-MH. “We use it to run around the yard more,” he explained.
More significantly, though, the success of the first Case material handler has prompted Grist to purchase another, specially modified CX240B MH model. This time the machine has been purchased for another subsidiary, Devizes Reclamation Company Limited, where it is used to handle scrap cars. First it feeds them into a baling machine, then it stacks the 1t bales before finally loading them into trucks.
One of the most important characteristics of the machine is that it has been modified to meet the requirements of the task in hand. The curve at the end of the dipper arm has been tightened slightly in order for it to be able to use a five-tined grab, which is essential in the process of handling the scrap cars.
The modifications were carried out by the supplying Case dealer, LDH, based in Newport, south Wales. “We’ve had a ten year relationship with LDH and get on very well with them. They’ve got a very good knowledge of what’s needed for a job, and they dealt with all the modification and fabrication,” said Grist.
The presence of such a modern, high-tech machine on the site has caused something of a stir. “It’s the first new machine I’ve ever put into a scrap yard,” admitted Grist. Previously, Grist had only ever subjected second hand machines to the rigours of such a harsh working environment.
Yet the CX240B MH is coping comfortably on a site where it works eight hours per day, six days per week and can handle up to 20,000 tonnes of scrap each year. “It’s been very reliable and the backup from LDH has been excellent. There’s a noticeable benefit in performance in terms of fuel consumption, and it’s just more efficient all round – fuel, lifting capacity and maintenance,” Grist concluded.
The Grist Groupof companies is based in Devizes in Wiltshire. It has a turnover of £15 million and employs 123 people. As well as Wiltshire Waste (Recycling) Ltd and Devizes Reclamation Company Ltd, subsidiaries include Devizes Hire Ltd, Wiltshire Accident Repair Centre, Wiltshire Recovery and Wiltshire Event Services.
LDH Plantis the Case dealer for the area from Gloucestershire to Swansea and has its headquarters in Newport Docks. The company was established in 1996 by managing director Rob Vaughan. It became an exclusive dealer for Case in 2007 and offers the company’s full range of products.
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