A new model Komatsu wheel loader is doing its part for the local and broader environment – thanks to an improved, more sustainable emissions performance.
Located in the Myocum hinterland, close to Mullumbimby, New South Wales, the Byron Shire Council’s Resource Recovery Centre sorts household waste and annually transforms 3000 tonnes of green waste into high quality garden mulch.
Its chief tool of choice in this activity is a new Komatsu WA270-8 wheel loader, which was chosen for its productive capabilities and its stringent Tier 4 Final emission controls.
Although Tier 4 Final emission controls for non-road diesel-engined vehicles are not compulsory in Australia, Byron Shire Council chose to adhere to the standard, said Resource Recovery Centre site manager Ken Moore. “Council formed a Sustainable Emission Reduction Advisory Committee to evaluate purchases such as this,” Moore said. “We take our environmental reporting seriously and a lot of consideration was given to the emission performance of the Komatsu wheel loader.
“We researched offerings from two other brands in the diligence phase, but we wanted to meet Tier 4 Final emission controls and the Komatsu WA270-8 wheel loader was the only machine under consideration that did so.”
Powered by a new technology Komatsu engine, the WA270-8 features Komatsu’s PZ parallel-lift arm system and hydrostatic drive for excellent versatility and productivity across loading, handling and lifting applications.
The Resource Recovery Centre’s unit had the air conditioning condenser relocated at pre-delivery, to reduce material build-up when the machine is turning over compost and mulch.
It is also equipped with a cabin pressuriser and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration to keep the cabin free of dust and fumes. “The HEPA filter and pressurised cabin keeps the operators dust-free when they’re working, which they appreciate,” Moore said. “The air conditioning is also fantastic. I can hardly get them out of it on hot days. There are waste regulation acts and work health and safety considerations around air quality.”
The WA270-8 spends most of its time performing duties for the Resource Recovery Centre’s compost facility. “It pushes green waste up into a pile to be ready for mulching and loads out commercial quantities of the produced mulch,” Moore said.
“It takes a couple of days to move the mulch piles around and then about a week to pasteurise it on our aerated matt pad. The rest of the time, the wheel loader is emptying the bins that people drop their rubbish into.”
In addition to the loader’s emission performance and pricing, Moore said Komatsu’s service and support offerings were attractive. “Cost was a factor, and support and serviceability were big selling points.
“We’ve had the Komatsu wheel loader for a year now and the support and service has been fantastic. Their field service technicians are local to our Northern Rivers area and they come out to us within a couple of hours if we need them, including after hours if necessary.
“They rang me the other week and said it’s due for a service when I wasn’t aware of that. I told them to come ‘early in the morning’ so it didn’t hold us up, and sure enough they arrived first thing and sorted it out.”
Backed by Komatsu’s Australia-wide service and support network, the Komatsu WA270-8 comes standard with the KOMTRAX remote monitoring system, which provides real-time information on a fitted machine’s location, performance and health – helping to maximise machine safety, productivity, uptime and availability.
“It comes with all the bells and whistles such as KOMTRAX,” Moore said, “so you know exactly what the machine is doing. We don’t even have to keep track of when it needs a service. Komatsu has eyes on that remotely and come out to us when it’s due. It’s necessary for us to keep the machine on-site because we can’t afford the costs of transport and downtime.”
Moore said the Resource Recovery Centre’s leading hand mechanic is impressed by KOMTRAX’s ability to access codes and diagnostics at the machine without needing licences, laptops or specialised technicians. “They sent our mechanic up to Brisbane to show him how to read all the diagnostics. He finds them really great to talk to.”
The WA270-8’s other fans include its operators, with Moore relating that he and his staff “like to drive it. It’s a comfortable, easy machine to negotiate, and the always-on reversing camera is fantastic”.
The Resource Recovery Centre has a long history of using Komatsu equipment and is set to make more of it. “We have hired Komatsu wheel loaders in the past and found them to be really good – we’ve had no dramas whatsoever – but this is the first time Council has purchased one outright.”
“Having the single wheel loader is enough for us because we have a backhoe as well,” Moore said, “but the Council Works Department has ordered a new Komatsu grader.”
Source: Komatsu Australia