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Top: Each of the Stevens Croft production lines operates three LH 35 Timber pick and carry models Above: Chips are are handled by an L 566 XPower equipped with a large capacity toe-tip bucket Right: The LH 35 Timber is a 30-tonne, 204hp handler designed specifically for the industry
“We have worked with Liebherr for many years to tweak the design of their timber handling machines, not only to benefit our operations but to help ensure they are the best for the entire market,” he said. “And while we always look at the best package available in terms of fuel use, production and reliability, the Liebherr Handler (LH) range is always foremost in our purchasing plans as it delivers everything we require in a pick and carry machine.”
Stevens Croft is home to two production lines – one concentrating on pallet timber, the other on construction timber – and each operates three LH 35 Timber pick and carry models and an L 566 XPower wheeled loader to handle material entering the initial sizing and debarking process. Located between the two mills is a large undercover area to receive sawmill co-products. Dust and chip are consigned to different sections of the shed but both are handled by another L 566 XPower equipped with a large capacity toe-tip bucket. With a single LH 35 Timber loading the mill, a pair of similar machines spend each shift removing the sized timber from the bins and travelling up to 100m to the various stacks. As those stacks fill up, the two LH 35s change to the other side of the sizing line to repeat the process. However, all the initial processing and stacking work count for nothing if the timber cannot be fed into the
mill itself and this is where the latest Liebherr acquisition comes into play.
The LH 35 Timber is a 30-tonne, 204hp handler designed specifically for the industry and features a long and wide chassis for stability. Heavy-duty ZF axles provide four-wheel drive and four-wheel steer to giving a tight turning circle of just under six metres, while a front-mounted blade is used to manoeuvre logs into position. Unlike traditional handlers with a hydraulically raised cab, the LH 35 uses a fixed 1300mm riser to give the operator increased visibility across the job site. The new L 566 XPower is the first to be delivered in James Jones’ green and grey livery, setting the scene for all material handling machines to be branded in the same way in the future.
“It gives us that corporate identity whilst looking totally different to our competition,” said group fleet adviser David Bewley. A number of L 566 models are spread throughout James Jones’s UK sites and are a mainstay of the fleet. “Like the material handlers, we have grown the business with Liebherr wheeled loaders,” said Mr MacKenna. “They deliver the performance and productivity we need day in day out, they’re reliable and the operators like them.”
The latest machine is powered by a Liebherr
six-cylinder, 292hp engine and has joystick steering for easier and more comfortable operation. Like the pick and carry machines, the L 566 spends much of its time travelling between timber stack and in-feed deck. Yard manager George McDonald has been on site since it commenced operation and has developed a liking for the Liebherr loaders over the years. “We have had other makes come in and spend a little while on the fleet, but they are never really on top of the job like the Liebherr is,” he said. “They are very quick across the ground, which allows us to keep up with the mill when it’s at full speed.”
Environmental considerations are high on James Jones’ priorities list, and it is keen to explore the possibilities of running the Liebherr fleet on HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuels. “We have been studying its use in trucks for a number of years and feel that this is the way forward at this time,” said Mr Bewley. “We have an electric truck on the fleet and while it is good, its range is limited. We are also very interested in Liebherr’s hydrogen wheeled loader and feel that this alternative fuel is the way to go in terms of large plant.” Showcased at the Bauma exhibition in Munich earlier this year, the L 566 H is the world’s first prototype of a large wheel loader with a hydrogen engine. ■
www.ttjonline.com | November/December 2025 | TTJ
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