CHARLOTTE, NC - For Brett Muckle, it was simply a matter of making things simpler. Muckle is the owner and President of Ashtabula Iron & Metal in the port city on Lake Erie. As a fourth-generation recycler, he knew better than to let downtime bite into his bottom line when he began to experience service problems with his material handling equipment. He decided quickly to make a change in his fleet. And it didn’t take him much longer to decide on which machines to bring in and get his yard’s productivity up to par again.

“It was amazing,” Muckle recalls. “It was about two or three years, we started seeing green machines popping up all over Ohio! Everywhere we turned, someone was buying SENNEBOGEN.”

Pictured left to right: Lee Gibson, Gibson Machinery and Brett Muckle, Ashtabula Iron & Metal.

Muckle had recently invested in a few other machines, but he was surprised to find service issues cropping up soon after they were commissioned. “They started generating problems as early as 1000 hours,” he claims. “We found structural defects on the outrigger, engine problems and problems with attachments. Twice, we had a machine down for a full month, waiting for parts. That really cuts into your revenue.”

That’s when Muckle began investigating other equipment, starting with the dozen or so recyclers in the region who were already operating SENNEBOGEN machines. He says, “This is a fairly small community; I had heard only good things about SENNEBOGEN. Really, I would have to say that SENNEBOGEN is the top selling crane in the region now.”

SENNEBOGEN sounded like the simple solution to Ashtabula’s equipment needs, in more ways than one. Commenting on how the green machines are designed, Muckle said “Simplicity was a huge factor in making our decision with SENNEBOGEN. The previous machines were all computer driven and if a machine had a problem, it was very difficult for our mechanics to diagnose.” SENNEBOGEN, meanwhile, makes it a point of honor to design its green machines according to basic tried-and-true engineering principles, without relying on electronic controls and compensators. Muckle continues, “We'd have to wait for a factory technician to come, and that would take a couple of days and would just add to our downtime. And then we had to wait for parts and material to be shipped from Europe and elsewhere.”

Impressed with the growing track record that SENNEBOGEN machines were establishing in Ohio, Muckle was also pleased to call Gibson Machinery for more information about them. “I had done business with Lee Gibson in the past and I don't know many other dealers who make such a commitment to personally meet and greet every customer and to stay in touch and make sure you're satisfied with the product.” Muckle found it reassuring that Lee Gibson was personally involved in helping him select the right equipment, visiting the yard and providing advice on Ashtabula Iron’s material handling needs. He says that the buying process with Gibson was a step out of the ordinary. “Sometimes in the equipment business, you just get a sales rep out trying to sell you the most expensive piece in the book. But, in our industry, we rely on the dealer to be a business partner with us. We need someone who's not just selling iron, but providing a product that fills our need.”

In August of last summer, Gibson delivered a SENNEBOGEN 821 M rubber-tired machine for Ashtabula Iron to try on demonstration. Watching it perform in his yard, Muckle needed just two days to decide to go ahead with the purchase. And, at the same time, he and his Operations Manager, Lou Jascoe, determined that they would replace their other two remaining machines with a pair of the larger 825 M material handlers from SENNEBOGEN.

Muckle had already decided his yard should stick with the elevated cabs and wheeled mobility to service the 30 acre yard. After his previous two mobile shears “blew apart”, however, he elected to re-commission his stationery shear, served by his new fast-moving material handlers. He also claims that dependability was a key point in his choice of wheeled platforms for the machines. According to Muckle, “tracked machines are metal on metal, so tracks wear out. Wheels are more reliable as well as faster.” Another simple solution to an age-old headache for recyclers!

With several months of production behind them at Ashtabula Iron, the SENNEBOGEN machines have lived up to their reputation. Muckle reports that, “The mechanics love them, the operators love them. They are still new, so we’ve had little work to do yet; but the mechanics were glad to see these machines aren't full of proprietary parts. Many of the pumps, etc., are readily available from local dealers.”

“The level of service from the dealer has been fantastic! Their technician has already been out for the first scheduled service.” As it turned out, the Gibson technician was also someone Muckle knew from previous business with Gibson Machinery. “Mickey’s a great guy… the machine hit its service mark and he was out the next day. It's obvious that SENNEBOGEN has looked at this for the long time. They’ve got dealers who are really committed to servicing the product.”

One of the 825 M units at Ashtabula Iron & Metal carries a 55-inch magnet, while each of the other green machines swing a 3/4-yard grapple. All three material handlers share duties loading and unloading trucks and rail cars as well as feeding the shear. Brett Muckle is simply glad to be up and running on a regular basis again. “I’m very pleased with the flow of material,” he says, “and when the material flows, that's your cash flow. Being able to move the material, and to move the process and to load out… then you can generate an invoice.”

And that’s as simple as it can get!

SENNEBOGEN has been a leading name in the global material handling industry for more than 50 years. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, SENNEBOGEN America offers a complete range of purpose-built machines to suit virtually any heavy lift or "pick & carry" application. A growing network of distributors supports SENNEBOGEN sales and service across the Americas, ensuring the highest standard of professional machine support and parts availability.

For more information on the full line of SENNEBOGEN green line material handlers, contact:

For crane operator Eric Magda, the elevating, forward-moving cab of his SENNEBOGEN 825 M machine provides an ideal vantage point for seeing into material piles as he loads trucks and rail cars for Ashtabula Iron & Metal.

- OCTOBER 2006 -