The First Decision

Like in every yard, the day starts early, and Sims Brothers is no different. At their 8:00 a.m. meeting everyday, productivity is the subject of the day and it boils down to what the throughput is going to be that day ­ tons produced divided by man hours equals good day or bad day.

Recently the tons produced per day number dropped. It was not a reflection on anything other than the material handlers that they had, were no longer able to keep pace with the requirements of the job. Although still good machines, they had lead a productive life but it was time for new machines. Enter Jim Macalouso (Mac). He heard that a yard next door had a big green machine on test called a SENNEBOGEN. He was unfamiliar with the machine but had seen advertising in the trade publications. He arranged with the people at SENNEBOGEN North America, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, to bring one in for a demo. The rest is history.

They had been running Liebherr 932s both wheeled and tracked, using shears, magnets and grapples. Today, they have 5 SENNEBOGENs working in their operation. They brought in the first one and it was approximately the same size as the 932s they were using. However, they found that with the longer boom on the 835 M, they could work a larger magnet. This meant shorter cycle times and increased productivity. But it wasn’t his decision alone. Keeping in mind the Sims Family philosophy about teamwork and mutual respect, it became a group decision. However, it was easy getting consensus. From an operational standpoint, as well as a comfort level, the operators loved the new hydraulic cab. Maintenance people loved it because it’s designed-in simplicity. Management loved it because it could outlift any other machine in its class. That meant increased productivity. "We may be equipment pioneers, but we are driven by production numbers," said Jim Macalouso. "If the numbers didn’t work, we wouldn’t have bought the first one, much less standardize our fleet on SENNEBOGEN." The 55 foot boom, bigger magnet, easy access for all maintenance points and cabs that please operators, all pointed to their first SENNEBOGEN 835 M lean green material handling machine.

"We keep exact records on every piece of equipment in the yard and if it cannot produce because of age or hours, then it becomes an easy decision to buy. The tough decision is to choose the right one," said Macalouso.

Hard Nosed Business & Coffee Cake

The other part of the equation was the parent organization SENNEBOGEN GmbH. The pleasant surprise was that just like there is a Sims family, there is a Sennebogen family and they shared a great deal in common. Both are 2nd generation, both have established a business on family values and both listen not only to their customers but also to their employees, the people who are on the front line.

On a recent trip to Germany, Mac had the opportunity to meet Erich Sennebogen in their office in Straubing and Mrs. Sennebogen had left fresh coffee and cake for the meeting. That, according to Mac, was the first time he had a business meeting with homemade cake. "It speaks to the organization and the personal philosophies we share, but at the end of the day, it is still about productivity."

By The Numbers

Making the choice for SENNEBOGEN equipment is still related to choosing the right equipment to do the right job at the right price. "We chose SENNEBOGEN because it is the right equipment for our operation." Their 4 - 835 M units all have grapples, but can easily switch to 70" magnets. "We couldn’t hang those magnets on the Liebherrs they tested. Our units now have increased reach and pick more. At the end of the day, with a faster cycle time, we ended up with 3 extra hours of productivity."

"The other machines tested were good, but these units really made the grade." All of the Sims Brothers units are equipped with a hydraulic cab. This makes loading trucks and rail cars a breeze, and with the improved visibility and comfort, operators are that much better. As well, these rubber-tired 88,000 lb. monsters move quickly on both the paved and unpaved portions of the yard.

An added bonus is the increased fuel economy. They were not prepared to indicate just how much fuel they are saving but they got a concerned call from their fuel supplier, who wanted to know why they split their fuel order with a competitor. "We would never do that. He has been a loyal supplier but the reality of the situation was that we were using that much less fuel to run our material handlers."

When asked, what impressed them the most about SENNEBOGEN’s factory and the company, the answer with a quick smile was, "The beer machine in the lunchroom. But seriously, we were impressed with how modern their production methods are and how they have applied this technology to a tried and true design."

"Sure, we have had some problems, who hasn’t?" asked Mac. "However, we were able to sit down as two families and work it through. We had asked them to get a distributor in the region. They made that a priority. We appreciated that and now with one in place, we are looking forward to even more green in our operation," said Mac.

Reliable, versatile and cost effective SENNEBOGEN green line material handlers are custom designed and supplied by SENNEBOGEN’s North America headquarters located in Charlotte, North Carolina. SENNEBOGEN green line material handlers offer a complete line of purpose-built machines to meet your specific application. A growing network of distributors who know the importance of machine support and parts availability is being selected to support the sale and service function across North America.