The extended reach on the Sugar Creek material handler makes it easy to fill the trailer.

WEST TERRE HAUTE, IN – Sugar Creek Scrap Inc. was tired of paying for costly repairs to the company’s two aging cable cranes. At the suggestion of Josh Farmer of Brandeis Machinery & Supply, Sugar Creek’s Plant Manager and Purchasing & Sales Manager, Carol Briggs and Margaret Morton, visited a couple of local jobsites to see SENNEBOGEN purpose-built material handlers in action.

They were impressed with what they saw. As a result, they purchased two SENNEBOGEN 830 R-HD units for their 23-acre full service scrap and recycling facility. The machines are equipped with 56” magnets and an interchangeable 4 tine grapple. For 8 hours every day, the two machines load and unload trailers, load trucks destined for local steel mills and transfer materials from one location to another in the yard. What’s most important is the significant increase in the yard’s productivity and efficiency Briggs and Morton have noticed since the two SENNEBOGEN units went into operation.

“Our production has increased tenfold,” says Morton. “Our SENNEBOGEN machines are very fuel efficient, easy to maintain and most importantly purpose-built for our application – unlike the modified excavators we were shown by other manufacturers when we were specing the purchase.”

830 R-HD equipped with a 56” magnet works the pile.

Tracks a necessity in Sugar Creek yard
The working environment of the Sugar Creek Scrap yard prompted management to go with the crawler version of the SENNEBOGEN 830 as opposed to the rubber-tired model.

“We have a very uneven working surface. And depending on the weather, it can be very muddy,” says Briggs. “We chose the crawler mounted SENNEBOGEN models because of the stability offered by the wide stance and extra weight underneath, compared to the wheeled models. It’s worked out wonderfully – it was definitely the right way to go for us.”

Morton also likes the fact that the SENNEBOGEN machines are free of computers and so operator-friendly. “You have very few people who can operate cable cranes today,” she says. “Our SENNEBOGEN scrap handlers are easy to operate and don’t have any computers to fuss with or break down. That’s a real plus when you’re trying to maximize your uptime. When you compare these machines to our old cable cranes, it’s no contest.”

The view from here
According to Morton, the distinctive elevating cab on the two SENNEBOGEN 830 R-HD units is something Sugar Creek’s three crane operators really appreciate. “The visibility with our old cable cranes left a lot to be desired,” says Morton.

“The elevating cab lets our operators see where they place the magnets and grapple and cuts down on the potential damage to our trucks and those of our customers. Having 360 degrees of swing also allows them to see the whole yard and make sure that everyone and everything is where it is supposed to be.”

Carol Briggs, Sugar Creek’s Plant Manager.

Brandeis Machinery is our uptime partner
Briggs and Morton have nothing but praise for the attention and service they receive from Josh Farmer and Brandeis Machinery & Supply. “Brandeis Machinery has been a great business partner and has always been there for us. We signed a maintenance agreement with them and they’ve done everything we expected and then some,” says Briggs. “Josh is a great salesman and business partner. When he showed us how SENNEBOGEN material handlers were purpose built for our application, we knew that he was our man. We trust his equipment knowledge and business acumen. He’s simply the best!”

Briggs and Morton say that they would have no hesitation in recommending SENNEBOGEN products to a business colleague. “Our SENNEBOGEN 830 R-HD units are easy to operate, easy to maintain and have increased our productivity tenfold,” says Morton. “The whole package is just wonderful.”

Today, Sugar Creek Scrap Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned business which lays claim to being the region’s best recycling center with a focus on customer service and integrity.

“We strive to be good corporate citizens and are involved in the life of our community,” says Briggs. “We’re proud to be a drop-off recycling site for Habitat for Humanity and a number of other local community organizations.”

About SENNEBOGEN
SENNEBOGEN has been a leading name in the global material handling industry for more than 50 years. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, SENNEBOGEN LLC offers a complete range of purpose-built machines to suit virtually any material handling 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.

A Unique Operation To be sure, as President of Sugar Creek Scrap Inc., Shirlee Levin occupies a unique position in the traditionally male-dominated scrap metal industry. With the aid of her all-female management team at the Indiana scrap yard, Levin has continued the legacy of dedication, passion and determination that was first established by her mother-in-law, and then David, her late husband. Levin’s daughter, Elise, who is Sugar Creek’s Scrap Broker, is the third generation family member to be involved in the scrap metal industry. According to Carol Briggs and Margaret Morton, being the female managers of a scrap yard is usually not an issue – at least most of the time. “I’ve been in the scrap business for 32 years, while Margaret has been in it 22 years – we’ve been involved with it our whole lives. We’re hands-on managers who know our jobs. It’s what we do when we get up in the morning,” says Briggs in a matter-of-fact manner. Today, Briggs and Morton remember the response they received in some quarters a few years back when they were spec’ing replacements for their yard’s aging cable cranes. During their visits to a couple of jobsites to see SENNEBOGEN material handlers in action, they experienced a familiar occurrence. “Some men just don’t like to talk to women about scrap,” says Morton. “When Carol and I got out of our vehicle, we were met with a combination of surprise and silence. It was like What do these two women know about scrap and cranes?” Morton jokes about an incident that happened at one of the demo sites. “I remember getting into one of the SENNEBOGEN machines to try out the controls and I noticed a ‘girlie’ calendar. I asked the operator if he knew where I could get a calendar with pictures of men on it and he got really embarrassed because his boss didn’t know he had it in the cab.” The two women are very proud of what they have accomplished at Sugar Creek Scrap and they hope that they serve as role models for other women who may be interested in pursuing careers in the scrap metal industry and other traditionally male-dominated industries.