Avant compact loader helps safety surface manufacturer streamline production

An Avant 750 compact wheeled loader, supplied by local dealer Avant Equipment of Glastonbury, has proved to be the perfect tool for a Somerset based manufacturer of rubber play surfaces.

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Star Rubber Environmental of Bridgwater transforms black rubber chips from old truck and bus tyres into TigerMulch, a decorative and hard wearing surfacing material available in eight colours and used mainly for children’s playgrounds, pathways and tree dressing.

Before the arrival of the Avant machine the company had been using a 4 m reach telehandler for all its external and internal handling activities but was proving far too large for the efficient loading of raw material into the feed hopper inside the production building.

On the other hand, the Avant has proved to be ideal for the application thanks to its compact dimensions, articulated chassis and excellent driver visibility which allow it to work safely in the tight access area involved. To enable it to easily reach the high level feed hopper, Star Rubber has equipped its Avant with a large toe-tip bucket which can fill the hopper in just three passes.

Commenting on the machine, company director Nat Robertson said: “The job is so much easier using the Avant and the telehandler can now concentrate on its outside duties where we use a patented process to colour the rubber chips. We currently produce about 2 tonne of finished product per hour but will soon streamline the whole process and, with help from the Avant, plan to increase production up to 8 tonne/hr.”

The 750 model chosen by Star Rubber is powered by a Kubota 4-cylinder diesel engine developing 36 kW (49 hp), driving through a 2-speed hydrostatic transmission. The all-wheel drive, articulated machine is just 1050 mm wide and can handle loads of up to 1.4 tonne.