A Bobcat MT55 mini track loader is proving to be an ideal machinery solution at a Spanish industrial glass producer, using its compact size to full advantage in confined work spaces for various maintenance task at the facility.
Founded in 1946, Santos Jorge has facilities in and around Barcelona where domestic glass and industrial glass are treated and recycled. The company recycles around 100,000 tonnes of glass per year and offers all kinds of recycled glass treatment services for different sectors, such as glass manufacturing, water filtration, construction or abrasives, and are considered among the best in the European market.
Santos Jorge recently added the Bobcat MT55 mini track loader to its machinery fleet.
Speaking about the machine, Antonio Hernandez, Purchasing and Logistics Manager at Santos Jorge, said: “We needed to clean all the way to the corners under the belts that transport the glass and for this a super compact machine was essential, since we are talking about areas that are not too wide, with columns, and where a normal loader cannot access due to its size.
“Since we have been working with this Bobcat mini track loader, we no longer have to clean by hand with a shovel and brush, which has resulted in a comfortable, faster, more efficient and safer way of operating, and this also allows us to more easily keep cleaning and maintenance up-to-date, without accumulating glass debris.
“With the bucket on the loader we also load the glass waste into containers and with a custom-made stacker, we clean corners that it is impossible to reach with any other machine as the cabs would get in the way.
“Basically this is the only model that allows us to access certain spaces in our facilities. And another noticeable advantage is that it is very easy to work with it.”
Operators highlight Bobcat MT55’s light weight and ease-of-use
Currently, the Bobcat loader is performing maintenance on all the low and narrow corners of the recycling plant, performing maintenance on about 600 square metres of operating space.
The problems that Santos Jorge succeeded in solving with the Bobcat mini track loader are the same as those in aggregate plants and all of those industries that work with conveyor belts.
In the MT55, operators highlight above all its lightness, easy use, the compactness, manoeuvrability, its very good breakout force for a machine of this size, as well as its nominal load capacity of 254kg.
Prior to the purchase of the MT55, Bobcat Of, the official Bobcat distributor, carried out a demonstration for Santos Jorge, showing the most suitable solution for their business. Improvement has been evident, with less labour for the same results and with greater efficiency and speed.
Hernandez added: “Whenever we have had a need, Bobcat Of has provided us with a good proposal, which is why we trust their team. They provide us with a good service both in advising us in the face of problems, and through their technical service.
Another Bobcat in the fleet
“We also have a Bobcat S450 loader that has been in service for a few years now, equipped with a sweeper attachment, for other maintenance work in larger areas, with which we are also very satisfied.”
Bobcat says its skid-steer loaders are characterized by their small dimensions and great agility, combined with their amazing traction and lifting capacities – they overcome the difficulties of manoeuvring in confined spaces with ease and speed.
Bobcat has recently launched the company’s latest mini track loader, the MT100, with a rated capacity of 460kg, a tipping load of 1.3t, a powerful breakout force and a lifting height of 2057mm. Its ISO joystick controls are ergonomically designed and offer very tight precision, for more comfortable control of the machine.