Equipment Spotlight | NOV 2020 Auto Logger/Balers

by MARY M. THORNTON

As the most recycled material in the world, junk vehicles are typically baled at the end of the process. Approximately 27 million cars around the world are recovered for recycling annually and the following manufacturers provide products for processing vehicles.

Al-jon by C&C Mfg designs, manufactures and supplies a complete line of mobile and stationary ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal and scrap vehicle crushers and balers. The firm ships products worldwide. “The Al-jon 580CL continues to be the #1 best-selling logger/baler in the industry. The running gear, which makes the machine mobile, is incorporated into the baler design. The design provides a very low lift requirement for loading material or vehicles into the huge 19’4” x 10’ crushing chamber. Other balers on the market require trailer use and added components, which result in significantly higher lift requirements. The Al-jon 580CL features include a 10’ box opening, which provides easy loading and unloading of bulk, loose scrap material, and the box is 1’6” wider than the competition!” stated Curt Spry, sales manager.

The 580CL is a one-operator, fully-transportable, scrap recycling machine, equipped with or without a 360º continuous-rotating material handler. A state of the art cab design includes an adjustable seat, joystick control, heat, A/C and stereo/USB port. The operator cab is “all day” comfortable and roomy with engine heating and cab mounted AC. The machine is capable of processing up to 20 to 30 whole car bodies per hour and 15 to 20 tons per hour of miscellaneous loose scrap. With the baling chamber doors closed, the 580CL will make a 40” x 25” x variable length log/bale. Density is determined by a programmable in-the-cab module with a range of 30 to 80 lbs. per cu.ft. Operation is manual and automatic capable, with a cycle time of 65 seconds. Machine weight is 97,000 lbs. and size is 8’5” wide, 13’5” tall and 53’ long. C&C is the full service distributor (sales, parts and service) for the Bonfiglioli line of portable vertical guillotine scrap metals and scrap car shears and compact scrap metal and scrap vehicle shredders.

John Kitchens, president of Iron Ax, explained, “We offer a 20’ and a 16’ baler equipped with or without a crane. Our normal build is a 20 foot with no crane. Our balers feature a Cummins engine, and the baler we currently have in production has a new and improved automation system. The baler features automatic cycle and remote control, the latter is rechargeable, and it has a longer range than before.”

Kitchens noted how the new modernized control systems allow the remote control to communicate with the engine via a CAN network. The future evolution of this control system will feature optional systems such as remote diagnostics and GPS tracking. The system will also feature on board diagnostics via a control panel display, which in turn will make setting hydraulic pressure easier than ever before. The ability to adjust the pressure allows the operator to make either a loose or a tight bale with the Iron Pack Baler.

“We know what processors are looking for when it comes to a baler. We have roots in scrap metal recycling, and we use the products in our scrap operation every day. Our customer service sets us apart from other manufacturers. Many of our service employees have been with us over 25 years. They not only know the machines, they get to know customers and the operators, too. We are available on the weekends as well. We realize that issues sometimes appear at an inconvenient time, so we’re available almost 24/7 to help our customers resume their operations.

“Our Iron Pack Baler is a high-speed product. Average baling time is approximately one minute and our customers see an increase in tons processed after adding this machine to their operation. Setup time is minimal with all of our balers. Upon arrival at the jobsite, you will be ready to operate in just minutes,” said Kitchens.

He noted that baler sales continue to increase as yard owners realize the need for them, and added, “With a car crusher you are limited to crushing cars. With a baler you can process cars, white goods, loose iron and more. A baler is a versatile machine that can help process various streams of scrap. A lot of customers have discovered how they can purchase more and/or different types of material than they could prior to running a baler, which allows them to process the materials with ease.”

The RM Johnson portable E-Z Log Baler produces a bale in a fast, neat process. “It is ready to operate, after a fluid level check and a user can move the grapple crane up to 400°, reach out 23’ and lift 2,000 lbs. By selecting the metal type and volume of each bundle, a user can produce log bales to fit the requirement of the desired market and the E-Z Log Baler can operate from the control platform. The unit can be moved to the same location as the scrap that must be processed. We offer three other logger models as well,” stated Dave Van Vleet, sales manager. He added, “Even expensive machines are worthless if the final product can’t be shredded. Our innovative hydraulic compression sequence solves this problem. Once loose scrap is loaded onto the baling chamber, the E-Z Log, as opposed to mere compressing, produces a log that will stay together even when dropped. Yet the rolled logs remain loose and low density enough for a 1,500 hp shredder to easily process them.”

He claims the simple but unique design of the machine, with easily accessible components, aids trouble-free operation and servicing. “Fewer moving parts and smaller hydraulic cylinders produce a better bundle at a lower processing cost than other loggers. All of the hydraulic cylinders are manufactured with high-grade, seamless, polished steel at our factory. All E-Z Log Balers also use standard parts and components. Operating instructions are provided by our trained specialists and baler options include stationary or portable; diesel, gas or electric engines. Custom designs and specifications are also available,” Van Vleet concluded.

Published in the November 2020 Edition