Since the beginning of the 1940s, the Rua family business in Spain has been dedicated to the management and recovery of paper and cardboard, later expanding the activity to plastics, metals, wood, and other industrial waste. Today, the family business, Rua Papel Gestión, is a respected company with an active presence in different European and Asian countries, selling products from the company’s three plants in Catalonia in Spain. The company has purchased a new Bobcat L85 compact wheel loader for its Sant Andreu de la Barca paper recycling center. In this plant, some 38,000 tonnes of paper and cardboard from printing presses are processed annually and for this, they needed a machine with power and versatility, but at the same time to be compact enough to maneuver easily inside the warehouse and between the rows and columns of stored paper bales.
The Bobcat L85 loader is used to handle materials to feed the presses. But thanks to its power, the operators who handle it are already thinking of getting more out of it, equipping it with forks to load bales of paper and they do not rule out putting a grapple on the machine in the future as well. The characteristics of this machine give them great versatility to deal with the various needs of daily activity at the plant, and they see very clearly that the use of attachments will bring them great advantages.
The L85 is equipped as standard with the hydraulic Quick-Tach system, compatible with the most used standard couplers in the sector, allowing the use of high-flow attachments. The advanced attachment control allows the operator to change the control pattern of the machine with the push of a button. This offers independent control of engine speed and machine travel speed. Thanks to the 7-pin connector, the operator can control even the most complicated attachments intuitively and efficiently.
The L85 has a 50.7 kW engine, which allows it to offer a tipping load of 3151 kg, and comes equipped as standard with features that allow the operator to work with great comfort and exceptional productivity.
Advantages Over Other Machines
Diego Avila, General Manager of Rua Papel Gestión, comments:
“Previously we carried out the same work with forklifts, but we saw that when, for example, a truck loaded with 12 tonne of magazines arrived, the power of the L85 loader was much higher and the work was carried out more smoothly.
“To replace the forklifts, we first rented a Bobcat S450 compact loader, and its evaluation was so positive that we have not considered changing brands. The Bobcat S450 has given us very good results – we have not had any problems with it, no mechanical failure.
“It is a great machine, designed for construction, which is why it is very robust, requires minimal maintenance and we are very satisfied with this model. We have worked very well with it, but we thought that with a larger loader we could improve our work. And this has proved to be the case. Now we push the material with the Bobcat L85 loader directly onto the conveyor belt in no time, much more effectively and more comfortably.
“Bobcat Of, the official distributor in the area, let us test the Bobcat L85 loader for ten days and it never left here. Its power, starting forces, thrust, traction, as well as its versatility and the comfort of its cab, are unbeatable.
“Regarding its design, for us it is perfect, which prevents us from problems, breakdowns and unnecessary stops. The components, such as the cylinders, are protected so that the machine does not get blocked with scraps of paper, as happened with the forklifts with clamps, which are very visible. In this machine, the only thing that touches the paper is the attachment, meaning we have zero risk of it being damaged or blocked.”
Low Consumption and High Safety and Comfort
Operators highlight the low fuel consumption of this loader, compared to other machines they use. They evaluate safety very positively, thanks to the weight of the loader, the stability, the size of its wheels, and the closed cab that prevents any material from reaching them. The forklifts did not provide this protection.
But above all, they highlight the comfort of the cab, as a fundamental aspect, thanks to its hydraulic seat, excellent 360° visibility to both sides, and noise reduction. By working in a closed cab, they avoid the high noise level from the crushers and other equipment that occurs in the facilities throughout the day, which allows them to work in better conditions. The cab is pressurized and meets the strictest FOPS II level safety requirements.
They also value its easy handling, the location of all the controls on the joystick is designed to make the L85 easy and comfortable to handle. The joystick position is horizontally adjustable and integrated into the operator’s suspension seat to ensure the best driving experience and comfort. The location of the controls on the joystick is designed to be easy and comfortable to use even for many hours.
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