LIEBHERR machines have been playing a key role in a new floating pier project in West Argyll.
The Ardcastle floating pier project is part of a strategy for sustainable transport planning initiated by Scotland’s lucrative timber industry. The pier has been commissioned by JST Floating Piers and is open to users who wish to transport timber from West Argyll.
Liebherr explained that an arched back linkspan connects the floating barge to the shore, with the barge accommodating JST’s new 40-tonne LH 40 C material handler.
Building of the new pier underpins a contract between Forest Enterprise Scotland and wood processing specialist Norbord.
Situated on the banks of Loch Fyne, the new pier was commissioned by JST Services (Scotland), through its sub-division JST Floating Piers. The pier will reduce the impact on infrastructure by reducing lorry transportation of timber.
John Scott of JST Services said, “I am delighted to be steering this project, which will help improve the flow of timber from the forests of Argyll to processors and help to increase the volume of timber transported in a sustainable manner.”
The Liebherr LH 40 C-EW material handler has a crawler undercarriage. JST opted for a hydraulically-elevating cab mounted with a fixed 1.2 m riser that, with its theoretical eye level view of over 6m from the ground, is said by Liebherr to be “ideal” for looking into the hold of the coasters being loaded.
With a 1.5 m3 HSP timber grab, the machine is said to be capable of emptying a full 28-tonne load in under three minutes.
JST has specified the curved main boom option at 8.6m and a 7.5m flat angled stick, which gives a maximum reach of over 15m. On land, a wheeled A 934 C material loader unloads incoming vehicles and loads the two 8 x 4 rigid Volvo trucks used to carry timber from the stock yard to the floating dock.
