Beating the Crisis with Innovation

Dealers acclaim presentation organized by Terex® Fuchs to show its new special-purpose machines Bad Scho¨nborn (September 2009). The global recession has not gone unnoticed in the recycling industry, and Terex Fuchs, a leading supplier in the sector, has felt how cus- tomers have become reticent to acquire new machinery.

But instead of giving in, the company decided to make important investments during the last few months in order to modernize its production systems and develop customer-specific solutions.

„We have optimized our logistics and assembly processes to such an extent that we have been able to significantly reduce our manufacturing lead times,“ reports General Manager Ron de Vries. Other additional measures include newly developed assembly aids designed to make work easier and improved quality control processes that will contri- bute to a further increase in product quality.

 

     

 

The services rendered by the Application Center (APC), a business unit started in 2008, have also been pushed forward considerably. The center has 13 qualified specialists who design and manufacture special-purpose machinery that is custom-tailored to the individual needs of customers, all under the guidance of Technology and Sales Manager Christian Engelhardt. „Thanks to our own purchasing, technology, and sales resources, we can respond to our customers‘ wishes extremely quickly and flexibly,“ says Engelhardt while explaining the approach followed by his business unit, a largely independent entity. 

As part of a dealer event, Terex® Fuchs invited its customers and prospective customers to learn more about the company‘s current developments first-hand on September 21st. Three special-purpose machines were presented during the event as perfect examples of the expertise wielded by APC‘s specialists: Pylon versions of the MHL380 D and MHL360 D loading machines were on display and were available for testing, as was an MHL355 D featuring a cab elevation level of one meter and an enlarged undercarriage.

 

The design behind the pylon loading machines is particularly flexible, as it makes it possible for the units to be transported together with or separately from the pylon, thus allowing customers to minimize transportation costs. If required, the machines can even be assembled back onto an undercarriage. An extraordinary all-around view, a wide operating range, and optimized kinematics are some of the features that characterize the two pylon machines, both of which were specifically designed for port handling ope- rations.

The customized MHL355 D, featuring an elevated cab from the outset, is ideal for operations in which the operator must be able to look into hoppers and shredders. Furthermore, its enlarged undercarriage provides it with an exceptional level of stability when working with large loads and long reaches.

The overwhelmingly positive reaction shown by the dealers who attended proved that there is more than enough demand for these types of custom solutions. The machines‘ large loading capacities, sophisticated designs, and precise handling were all highly praised during the tests conducted at the event. General Manager Ron de Vries was vi- sibly pleased with the fact that striving for greater innovation and customization was as successful a strategy as everyone had hoped, even despite the crisis. „Motivation, com- mitment, and new ideas are the key to the future, even during difficult times.“