Mobility and reliability: Shine Bros. counts on three Fuchs scrap handlers to keep materials moving.

Shine Bros. Corp., a 103-year old-company based in Spencer, Iowa, bought its first Fuchs machine--an MHL 320 scrap handler--in 1998. Since then, the company has bought two additional Fuchs MHL 360 scrap handlers the first in 2003 and the second in February of this year--to perform various scrap handling tasks at its Spencer yard.

Mike Wycoff, yard manager for Shine Bros.' Spencer location, says the company selected its first rubber-tired Fuchs handler because of the mobility it offered. Most of the company's Spencer yard is paved, as well, making a rubber-tired machine a better choice than a tracked machine. "There is less wear and tear on the concrete," Wycoff says.

The company's purchase also was influenced by the 31-foot reach and fast cycle times offered by the MHL 320, he says.

Shine Bros.' positive experience with the 320 lead it to purchase other Fuchs handlers.

"We bought the 360 because we were very happy with the 320 that we bought," he says.

The rubber-tired 360 offers 59 feet of reach and, like the 320, includes a cab that can be extended hydraulically to increase visibility when loading and unloading. The cab of the smaller 320 extends to 15 feet, 9 inches, while the 360's cab extends to a height of 20 feet.

This extra reach comes in handy, as Shine Bros. uses its Fuchs handlers to load and to unload ferrous and nonferrous metals and to feed material to its wire chopping lines and its 2,500-horsepower auto shredder. The company also operates a gravity-fed shear and bales and briquettes nonferrous materials at its Spencer yard.

The Fuchs handlers have no problem keeping up with the capacity of Shine Bros.' processing equipment, Wycoffsays. "Downtime on these machines is pretty minimal," making them a favorite with the company's operators.

When it is time for service, Shine Bros. turns to its dealers, Road Builders of Kansas City and Road Builders of Omaha, who Wycoffsays offer "very good service and parts availability."

The extendable cabs on the 320 and 360 improve operator visibility, speeding loading and unloading of rail cars and trucks, further improving efficiency at the Spencer yard, Wycoff says.