Atlas Copco’s HM 1500 fixed hydraulic (hydro) magnet, fitted to a 22.5 ton carrier, is efficiently and safely sorting and loading steel off cuts at a steel mill in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga.

Following a successful tender, service contract specialist, Real Tree Trading, was contracted to remove steel off cuts generated from the steel production process. “After being cut into various lengths, the steel I-beam off cuts, weighing anything between 150 and 300kg, have to be heaped and loaded onto trucks for transportation to a steel works in Vanderbijl where they are resmelted and recycled back into the steel fabrication process,” explains Real Tree Trading Group Manager, Gert Ootshuizen.

Ably assisted by Masike Seritili – Contract Manager, Oosthuizen oversees the project that involves a team of 46 workers operating in the cutting, splitting, scrap and dispatch areas.

“This is the first time that we are involved in scrap cutting and removal and we needed a fast, efficient and equally important, safe bulk handling solution. An OEM referred us to Atlas Copco Power Technique distributor, Riviera Hire, for a solution.” According to Riviera Hire Managing Director, Filippo Bevilacqua, following a site inspection they immediately recommended the Atlas Copco hydro magnet as the ideal solution. 

Atlas Copco and Riviera demonstrated the hydro magnet and impressed with the product’s performance, Real Tree Trading placed the order with Riviera Sales in Q1 2017. “We were able to supply the unit within a week,” confirms Bevilacqua.

Established in 2004, machine and attachment rental and sales specialist, Riviera Hire is committed to forging long-term customer partnerships within the construction, plant hire and mining industries. The company provides a value add rental service supported by four pillars of excellence - product offering, training, service support and turnaround time.

“We appointed Riviera Hire as a distributor almost three years ago and have supplied the rental company with a number of products including three Atlas Copco hammers, the EC140, EC135 and ES70, a compacter, a bucket crusher as well as the hydro magnet,” says Area Sales Manager for Atlas Copco Power Technique, Amanda Roets.

“Thanks to our excellent relationship with Riviera, we conduct joint demos for end-users like we did for Real Tree Trading with the hydro magnet, indeed a win-win-win for Atlas Copco, our distributor and the end-user,” continues Roets.

According to Bevilacqua, Atlas Copco attachments perfectly complement their hire fleet which includes 4x4 backhoe loaders all piped for hammer attachments and 20 – 35 tonne tracked excavators which are ideally suited to hammer, crusher bucket and bucket applications. “The combination of Atlas Copco quality which is nothing short of exceptional and our commitment to service excellence, positions us to achieving lowest cost of ownership for our customers,” states Bevilacqua.

The Atlas Copco hydro magnet is available in two models, the HM 1500 (1.5t) and the HM 2500 (2.5t). With respective lifting capacities of 2.6 tons and 3.5 tons and available as fixed or movable units, the high quality, rugged magnets are ideal for sorting, cleaning and loading applications.

Unlike a power magnet, the hydro magnet, fitted with a 13kW generator, is attached to the carrier with just the normal hammer line hydraulic installation. The elimination of powerlines ensures a safer working environment and speeds up installation. This plug-and-play solution ensures that the end-user is up and running in no time which is good for productivity. Incorporating German technology and with operating pressures of between 120 and 350 bar, the high quality hydro magnet delivers faster and safer load cycles presenting a total lowest cost of ownership solution to end-users. 

Atlas Copco and Riviera jointly conducted on-site training on the user-friendly hydro magnet to Real Tree Trading operators. Atlas Copco also provided technical training to Riviera who will be responsible for servicing of the easy-to-maintain unit.

Oosthuizen reports extreme satisfaction with the hydro magnet’s quality and performance. “The robust unit saves us time and enables us to work fast and efficiently so that we can deliver an excellent service to our customer,” he concludes.

Real Tree Trading 1, a fully compliant BBBEE company and part of the VESCO (Vanderbijlpark Estate Company) group of companies, is a leading service provider of safety training and related projects, workshops services, industrial and commercial cleaning services and is focused on job creation and service delivery.

Head office is situated in Vanderbijlpark supported by branches in Vaal Triangle, Newcastle and Saldanha.