- Liebherr XPower wheel loaders and timber handling machines at the Fantoni timber company
- Liebherr machines withstand demanding operating conditions in 24/7 timber operations
- Efficiency, safety and comfort as key decision-making criteria
- A sustainable overall concept at Fantoni: renewable energy sources, recycled resources and environmentally friendly processes
In north-eastern Italy, not far from the Alps and the River Tagliamento, lies the headquarters of wood-based materials specialist Fantoni. On the extensive factory grounds, bathed in the warm sunshine, two XPower wheel loaders and two material handling machines perform key tasks: from handling fresh timber and sorting recycled wood waste to feeding the processing plants. They ensure a smooth flow of materials, thereby making a significant contribution to the processing of around 5,000 tonnes of wood per day. When dealing with heavy loads and additional challenges such as fine wood dust and confined spaces, the machines demonstrate their strengths in terms of performance, efficiency, safety and ease of operation.
“At our Osoppo site, we load more than 3,000 tonnes of fresh timber and more than 2,000 tonnes of recycled timber every day,” explains Michele Di Santolo, Production Manager at Fantoni. The family-run company is one of the leading international specialists in wood-based materials and produces, among other things, MDF and chipboard, laminates, soundproofing systems and office furniture for markets worldwide. Environmentally friendly production and the circular economy are key pillars of the company, which is able to cover a large proportion of its energy requirements from its own renewable energy sources. To ensure efficiency and reliability in materials handling too, Fantoni has been using two L 580 XPower wheel loaders and two LH 50 M Timber Litronic machines from Liebherr for around a year.
Every day, several hundred lorries loaded with logs and wood waste enter the Fantoni Group’s site. In addition, large quantities of fresh timber arrive by rail at a separate transhipment area. There, the two LH 50 M Timber Litronic log loaders take over the loading of the delivered logs and stack them precisely on site. The two L 580 XPower wheel loaders are primarily used for the processing and sorting of recycled wood waste at the site. With their high-tipping buckets, they stack the material into different piles and feed it into crushing plants, where the wood waste is sorted and shredded simultaneously. Part of the processed material is then loaded over a high edge onto a conveyor system.
(X)Power Package Combining Performance, Efficiency and Comfort
At the heart of the XPower wheel loaders lies the power-split drive system. It automatically and continuously combines the advantages of hydrostatic and mechanical drives in a single machine – thereby ensuring maximum performance and efficiency for all requirements. The machine concept is complemented by an ergonomically designed cab and an intuitive operating system, which noticeably reduces the workload for operators. “The comfort inside the cab is extremely good. The response time of the control lever and the entire hydraulic system is also very good – this allows us to precisely control the speed, lifting and lowering, as well as the height of the bucket. The machine meets our requirements exactly,” explains Marco Dorigo, machine operator at Fantoni.
In addition to performance and ease of operation, cleanliness and ease of maintenance play a particularly crucial role in a timber processing operation. “We work in a very dusty environment and chose this wheel loader partly because the engine compartment stays very clean and dust-free,” explains Dorigo. Radiators clogged with wood dust can lead to overheating and, consequently, fires – a risk that Fantoni specifically wanted to minimise. “As for the engine compartment, it is very easy to clean thanks to the bonnet’s tilting mechanism, so that operators can move around in complete safety – without slipping or falling. The filters are also easily accessible and very simple to handle during maintenance,” adds Dorigo.
For applications involving particularly high levels of dust, Liebherr offers special options to optimally prepare wheel loaders for timber operations. The lint screen for the radiator, developed specifically for dust-intensive work, separates out coarse particles and thus protects the radiator fins from rapid clogging. By changing the direction of rotation, the reversible fan blows wood dust out of the radiator and cleans the cooling system. These protective measures reduce cleaning and maintenance requirements and increase machine availability.
L 580 XPower: Assistance Systems for Greater Safety and Productivity
To further improve safety in the confined and sometimes obstructed factory environment, both XPower wheel loaders are equipped with driver assistance systems. The cab’s high proportion of glazing, which comes as standard, already ensures excellent all-round visibility. In addition, Fantoni relies on the optional active pedestrian detection system with brake assist. “This system is very important to us, as we move very quickly in confined spaces,” explains Dorigo. The assistance system developed by Liebherr monitors the rear area of the wheel loader and issues audible and visual warnings of potential hazards. As soon as the sensors detect a hazard, the brake assist automatically reduces the wheel loader’s speed, further reducing the frequency and severity of any accidents.
At the same time, both XPower wheel loaders are equipped with a roof-mounted camera for front-area monitoring, which extends the field of view at the front of the wheel loader. This makes it easier and quicker to spot people, particularly when working with large attachments such as the high-tipping bucket. In addition, the roof-mounted camera provides improved visibility into tall containers, lorries and hoppers, enabling more efficient loading and feeding. “With the front and rear cameras, visibility is practically seamless,” summarises Dorigo.
LH 50 M Timber Litronic: Professionals in Timber Handling
The two LH 50 M Timber Litronic handling machines also make a significant contribution to efficient and smooth operations at the plant. With their optimised travel motor, they deliver high travel performance whilst reducing fuel consumption. Their compact design ensures high manoeuvrability and precise handling – even in confined spaces – whilst the machine’s construction guarantees excellent driving and directional stability at all times. Combined with the fixed cab extension for superb all-round visibility, this makes the LH 50 M Timber a reliable partner in timber handling. The Liebherr timber grapples, specially developed for timber handling, impress with their optimal penetration and high clamping force, which further increases handling performance. Generous glazing and the standard rear and side monitoring systems ensure an optimal view of the working area and the immediate surroundings of the machine at all times.
First-time Collaboration: Fantoni, Liebherr and Adriatica Commerciale Macchine
Fantoni has been using the four Liebherr machines for around a year in continuous operation and draws a positive conclusion. “We are very satisfied with the results – particularly in terms of fuel consumption. Liebherr is a new brand for us, but we know that the company is a global leader in the manufacture of this type of machine. That is why we chose Liebherr – particularly because of its renowned reliability, fuel efficiency and high level of operator comfort,” explains Di Santolo. Fantoni also rates the collaboration with the regional Liebherr dealer as a success. “Our experience so far with Liebherr and the dealer Adriatica Commerciale Macchine has been entirely positive – both in terms of the start of this project and the advice on the machines and the subsequent handling of the purchase. We can say that we are very satisfied with this partnership,” concludes Di Santolo.