Forico – Custom Woodchip Bucket

SBA CASE STUDIES

Client

Forico

Industry

Forestry

Machine Type/s

WA500

Attachment Type/s

Light material / Woodchip bucket 21m3

Introduction

Forico were continually encountering a significant challenge in managing the efficient movement of vast quantities of woodchips across their yard, leading them to which required an unusually large and durable bucket. This demand marked SBA’s most ambitious engineering project to date: creating a bucket designed to handle an immense volume of woodchip.

This case study examines how SBA’s innovative solutions met Forico’s needs and revolutionised their material handling processes.

The Challenge

Forico wanted to be able to move mass amounts of material (woodchip) around their yard quicker, easier, and more efficiently. This would be the biggest bucket SBA has ever made.

It was a problem for them to find a bucket of such size that was engineered to a factory standard and that could withstand its use of pushing such large amounts of woodchip which is roughly 400 kg/m3, equalling to 8400kg on a full load.

It was a challenge at first for SBA to design a bucket so large to comply with Komatsu’s safe working loads and limits to keep the machine within warranty. Our in-house engineering team worked hard with each other and Komatsu on designing the biggest yet safest bucket we could.

The SBA Approach and Solution

To maximise this bucket’s capacity, the SBA engineers designed this bucket using a lighter grade steel that could be used to accommodate such a large capacity. It was also designed with a lot of metal mesh to reduce weight. We could do this as woodchip is light and not a harsh material.

A problem with buckets this big is that visibility is generally very poor and makes it harder to operate. This issue was resolved by designing the bucket to have a large mesh screen on the back to allow operators to see clearly what they are loading, as well as to see potential dangers, people, and other machines when moving around the yard.

Another approach was that for a bucket this big, it had to suit the machine’s centre of gravity. The bucket was designed so that the pickups were slightly inside the bucket to accommodate an empty or fully loaded centre of gravity.

Easy and efficient cleanout of the bucket can be a challenge on an attachment this big, especially when it is being compacted with such vast amounts of material. To cater to this issue, SBA attached angled blocks on the bucket where the floor meets the side wall and the strong back meets the side wall to allow all material to freely exit. This also helped to reinforce the bucket.

The Results

The result of the 21m3 Woodchip Bucket was great for SBA. It is the biggest bucket we have ever made. It was designed and manufactured right at our Head Office on the NSW Central Coast.

The client was very happy with this product, being unsure at the start if he could get something this large and still fit into the machine usage guidelines he was thrilled.

The bucket has been in action ever since, down in Tasmania moving and sorting woodchip piles around the Forico Yard.

The development of the Woodchip Bucket showcases SBA’s engineering excellence and innovation. By effectively addressing this volumes’ challenge, SBA not only met Forico’s needs but also enhanced operational efficiency and safety. This project highlights SBA’s ability to deliver impactful solutions for complex material handling challenges.