Paper Recycling Plant Swaps Skid Steers for Swingers

It&#8217;s a well-known fact. Manhattan generates a lot of waste paper. The recycling company that handles the majority of that waste paper obviously has some specific equipment needs to cope with the 130.5 metric tons (145 tons) of office paper it processes daily. The equipment fleet at Filco Carting Corporation, Brooklyn, NY, consists mainly of skid steer loaders and small wheel loaders. Filco used to depend mainly on its skid steers to move the large volumes of paper from the floor of the recycling facility to a hopper. Employees relied on the skid steers because they were able to provide tight cornering; they were used continuously. The continuous use of the skid steers was rough on the equipment and resulted in tremendous wear on Filco&#8217;s vital skid steers. Rudy Filiberto, president of Filco, turned to Action Equipment, Brooklyn, NY, to find a solution. He thought that skid steers were the only viable option for his company. Robert Giel, a salesman at Action Equipment, introduced Filiberto to the Swinger 3000 articulated loader. He told Filiberto that he believed a small articulated loader might be more comfortable for Filco&#8217;s operators. He also said it probably would be quicker and would hold up to the day-to-day wear the company placed on its equipment. Filiberto told Construction Equipment Guide that at first, he was skeptical the Swinger 3000 would really meet the company&#8217;s needs, but he did agree to try the equipment out before he decided against it. He said it didn&#8217;t take long for his operators to convince him that the machine was the answer he had been searching for. The operators said the large cab of the Swinger 3000 was much more comfortable than the tight confines of a skid steer, and it was equipped to keep them warm through the winter months. They also found that it was simple to operate. The key factor in Filiberto&#8217;s decision to purchase a Swinger 3000 was that the articulated turning system is better designed for tight-area turning than a skid steer is. As a result, Filco operators are able to move materials faster with much less wear and tear on the machine. The Swinger loader is equipped with a 1-meter (1.1 yd.) bucket. It has a John Deere-powered diesel engine; a two-speed, hydrostatic-drive transmission; and a quick-attach tool-carry system that allows easy transition to any of the available attachments. It also has 3,856 kilograms (8,500 lbs.) of breakout force. Filiberto said he appreciated that Giel insisted he try out the Swinger loader. This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.