Since 1998, HIT Holzindustrie Torgau OHG has been producing pallets, lumber, milling products and wood bulk goods at its facility near Leipzig. The company relies on a complete production chain, from felling to the final product. The material handlers that take logs from along two sorting lines, unload incoming trucks and feed the saws are critical components of this production chain.

Operators and supervisors were now able to get a closer look at the new generation of the 723 at work. The material handler is equipped with a modern 119 kW diesel engine in compliance with the latest Tier 4f emissions standard and has an operating weight of 27t. With a range of  11m, the Sennebogen 723 quickly and safely takes the logs from the sorting bins and, with its two-stage all-wheel drive, distributes them across the sweeping premises for further processing. With a capacity of more than 800,000 solid cubic meters per year, the raw material is used to produce not only posts and slats for gardening and landscaping, but primarily pallets, with an output of approx. 20,000 per day.

The material handlers in Torgau work virtually around the clock. The operators give the machines just 15 minutes of rest between shifts – a real endurance test of continuous use for the new model. This makes the reliability of every component critical, which was a top priority in the design of these material handlers. The undercarriage and uppercarriage are especially rugged, the travel drive and axles optimized for continuous operation, and the operator can reach all maintenance and service points safely and conveniently. An extensive travel drive guard, standard all-round protective grating on the cab, and a surrounding gallery protect man and machine in daily use.

With the launch of the 723 in the current E-series, the modern Maxcab comfort cab is being used in this machine class for the first time. From the 1m rigidly elevated cab, the operator has an ideal overview of work area. Thanks to its compact size, with a 3m width and a 2.52m rear pivoting radius, the material handler can operate safely even in narrow passes. The continuously slewable uppercarriage and automatic travel direction detector not only speed up the process, they also provide maximum safety. Elaborate maneuvering is unnecessary, and the machine can stack up to 10m on either side.

The new flour mill will be located on Pier 10 at the Port of Hamilton, adjacent to Parrish & Heimbecker’s existing grain storage and export terminal, which opened in 2011.

“We’re very proud that Parrish & Heimbecker chose to expand its footprint at the Port of Hamilton, and we look forward to working with the company to develop this facility,” said Bruce Wood, President & CEO of the Hamilton Port Authority. “P&H has been instrumental in putting Hamilton and its Port on Ontario’s agri-food map.”

More than $100 million in agri-food -related investments have been made at the Port of Hamilton in less than a decade. These terminal investments are part of a growing agri-food cluster in Hamilton that generates more than a billion dollars in economic activity each year. Agricultural cargo has increased as a proportion of the port’s total tonnage, from 9% (815,000 Metric Tonnes) in 2008, to 20% (2 million MT) in 2014.

The Port of Hamilton’s role as a primary agri-food gateway is leading in turn to the attraction of higher-order food processing enterprises, like Parrish and Heimbecker’s new four mill, SucroCan’s sugar refinery and Collective Arts/Nickel Brook’s craft brewery, all established within the last three years. “Together with our tenants, we help Ontario farmers get their grain to international markets, we import crop inputs for  Ontario farms, and we house food manufacturing, warehousing and transportation assets that help keep Ontario’s food economy moving,” said Bruce Wood.

The Port of Hamilton offers agri-food producers a highly valuable combination of location and transportation efficiency. The largest port in Ontario, it is located on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway, is served by CN and CP railways, and offers direct highway access a short distance from the US border.

Rick fills a key role in the firm’s growing business development organization, responsible for leading client relations, capture, and market strategy for the firm’s diverse range of environmental services, which include testing & remediation, environmental health, site assessment, permitting & regulatory compliance, IT management, and related services.

With decades working for large government contractors, Rick brings senior-level experience, knowledge, and contacts. He has managed multi-million-dollar programs for military, civilian, and commercial customers, and has advised US Government representatives operating in locations throughout the world.

Kai Skvarla, President, BMT Designers & Planners commented: “I’m excited to have Rick as a part of our business development team. His quality-minded, results-oriented demeanor will drive higher performance and help us achieve the ambitious goals we’ve set for our environmental markets.”