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The material is then taken away and recycled as an ingredient of cement.
The oil field produces nearly 200,000 barrels of crude oil/day, and for eight hours a day, five SDLG wheeled loaders (comprising three LG968L and two L956F units) work onsite to load the unwanted by-products onto trucks to be taken to cement plants in other parts of the country for recycling for recycling.
“We keep records of how much we refuel the wheel loaders daily,” says Sumiarti, a director of PT Sumigita Jaya, the company leasing the machines to the oil producer.
“The L956F units average about 15 to 17 litres per hour, which is relatively low and therefore helps us keep our costs down.”
The Pekanbaru, Riau-based company is charging an hourly rate that includes machine operators and fuel.
The pair of L956F wheeled loaders are PT Sumigita Jaya’s latest additions to its 40-machine fleet, which also includes two SDLG G9190motor graders. PT Sumigita Jaya bought them in 2017, from local dealer PT Indotruck Utama after its existing SDLG LG968L units had impressed with their performance at the same oil field.
“Since we charge a flat hourly rate, the less fuel the machine consumes, the more we save on costs,” Sumiarti explained.
The L956F, while smaller than the 6tonne-rated LG968L, is highly-suitable for general applications. Part of the new three-model range of F-series machines introduced in May 2017 across South-east Asia, the L956F features gull-wing designs on the engine and heat dissipation hoods to facilitate easy access for maintenance.
“Our operators have really liked operating the new F-series machines. The air-conditioned cabins are not only comfortable, but their curved windscreen design offers a wider field of view,” says Sumiarti said.
“In addition, they like that a digital display panel indicates any malfunctions in real-time. And, if a fault is detected, a centralised electrical system allows for easy repairs.”
The L956F has an operating weight of 17,200kg, a rated load of 5tonnes, and a bucket capacity of 3m³. Its maximum breakout force is 175kN, while its rated power is 162kW.
These attributes are said to cement SDLG’s reputation for simple but intuitive and cost-effective machines that can do the job in even the harshest and most unforgiving of environments like oil fields.
