Medite was established in 1976 in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, and is one of Europe’s most recognised brands of medium density fibreboard (MDF). Today, Medite produces an extensive range of 10 different families of MDF products to meet the growing demands from customers both here in Ireland and in Europe. It can produce over 4,000 specifications of MDF and has a production capacity of 410,000m3.
In November 2006, Medite became part of Coillte and since then has grown to employ over 150 people at its factory in Clonmel. To give you a sense of the scale and size of this operation, over 55,000t of logs from storage and 1,300t of woodchip are produced per day to keep the facility fed. The entire factory is powered electrically, with an annual electricity bill of €10.5m.
Keeping the entire process moving is a small army of Volvo loading shovels, which work tirelessly 24/7 to meet the growing demand. Mick Doyle, who has been with the company 18 years, is responsible for looking after these machines. Mick took me outside and showed me the reason for my visit – a 2007 Volvo L150F with a colossal 47,000 hours, which is made even more impressive when he tells me that it has never been touched mechanically.
Purchase
The Volvo L150F was purchased new on 15 November 2007 from Volvo main dealer Pat O’Donnell in Co Cork at a cost of €240,000 plus Vat and is fitted with an 8.5m3 R&M high-tip bucket. When asked about the decision on choosing the brand, Mick said: “We buy a new machine every five years. We put it out to tender each time and have previously run different brands but I have to say the Volvo is a great machine when it comes to reliability and fuel efficiency, which is ultimately reflected in the price.”
The loaders will build up 7,500 to 8,000 hours per year, working two shifts 24/7 all year round, even with stand-in drivers to keep them moving while the main drivers have lunch. The new machine will start its working life loading woodchip into the plant and will continue this for up to five years 24 hours a day 7 days a week until the next new machine arrives.. The loader then moves out to another yard where it is used to load bark and boiler fuel, which is less strenuous on the machine as it is only working during the day shift at this stage. Medite normally keeps its loaders for between seven and 10 years and gets an average trade-in value of €20,000 plus Vat.
When purchasing the L150F in November 2007, Medite traded in a seven-year-old machine and bought the L150F outright without finance or service packages as it has a fully stocked workshop where it carries out all the service and maintenance in house, only calling on the main dealer initially during the 12-month warranty and only for electrical problems thereafter. Speaking about dealer backup, Mick said: “We cannot fault the guys in POD. They are normally out the same day as we call them which is vital in our operation as we cannot afford to have a machine down for a long period of time.”
Service
So how does Medite keep the L150F purring for over 47,000 hours? Mick explains the key to it is service. Every 500 hours without fail the machine is brought into the workshop and receives new engine oil, along with new oil, diesel and air filters.
After every 1,000 hours, the loader receives new axle oils and transmission fluid, as well as new hydraulic and transmission filters. Preventative maintenance is also key to helping these machines to stay moving. Every driver conducts a walk around and completes a checklist before starting every shift. The L150F is fitted with an auto-greaser to keep all hinge points adequately lubricated, as well as an auto-reversing fan which keeps the radiator clean when working in a dusty environment.
At the business end, the bucket takes a hammering over the 47,000 hours as it is constantly working on concrete. The bolt on wear edge is turned every eight weeks and replaced every three months at a cost of €600 plus Vat. Tyres are another common wearing part on the concrete, with the front tyres having to be changed every 12 months and the rear every two years at a cost of €4,000 each, plus Vat.
Fuel plays a big part in keeping the L150F running smoothly as it burns approximately 14.1 litres per hour during its work cycles. To ensure that it is getting the best possible fuel, Medite only uses one supplier and specifies only low sulphur diesel, which is regularly tested to ensure that the company is getting the best possible quality.
Mechanical problems
The machine was delivered to Medite on 15 November 2007 and received its first service 12 days later on 27 November, with 207 hours already clocked up. Since then, it has received four turbo-chargers over its lifespan at 5,839, 10,737, 16,420 and 23,501 hours.
The loader also received a new radiator at 16,832 hours, new hydraulic accumulators at 19,400 and 33,708 hours, a new fuseboard and alternator at 23,501 hours, as well as a new cab fan and front and rear wiper motors.
New diesel injectors were fitted at 26,276 hours, as well as a gear selector solenoid valve and header tank at 28,659 hours. The loader received a new water pump and thermostat at 32,812 hours, and has gone through three air-conditioning compressors, as well as two batteries and an ignition switch. Dozens of hydraulic pipes and fittings, as well as hydraulic seals, have also gone into the loader over its lifespan, following the usual wear and tear.
When you consider the amount of hours this loader has clocked up, how much material it has moved and how long it has worked without stopping to even cool, you can start to appreciate the difference good maintenance and servicing, as well as quality machinery, can have on any business, be it construction or agriculture. Yes, the loader received a few minor parts, but the fact still remains that over its 47,000 hours, the engine, transmission or axles have never been mechanically touched.
When you do the maths, this machine has cost Medite just €4.68 per engine hour to own to date and can still be found working every day in the factory.
The L150F has:
Clocked up 47,000 hours.Burnt 662,700l of diesel.Worn out 35 bucket blades and 26 tyres.Used 188 fuel filters, 94 engine oil filters, 188 air filters, 47 hydraulic and transmission filters, 3,948l of engine oil, 2,115l of transmission fluid and 4,700l of axle oil.
Medite was established in 1976 in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, and is one of Europe’s most recognised brands of medium density fibreboard (MDF). Today, Medite produces an extensive range of 10 different families of MDF products to meet the growing demands from customers both here in Ireland and in Europe. It can produce over 4,000 specifications of MDF and has a production capacity of 410,000m3.
In November 2006, Medite became part of Coillte and since then has grown to employ over 150 people at its factory in Clonmel. To give you a sense of the scale and size of this operation, over 55,000t of logs from storage and 1,300t of woodchip are produced per day to keep the facility fed. The entire factory is powered electrically, with an annual electricity bill of €10.5m.
Keeping the entire process moving is a small army of Volvo loading shovels, which work tirelessly 24/7 to meet the growing demand. Mick Doyle, who has been with the company 18 years, is responsible for looking after these machines. Mick took me outside and showed me the reason for my visit – a 2007 Volvo L150F with a colossal 47,000 hours, which is made even more impressive when he tells me that it has never been touched mechanically.
Purchase
The Volvo L150F was purchased new on 15 November 2007 from Volvo main dealer Pat O’Donnell in Co Cork at a cost of €240,000 plus Vat and is fitted with an 8.5m3 R&M high-tip bucket. When asked about the decision on choosing the brand, Mick said: “We buy a new machine every five years. We put it out to tender each time and have previously run different brands but I have to say the Volvo is a great machine when it comes to reliability and fuel efficiency, which is ultimately reflected in the price.”
The loaders will build up 7,500 to 8,000 hours per year, working two shifts 24/7 all year round, even with stand-in drivers to keep them moving while the main drivers have lunch. The new machine will start its working life loading woodchip into the plant and will continue this for up to five years 24 hours a day 7 days a week until the next new machine arrives.. The loader then moves out to another yard where it is used to load bark and boiler fuel, which is less strenuous on the machine as it is only working during the day shift at this stage. Medite normally keeps its loaders for between seven and 10 years and gets an average trade-in value of €20,000 plus Vat.
When purchasing the L150F in November 2007, Medite traded in a seven-year-old machine and bought the L150F outright without finance or service packages as it has a fully stocked workshop where it carries out all the service and maintenance in house, only calling on the main dealer initially during the 12-month warranty and only for electrical problems thereafter. Speaking about dealer backup, Mick said: “We cannot fault the guys in POD. They are normally out the same day as we call them which is vital in our operation as we cannot afford to have a machine down for a long period of time.”
Service
So how does Medite keep the L150F purring for over 47,000 hours? Mick explains the key to it is service. Every 500 hours without fail the machine is brought into the workshop and receives new engine oil, along with new oil, diesel and air filters.
After every 1,000 hours, the loader receives new axle oils and transmission fluid, as well as new hydraulic and transmission filters. Preventative maintenance is also key to helping these machines to stay moving. Every driver conducts a walk around and completes a checklist before starting every shift. The L150F is fitted with an auto-greaser to keep all hinge points adequately lubricated, as well as an auto-reversing fan which keeps the radiator clean when working in a dusty environment.
At the business end, the bucket takes a hammering over the 47,000 hours as it is constantly working on concrete. The bolt on wear edge is turned every eight weeks and replaced every three months at a cost of €600 plus Vat. Tyres are another common wearing part on the concrete, with the front tyres having to be changed every 12 months and the rear every two years at a cost of €4,000 each, plus Vat.
Fuel plays a big part in keeping the L150F running smoothly as it burns approximately 14.1 litres per hour during its work cycles. To ensure that it is getting the best possible fuel, Medite only uses one supplier and specifies only low sulphur diesel, which is regularly tested to ensure that the company is getting the best possible quality.
Mechanical problems
The machine was delivered to Medite on 15 November 2007 and received its first service 12 days later on 27 November, with 207 hours already clocked up. Since then, it has received four turbo-chargers over its lifespan at 5,839, 10,737, 16,420 and 23,501 hours.
The loader also received a new radiator at 16,832 hours, new hydraulic accumulators at 19,400 and 33,708 hours, a new fuseboard and alternator at 23,501 hours, as well as a new cab fan and front and rear wiper motors.
New diesel injectors were fitted at 26,276 hours, as well as a gear selector solenoid valve and header tank at 28,659 hours. The loader received a new water pump and thermostat at 32,812 hours, and has gone through three air-conditioning compressors, as well as two batteries and an ignition switch. Dozens of hydraulic pipes and fittings, as well as hydraulic seals, have also gone into the loader over its lifespan, following the usual wear and tear.
When you consider the amount of hours this loader has clocked up, how much material it has moved and how long it has worked without stopping to even cool, you can start to appreciate the difference good maintenance and servicing, as well as quality machinery, can have on any business, be it construction or agriculture. Yes, the loader received a few minor parts, but the fact still remains that over its 47,000 hours, the engine, transmission or axles have never been mechanically touched.
When you do the maths, this machine has cost Medite just €4.68 per engine hour to own to date and can still be found working every day in the factory.
The L150F has:
Clocked up 47,000 hours.Burnt 662,700l of diesel.Worn out 35 bucket blades and 26 tyres.Used 188 fuel filters, 94 engine oil filters, 188 air filters, 47 hydraulic and transmission filters, 3,948l of engine oil, 2,115l of transmission fluid and 4,700l of axle oil. 
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