Problem: A worker had to get off the forklift to dump the hoppers into the dumpster.
Solution: Because of a special self-release mechanism on the hoppers, they release waste into the dumpsters and the employee never has to get off the forklift.
Paul Peachey, owner of Quality Pallet, is very pleased with the four Iron Bull hoppers he uses at his plant in Greensburg, Kentucky.
Established in 2003, Quality Pallet produces approximately 4,200 pallets daily. It is strictly a new manufacturer that builds 1,500-plus truckloads a year.
It builds pallets ranging in size from 30’x30’ to 60’x60’, three-runner and four-runner pallets, four-way and two-way pallets, pallets that are flush or have wings built to customer specifications.
“The Iron Bull hoppers are very durable, very user-friendly and engineered well. There is a mechanism on the front that releases when it hits the dumpster – so you are staying under the canopy when you dump. It’s safer because you never have to get off the forklift,” said Peachey.
“The way it is engineered and balanced causes it to dump out very nicely when it is full, then when it’s empty the hopper will return to its home position and latch again,” he explained.
“The release mechanism is actually located on the front of the base of the hopper and it releases when it is bumped against the lip of the roll-off container,” clarified Joe Glick, general manager of Iron Bull.
“We call this the Automatic Push and Dump™ option. It’s designed for dumping into roll-offs or other large waste containers. By pushing the latch push tube gently against the edge of the large waste container, the hopper latch is released, dumping its material quickly and safely. Tilting the forklift mast back will automatically bring the hopper back into its locked position again.”
“It’s actually recessed in the base so it won’t release by accident if the forklift hits against a wall,” Glick explained. “One of the greatest things about the push and dump option is that it saves time, but even more importantly, it reduces the potential for forklift operator injuries. According to the forklift industry, the majority of forklift-related injuries are from the operator getting off or on the vehicle.”
Another feature that Peachey likes about the design of the Iron Bull hopper is the way the base is built for extreme wear and tear. This was an issue that Quality Pallet had in the past with other hoppers it used. “We’ve had the Iron Bull hoppers for over a year and they don’t show any signs of wear,” he said.
Quality Pallet has four hoppers from Iron Bull Manufacturing which it places near its nailing machines to hold wood waste, such as boards that aren’t up to par, until it can be moved to the dumpster or grinder. “When the Iron Bull reps came out, they were very knowledgeable. They looked at my applications and suggested something they thought would work well for us,” he said.
The hoppers prevent having to stack wood on the plant floor and from having to double-handle it.
Iron Bull Manufacturing, located in Marshall, Indiana, builds 40 different sizes of hoppers in its standard lineup, plus custom-built hoppers to fit specific needs. It recently added a new sixth series – the Monster Bull – to its lineup, which previously included the Mini Bull, Baby Bull, Junior Bull, Big Bull and the Brahma Bull – with many different sizes available within each series. The new Monster Bull series has up to 14-yard capacity.
To learn more about Iron Bull hoppers, visit www.ibhoppers.com or contact Marlin Bowman at 800-529-4015 or marlin@ibhoppers.com.
