For several years now Blue have been Prichard’s one stop shop for all their wood recycling and processing equipment, they have recently purchased the UK’s first Doppstadt AK 640 high-speed shredder alongside a new Fuchs MHL 320F material handler.
Prichard’s originally started trading as a Plant Hire company at Tom Prichard’s father’s farm in 1995, since then they have grown astronomically, with the company now offering a range of services which include demolition, site clearance, civil engineering, ground remediation, bulk earthworks, infrastructure services, waste management and recycling.
Prichard’s wood processing set up previously consisted of a Terex Fuchs MHL 320F material handler which would feed waste wood into a Doppstadt DW 3060 slow-speed Shredder. The 3060 would then be conveyed into a Doppstadt AK 230 high-speed Shredder, before being transferred into a Powerscreen Chieftain 2200 Screener. This process has now been upgraded with a new Fuchs MHL 320F and a Doppstadt AK 640 high-speed shredder.
"We spoke to one of Prichard’s most experienced operators, Mike Crooke, who has a vast knowledge of materials processing and choice of equipment. Mike explains the thought process behind the two recent purchases: “We had been running the Doppstadt AK 230 for approximately 12 months when we came to the realisation that we had outgrown this machine. The amount of Mixed Wood and Green Waste had grown, well beyond our expectations, we needed to upgrade to a bigger machine. I had a conversation with Tom Prichard about potentially bringing in a bigger machine, luckily, Blue Southern had an AK 640 in stock and after a successful trial, decided that this was exactly what we needed. The New Fuchs MHL 320 Handler was an easy decision having loved the last MHL 320 we bought, we just thought we would get in another one to add to the fleet and came along as a package with the Doppstadt AK 640”.
"The New Fuchs MHL 320 Handler was an easy decision having loved the last MHL 320 we bought, we just thought we would get in another one to add to the fleet and came along as a package with the Doppstadt AK 640”.
"With a new, more powerful Tier 5 MTU Emissions compliant Engine and 7.5m Long discharge belt new design sectional basket, the AK 640 is designed for the highest demands. With it being the first of its kind working in the UK, we asked Mike from Prichard’s his thoughts on its performance: “In the end, taking the AK 640 worked out well, due to the increased amount of material that we’re putting through it. It is phenomenal. The AK 640 shreds a lot more at a much faster rate than the previous AK 230 we had and being tracked makes it much more manoeuvrable around the site. We would never move away from Doppstadt for our shredders, not only because of the reliability of the machines themselves but the reliability of the aftercare and service that Blue Southern provides”.
Mike went on to speak a bit more about the back and support that Blue Machinery can offer: “I’ve only got to pick up the phone and they’ll help me out with everything, whether that’s a spare part, a repair or a service. I have used Blue Spares ever since the first machine we purchased four years ago. I place my order for the part over the phone and its with me the next day at the latest. Polly and the rest of the team are absolutely brilliant, they can’t do enough to help you out”.
Brian McNabb- Regional Sales Manager for Blue Central. “It’s a pleasure to deal with Tom and his Foreman Mike at Prichard’s. They are very knowledgeable people, who listen to advice and trust in our judgement when making decisions on what will work for them. Mike really looks after his equipment and does all the required maintenance and repairs to keep the equipment working to its ultimate best. The equipment is always in pristine condition and a show piece for the products we sell them. This is mirrored by all of Toms Lorry’s and Equipment and which really makes them excel in the Construction and Recycling Industry. We wish them all the very best with the New AK640 and look forward to doing some more future business with this great Family business”.