PA Pellets had a problem. Its older model wheel loader was nearing the end of its lifecycle, requiring lots of downtime to perform maintenance. The company needed a wheel loader that could handle the rigors of its waste-to-energy wood pellet manufacturing, but didn’t also break the bank. Service and support would be key, as the company had endured enough downtime already due to its ailing wheel loader.
A solution came in the form of an SDLG LG959. The Rochester, NY-based company said the wheel loader has been an ideal fit for its fleet. PA Pellets has the wheel loader working eight to 10 hours a day, lifting loads up to 5,000 USt of pole wood, saw dust and wood tips.
Jeremy Watson, Vice President of Operations at PA Pellets, notes that the price of the machine allowed the company to update its fleet, and the machine’s easy access maintenance panel allows for only minimal downtime.
“The SDLG LG959 truly is a good buy for the cost. The parts and services are all there, which is one of the most valuable aspects of the machine,” he says. “And we really like how easy the machine is to maintain. The access panels make it much easier to perform routine maintenance.”
Flexibility was also a factor in PA Pellets choice to purchase an SDLG machine, Watson adds. The company uses several attachments for its work and found the LG959 was ready to plug and play right away. He noted the third function hydraulics, which come standard on SDLG wheel loaders, factored into the company’s purchase.
The LG959 has a 4.0 yd³ bucket and operating weight of 38,250 lbs. It features a Tier 3 Deutz engine with 224 hp and 777 lbs.-ft. of torque; ZF transmission and axles; wet disc brakes; a hydraulic quick coupler and third function hydraulics; a modern fit and finish with high visibility; and an operator-friendly cab. It comes with a 12-month, 1,500-hour warranty.
PA Pellets purchased the machine from SDLG dealer Vantage Equipment, which is based in Syracuse, NY. The company met Vantage at Empire Farm Days, an annual trade show in Seneca County, NY. Service and support were a big draw for PA Pellets, proving SDLG North America’s strategy of partnering with seasoned, expert dealerships. Vantage also makes use of SDLG’s 21st Century Product Support.
“The wheel loader has been very well supported by Vantage Equipment, which gives us a lot of confidence in using the machine,” Watson says. “Overall, we are very happy with the LG959.”
PA Pellets began producing wood pellets in 2006 and was acquired by Biomaxx in 2010. The waste-to-energy company is a vertically integrated wood pellet producer with a fully operational wood pellet production facility, an on-site sawmill, in-woods and in-yard chipping operations, forestry operations, trucking and logistics operations. The Ulysses location utilizes locally sourced wood fiber materials found in the state of Pennsylvania.
Vantage Equipment was founded in 2005. Its management team has extensive experience in many leading brands of construction equipment. The company operates from three New York locations, including Batavia, Albany and its headquarters in Syracuse.
