Scotty’s Builds Fountain of Youth for KY Landfill

Mon August 16, 2004
Aggregate Equipment Guide

Scotty’s Contracting & Stone LLC is constructing a new landfill cell to expand capacity at one of nine landfills owned and operated by Rumpke Consolidated. This expansion, along with a planned phase 2 expansion will extend the life of the landfill another 70 years. The landfill currently accepts 1,500 to 1,600 tons of garbage per day.

While the contract for phase 2 was scheduled to be awarded in July, the project will be held up until September to accommodate the mating season of bats native to the area.

The current phase, a more than $2 million project, has been under way for the past year and a half and was scheduled for completion in July.

The job entailed laying back 750,000 yds. of waste rock and excavating clay from above the site to construct the cell. Construction of the cell required three courses of clean sifted clay and approval at every stage.

A subcontractor will place a liner system to contain and capture leachate once the cell begins to accept municipal waste. The red clay, which is unique to the area, is ideal for the job but works against the subcontractors when it rains.

The clay is incredibly slippery when wet and the weather has created the project’s biggest challenge: severe drainage issues. Jeff Taylor, the project foreman, explained that since he took over at the site on April 19, they had only managed to work 30 days in one eleven week span.

In addition, excavation required some tricky maneuvering, including a 30-degree grade on the 1-mile round trip to collect clay for the cell construction. According to Taylor, the Komatsu HM400-1, 40-ton articulated dump truck is perfect for the job. The HM400-1’s tight turning radius of 28.6 ft. and increased hauling capacity provide improved productivity on the project, and with a Komatsu PC400-6 excavator loading, these trucks are kept very busy. Two of the trucks are in service at the landfill, one purchased and the other rented from Brandeis Machinery & Supply Company,

Taylor, who has been with Scotty’s since 1990, has been dealing with Brandeis Machinery & Supply Company for years and said that while they provide excellent service, the Komatsu HM400-1s are built to stand up to the demands of tough jobs. And the drivers like them, too. “When they have a choice, our workers automatically go to the Komatsu truck,” said Taylor.

While the HM400-1 is designed for tough job sites, Komatsu’s attention to operator comfort may explain Scotty’s employees’ eagerness to run the truck. Viscous mounts that absorb vibrations and noise support the wide and spacious cab. Features such as the specially designed, electronically controlled transmission, an F6-R2 counter-shaft type transmission with K-ATOMiCS (Komatsu Advanced Transmission with Optimal Control System) and Hydro-pneumatic suspension provide a comfortable ride on a variety of terrains.

Brandeis’ Lee Schilling said that looking at the HM400-1 compared to other articulated trucks, its beefier design is apparent. Schilling explained that rather than build a truck based on those already on the market, Komatsu designed the HM400-1 from the ground up.

Scotty’s Contracting & Stone LLC is based in Bowling Green, KY. Its founder and chairman of the board, Jim Scott, started Scotty’s in 1972.

“We are proud to serve Kentucky with high quality asphalt paving, grade and drain construction, aggregates, driveways and parking lots,” said Scott.

Rumpke Consolidated began in the 1930’s and currently employs nearly 1,800 people working in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. In addition to its nine landfills, the company owns and operates five transfer stations and five material recovery facilities.

Brandeis Machinery & Supply Company is a subsidiary of Bramco LLC, headquartered in Louisville, KY. Brandeis, together with its sister company, Power Equipment Company, constitutes one of the largest construction and mining equipment distribution networks in the United States.

Together they have fifteen branches throughout Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, northern Mississippi and eastern Arkansas. Brandeis offers a complete line of mining and construction equipment and services.

Along with Komatsu, Brandeis Machinery & Supply offers equipment from Ingersoll-Rand, Atlas Copco, Blaw-Knox, Bobcat, Gomaco, Grove and Tramac.

This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.