In a significant move to improve productivity and safety in battery recycling, the Bobcat S70 Skid Steer Loader was successfully demonstrated at a lead smelting facility. The loader reduced furnace loading time from 45 minutes to just 20 minutes, resulting in lower fuel consumption, improved output, and enhanced worker safety.

Streamlining Lead Recovery:

Battery recycling begins with the manual disassembly of used batteries. Skilled workers separate the lead from plastic casings to maximise material recovery. The extracted lead is then mixed with soda ash, charcoal, and rolling mill waste for smelting. Traditionally, this mixture was manually loaded into rotary furnaces using a 2-tonne capacity forklift—a task that took 45 minutes per cycle.

Smelting Process Overview:

The rotary furnace, preheated to 1,000°C and powered by natural gas, completes three charging cycles in 3–4 hours. Each cycle consumes roughly 1,100 gas units, yielding about 10 tonnes of refined lead. After cooling in trolley containers, slag is manually removed from the solidified lead, which is then prepared for dispatch to battery manufacturers.

Performance of the Bobcat S70:

The introduction of the Bobcat S70 significantly improved operational efficiency by saving 25 minutes per cycle. Key benefits observed during the demonstration included:

The S70’s compatibility with various attachments added further value:

Applications Enhanced by the Bobcat S70:

Core Benefits: