Bobcat S70 Cuts Lead Furnace Loading Time by 25 Minutes

30 Jul 2025 CW Team

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:

Reduced burner idle time, boosting heat efficiency
Lower natural gas consumption, reducing fuel costs
Less manual labour, ensuring safer working conditions

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

Breaker attachment to aid battery dismantling
Grappler attachment for more efficient scrap handling

Applications Enhanced by the Bobcat S70:

Battery breaking
Material shifting
Mixing and furnace loading

Core Benefits:

Faster loading times
Lower gas usage
Improved productivity
Reduced physical effort
Enhanced operator safety
Multi-tasking capability

This deployment showcases Bobcat’s commitment to delivering compact, reliable, and versatile machinery that supports industrial recycling processes with a strong emphasis on efficiency and safety.

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:Reduced burner idle time, boosting heat efficiencyLower natural gas consumption, reducing fuel costsLess manual labour, ensuring safer working conditionsThe S70’s compatibility with various attachments added further value:Breaker attachment to aid battery dismantlingGrappler attachment for more efficient scrap handlingApplications Enhanced by the Bobcat S70:Battery breakingMaterial shiftingMixing and furnace loadingCore Benefits:Faster loading timesLower gas usageImproved productivityReduced physical effortEnhanced operator safetyMulti-tasking capabilityThis deployment showcases Bobcat’s commitment to delivering compact, reliable, and versatile machinery that supports industrial recycling processes with a strong emphasis on efficiency and safety.

Infrastructure Urban

10 Mar 2026

ABB to Invest Rs 6.25 Billion to Expand India Manufacturing

ABB recently announced plans to invest approximately Rs 6.25 billion ($75 million) in India during 2026 to expand its manufacturing footprint and research and development capabilities. The investment follows more than $35 million spent in 2025 and reflects the company’s continued focus on strengthening its ‘local-for-local’ strategy in the country.The investment will support ABB’s Electrification, Motion and Automation businesses and expand manufacturing capacity for infrastructure sectors such as renewable energy, metro rail, data centres and industrial applications. Approximately 300..

Equipment

10 Mar 2026

Six WOLFF Cranes Handle 60,000 m³ Concrete for German Hospital

Six WOLFF tower cranes are playing a key role in constructing a new hospital complex in Memmingen, Germany, supporting large-scale material handling for the project. The facility is being built on a 7.7-hectare site and will feature six floors, around 480 beds and a gross floor area exceeding 75,000 sq m.Building shell works began recently in February 2025. One WOLFF 6531.12 Cross crane supported early site preparation before being dismantled in autumn 2025, while five remaining cranes continue operations. Over an average deployment period of 16 months, the cranes are expected to move approxim..

Equipment

10 Mar 2026

REC Funds Rs 115.6 Million CSR Support for Bihar Eye Hospital

REC recently committed Rs 115.6 million under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the procurement of clinical and non-clinical equipment at Sankara Eye Hospital in Saharsa, Bihar. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to specialised eye care services in the region.A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was recently signed between Pradeep Fellows, Executive Director (CSR), REC Limited, and Wg Cdr V. Shankar (Retd), Trustee and Executive Director of Sankara Eye Hospital, at the REC office in the SCOPE Complex, New Delhi.The support is expecte..