A year and a half later, the results have exceeded expectations.
Making the Switch to Electric
For Daniel Bugbee, President and Owner of Garrott Bros. Ready Mix, moving from diesel-powered equipment to an electric material handler required extensive research.
“Considering an electric machine was definitely a new concept,” Bugbee said. “We had many months of research and talking with other people in the industry that had experiences with them.”
One of the biggest factors in the decision was the consistent hydraulic performance offered by the electric drive system.
“In a year and a half, we haven’t blown one hydraulic line on this machine yet,” Bugbee said.
Lower Operating Costs
The 870 unloads more than 300 barges of sand annually, feeding the company’s ready mix operations throughout the region.
According to Bugbee, the electric SENNEBOGEN has reduced energy costs by approximately 59 percent compared to the previous diesel-powered machine.
“The SENNEBOGEN is definitely paying for itself in just the energy savings,” Bugbee said.
Operations Manager Ryan Hagens admitted he was initially skeptical of electric equipment.
“I was totally against electric machines,” Hagens said. “I’ve been a diesel guy my whole life.”
Today, he’s one of its biggest supporters.
“Our savings are almost in half,” Hagens said. “We spend about 8 to 10 cents a ton to unload right now, compared to 17 to 22 cents a ton on our diesel machine.”
Keeping Barges Moving
For a river operation handling hundreds of barges every year, uptime is critical.
“Other than routine maintenance and normal practices, the SENNEBOGEN has been running with no problems,” Bugbee said.
According to Hagens, maintenance requirements have been minimal while overall machine performance has remained consistently strong.
Winning Over the Operators
Operator Ariel Ortiz initially shared many of the same concerns about electric equipment.
“At first I thought it wasn’t going to have any power,” Ortiz said. “After I ran it for a while, I changed my mind.”
Today, Ortiz points to the machine’s ease of use, cab comfort, and overall performance as some of its biggest advantages.
“With this one, all you’ve got to do is flip a switch and hit a button,” Ortiz said.
A Partnership from Start to Finish
Beyond the machine itself, Garrott Bros. credits SENNEBOGEN and Power Equipment for helping make the transition to electric equipment successful.
Before installation, the company visited another electric SENNEBOGEN operation, reviewed electrical requirements, and worked closely with both teams throughout the planning process.
“From the time the machine got here until it was sitting on the dock, it was one day,” Hagens said.
Electric Moving Forward
What began as a cautious evaluation of electric equipment has become a successful long-term investment for Garrott Bros. Ready Mix.
Between lower operating costs, improved reliability, reduced maintenance, and strong operator acceptance, the electric SENNEBOGEN 870 has become an essential part of the company’s river operation.
“We’ve been very impressed with what it can do,” Bugbee said.