Terramac introduces new rubber track crawler carrier

Terramac, a leading manufacturer of rubber track crawler carriers based in Elburn, Illinois, has announced a new product in its line designed to tackle the many challenges of landfill management.

Terramac says its newest model, the RT14R, offers more versatility than previous models with its 360-degree rotating upper frame that allows the unit to dump 28,000-pound loads with a simple straight-in, rotate, dump and straight-out approach. At 320 horsepower, the machine is designed to eliminate any added stress on the underlying layers.

Landfill challenges

Containing trash and minimizing environmental impact is a landfill’s primary purpose and one of its biggest challenges. The complex design of a landfill makes certain layers more susceptible to damage from heavy equipment. The consistent application of materials combined with environmental factors, such as moisture and temperature fluctuation, also contribute to poor ground conditions which can limit equipment options.

Terramac says its rubber-tracked carriers combat these challenges using their innate ability to protect the integrity of the landfill infrastructure while efficiently tackling a multitude of tasks during each landfill phase, from running up a steep landfill slope to addressing a backfill situation in a muddy part of the site.

When it’s time to close a cell, the industrial/cover applicator can be ready to cover a lot of ground efficiently.

Emphasizing versatility

Terramac says many operations have added crawler carriers to their fleet to overcome tasks that are difficult to complete with heavy-wheeled equipment. Rubber tracked units exert low ground pressure (typically less than 5.0-psi unloaded), which is far less than equipment commonly found on landfills. This low ground pressure allows carriers to maneuver across rough, wet and uneven ground conditions to accomplish tasks such as hauling garbage, performing cell maintenance and other restoration projects surrounding the landfill itself. When paired with a slurry applicator, the traction of Terramac units also allows an alternative daily cover to be applied to all parts of the cell, regardless of ground conditions.

“Terramac rubber tracked carriers are the Swiss Army Knife for landfill operators,” says Chris Wilkes, the vice president of Linder Industrial Machinery, Plant City, Florida. “They simply perform many tasks that the heavy, rubber-tired vehicles and larger steel-tracked heavy equipment just can’t do.”

Terramac’s rubber track technology is also useful during two crucial stages of the landfill process – initial liner installation and cell closure once a section has reached capacity. Using a Terramac carrier during initial cell construction is designed to reduce the potential for liner damage and subsequently helps prevents leachates and contaminants from entering the ground, Terramac says. Outfitting a Terramac with a hydroseeding unit to spray grass seed for reclamation can help minimize damage to the cover during a landfill’s final stages. It also enables the landfill to achieve quality seeding, fertilizing and mulching in one simple process for efficiency.

Additional post-closure tasks such as inspecting the cap, repairing erosion, filling low areas due to settlement and maintaining vegetation can also be accomplished without disrupting the layered infrastructure.

“The stability and traction of Terramac’s rubber tracked carriers are ideal for every landfill phase despite changing ground conditions,” says David Soliday, the Terramac Southeast regional sales manager. “Terramac’s rubber tracked technology helps landfill operators improve the efficiency of the landfill process while reducing any potential adverse impact on the environment.”