Toolcat 5600 Keeps Material Moving at Recycling Operation

Joe Froelich (left) and Tripp Drum say the Toolcat 5600 does everything they thought it would do.

Michelsen Packaging Co., Yakima, Wash., has discovered the solution to continual maintenance problems with its forklift—a Toolcat™ 5600 utility work machine.

As part of its operations, the company bales newspapers, office paper and cardboard, along with other recyclables such as plastic and aluminum. At one time a forklift was used to push these materials onto a recessed conveyor belt that delivered the items to the baler. However, the forklift wasn’t up to the demands of the job, resulting in frequent and costly breakdowns, reports Tripp Drum, a manager with the company.

“The Toolcat 5600 does everything we thought it could,” Drum says. “It fits our specifications perfectly. It doesn’t hesitate. It gets the work done.”

Toolcat 5600

One reason is the four-wheel drive system. “If we raised the forks of the forklift while pushing material, the machine would lose momentum and the wheels would slip,” he says. “The 5600 just keeps pushing and pushing.”

The unit is the ideal size for working in the roughly 80 x 30-ft. area. Excellent visibility complements the 5600’s all-wheel-steering, which allows operators to turn tightly and smoothly. “You have a clear view of the snow blade to see what you’re doing as you’re maneuvering, and you can easily see behind you.”

The hydraulic joystick for controlling the loader functions, the blade and other attachments is another convenient feature. “It’s very responsive and user-friendly,” Drum says. “All the functions are at the tips of your fingers.”

As Drum has discovered, when a job needs doing, no machine can do it like the Toolcat 5600.