Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/610317
It was a big year for big iron, with many equipment introductions focusing on fuel efficiency, productivity, and safety. Top Top Top 25 Rollouts of 2015 by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief, and Bobby Atkinson, Online Managing Editor HOW WE MADE OUR CHOICES When we ask readers how we can best help them keep track of changes in the products and services they use to produce aggregates, almost everyone wants an annual short list of the really important stuff. No wonder. The sheer volume of introductions is overwhelming. Aggregates Manager covers numerous products each year in its RollOuts departments and Supply Lines features and offers even more product coverage through its website and newsletters. So each year, our staff reviews all the product introductions we've covered for the past year to pick out 25 that we believe are worth further review. Our priorities are new concept products, which are rare; new series/new generation products in categories that relate to the aggregates industry; and other rollouts which serve our readers' interests by increasing competition in a product category. We also consider reader engagement through website and social media traffic. Inevitably, we omit deserving products, either because we just didn't understand the significance of the product or because the announcing company didn't communicate what was special about the product, or both. In either case, we apologize in advance for these omissions. ATLAS COPCO REMOTE BLASTHOLE DRILLING Atlas Copco's BenchRemote remote operator station allows drillers to operate more than 100 yards from the drill, which can be more than 30 yards below them, as long as they maintain line-of-sight radio communications. The increased distance from highwalls and machines on steep or rough terrain can improve worker safety. The device installs on a vehicle, trailer, or container. Its controls and displays mirror those of the working rig, giving the operator the same capabilities as working from the rig itself. A closed WiFi network communicates operator inputs and machine feedback independent of the local network infrastructure. If the network is lost for any reason, the rig automatically shuts down as an additional safety precaution. Atlas Copco Mining and Rock Excavation | www.atlascopco.us ALLIED CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS, LLC PORTABLE BOOM SYSTEM Allied Construction Products, LLC adds a PowerPortable boom system to its Pedestal Breaker System product line. Designed for aggregates and recycling operations, it can be used with stationary or wheel- and track- mounted mobile crushers. Built around Allied's Rammer, AR Series, and Hy-Ram hydraulic hammers, the 350- to 1,400-class hammers are mounted on a special low-profile boom that adds minimal height and weight to the crusher, but offers a reach of 10 to 15 feet to ensure reach to both the crusher and the feeder. The portable boom system is powered by 20- to 30-horsepower units. It can be connected directly to the crusher's hydraulic circuit. Functions are controlled through a system of valves. Other control options include an electro-hydraulic remote control with a two-joystick hydraulic control and a wireless remote control option. Allied Construction Products | www.alliedcp.com AGGREGATES MANAGER December 2015 34