Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/85639
TIONS ILLUSTRATED 2 Wash and Wring Pick your power 3 Invest in quality blasting EXPERTS OUR d . r t s d As fuel costs remain volatile, operators who have the option may choose diesel-over-electric power rather than diesel-over- hydraulic. Diesel over electric can require lower horsepower and save on fuel consumption as well as maintenance, without sacrifi cing production levels. It also allows for production in extremely cold temperatures where hydraulic units cannot operate. 5 Go with the fl ow Effi cient crushing begins with high-quality feed material. Coor- dinate blasting and crushing to ensure production of the optimal shot rock. By using portable crushers at the face, operators can feed material directly into the primary without engaging in the load/haul aspect of quarrying. This allows operators to maximize effi ciencies without sacrifi cing production. 6 Maintain your machines Kelly Graves is a technical sales manager for Klee- mann. He has 24 years of experience in the aggregate crushing and screening in- dustry and a degree in busi- ness management. Graves' career began in 1988 with a major aggregate producer in the East Tennessee area. In 2000, he started his career in sales and has represented major manufactures in the crushing and screening industry. To increase production, one method is to maximize the material fl ow through each transfer point. For example, the width of the feeder is smaller than the pre-screen, while the width of the pre-screen is smaller than the inlet width of the crusher. Next, the crusher discharge width is smaller than the feeder mounted under the crusher, and the width of the feeder is smaller than the discharge conveyor. This fl ow concept can increase production rates by 15 to 20 percent. In some portable crushers, the transfer points — particularly if they are similarly sized or wider than the next phase of the material fl ow — can become high wear points and should be monitored closely. In addition, protecting the track and un- dercarriage of track-mounted crushers should be factored into regular maintenance. Operators often move the unit machine to clear the area below the discharge conveyor. In addition, be sure to address normal maintenance and service intervals. Jessie Hoskins is the owner of Hoskins Gypsum. He opened a greenfi eld site last March to supply aggregate for his other two businesses, Hoskins Trucking and Hoskins Construction. Having run those two businesses since 1998, he understood the ag- gregate business from the customer's perspec- tive, but has since become immersed in the production end of the industry. March 2012