Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/248272
TIONS ILLUSTRATED Mobile Equipment Matchups 2 A sum of all parts 3 OUR EXPERTS Mine plan plays a role Don Gengelbach is equipment manager for Mulzer Crushed Stone. He started his career with Mulzer in 1982 as a welder. He has worked for Mulzer in the positions of mechanic for the truck repair shop, quarry mechanic, and quarry supervisor, prior to becoming equipment manager. Gengelbach has been a certified AEMP construction equipment manager since 2011. The loading unit and truck must match the type of material being produced, i.e., material weight, density, and shape can affect equipment and attachment choices. The truck must match the loading unit type or tool. Is the producer loading with a wheel loader, an excavator, or a shovel? The loading unit will also help dictate the size and number of trucks required. 5 Replace or rebuild? Production increases and mine layout changes may ultimately result in upsizing or increasing fleets. Manufacturer software can help producers determine if a like replacement or an upsized machine is in order. Manufacturers also have embraced the option to rebuild machines, which extends lifecycles with less capital outlay. Scheduled rebuilds can help to prevent unexpected downtime. The type and size of mobile equipment in the pit are dependent on the mine plan. How far away is the face from the processing plant? If the primary is closer to the face, smaller equipment units may navigate potentially tight turning loops better than larger equipment. The opposite is true for equipment that must haul material over greater distances, where bigger may be better. 6 Operator ability Perfectly matched loading and hauling equipment — matched to production, to the mine, and to each other — can still be adversely affected up to 30 percent or more by the operator's ability. Proper training will improve this; however, effective mobile equipment operation lies not just in skill, but also in the understanding of what the producer is ultimately trying to accomplish. As senior marketing training consultant for Caterpillar, Inc., Tim Noon has been with Caterpillar since 2008. He spent more than three years as a Cat Global Mining continuous improvement application consultant. Most recently, Noon worked on developing the Cat Fleet Production and Cost program. He has a degree from the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Dennis Hunter began his construction career in 1986 as a heavy equipment mechanic and began working for DSS Co. in 1990. DSS was acquired by Knife River Corp., a subsidiary of MDU Resources Group, in 1999. Hunter took on the role of regional equipment manager for Knife River in 2008. His territory includes California, Alaska, and Hawaii. February 2014