Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/75471
All scrapers are built for durability and long life, but they have many moving parts and must be maintained properly to ensure reliable operation and high productivity. RUNNING STRONG Keep Select the right machine for the job and maintain it according to plan to achieve the lowest owning and operating costs and the lowest cost per ton. by Mark W. Sprouls Scrapers W heel tractor-scrapers have great utility in quarry and aggregate operations due to their ability to move high volumes of material over long distances without the need for tradi- tional loading tools. These machines frequently deliver the lowest cost per yard when moving materials that aren't rocky. Wheel tractor-scrapers efficiently remove soils and other non-rock overburden and stockpile it far away from the mining face for use in reclamation. The same machines haul those materials back and spread them during reclamation. In some sand and gravel opera- tions, scrapers function as primary overburden removal tools. In large operations, a self-loading elevating scraper often works with the haul road construction and maintenance fleet to carry ma- terials to road construction and repair sites and 36 AGGREGATES MANAGER August 2012 to pick up windrows created by motor graders during blading activities. Selecting the optimum wheel tractor-scraper Having the right machine for the application is critical to keep maintenance costs down. Because wheel tractor-scrapers are available in several different configurations, mine opera- tors have the opportunity to boost production and lower costs by selecting the right machine. For example, Caterpillar offers single- and dual- engine machines, as well as a push-pull arrange- ment that teams tandem-powered scrapers. Loading configurations include open bowl and elevating. The best scraper for the job depends on the site conditions. When grades are gentle and underfoot condi- tions are good, a single-engine scraper can oper-