Capital Equipment News August 2021

The most effective new safety and performance features are incorporated during the design phase of equipment.

and increase safety. Using these can significantly increase machine reliability and performance, while improving safety for the operators,” says Abelho. A reputable OEM, adds Abelho, understands that safety needs to be designed into the equipment right from the start. This approach offers the major advantage of safety features that integrate seamlessly with the rest of the machine. While this may add costs to the initial build of the equipment, it is less expensive than trying to add on safety features at a later date. “Fortunately, experienced and conscientious buyers know this and look for equipment that has the necessary safety features included. Manufacturers whose products are designed to be the most inexpensive usually only incorporate minimal safety features. This can create challenges for the uninformed buyer and for the inexperienced equipment operator. It is also important to understand that safety features that are added to equipment after manufacturing tend to be less reliable, are easier to bypass and can be more expensive,” says Abelho. Automation Automation is another big trend in the design of crushing equipment. It is an exciting technology, says Abelho, that Pilot Crushtec is committed to incorporating into its designs, but only where the company sees it providing benefits to the customer. Areas where automation is advantageous include machine operation (leading to improved performance), load control, servicing and fault diagnosis. By incorporating this type of technology, the OEM is able to enhance reliability,

Manufacturers offering crushing equipment have over the years continued to evolve their offerings in response to the ever-changing needs of the market

With safety rules becoming ever more stringent on sites where crushing equipment is operating, OEMs are challenged to balance cost-effectiveness and maximising safety of the equipment and plants

The best safety features are mechanical aspects designed into the machine from the conceptual stage

Areas where automation is advantageous include machine operation (leading to improved performance), load control, servicing and fault diagnosis

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which translates into reduced total cost of ownership. “With the incorporation of automation, design project management becomes even more critical. There needs to be clear understanding and communications between the various specialists in the design team. The hydraulics, electrical and mechanical designers need to communicate the automation requirements to the software specialist effectively,” says Abelho.

It is the norm now, he adds, to see machines operating on proprietary software that is model specific and sometimes even application specific. Sensors can perform multiple functions if employed in an intelligent manner. The challenge with automation is to not make it too complex; keeping it simple and focusing on the key objectives is important, says Abelho. Ill-considered features can add significant costs and complexity without offering the

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS AUGUST 2021 27