Capital Equipment News October 2019

something any quarry can’t do without. Apart from basic day-to-day weighing data, the weighing systems give quarry management new insights into exact return on investments on capital equipment, machine utilisation and performance, bottlenecks in operations and more accurate stock control. These are the new parameters our quarrying customers are considering when buying weighing systems,” says Luttig. He adds that quarries have been using weighing equipment in the processing part of the operation for many years, measuring production and productivity with these systems. However, utilising weighing technology to improve operational efficiency in other parts of the operation is a necessity in these economic times. Commenting on the uptake of the technology in the local market, Van Heerden says the adoption is generally not as fast as it should be. “Many quarries have become over-reliant on the weighbridge and are ignoring the hidden costs incurred through losses in time and money as a result of trucks arriving at the weighbridge with incorrect payloads,” says Van Heerden. However, Luttig notes that the demand for mobile weighing equipment has increased substantially within the past five years. “On a product adoption curve I would say we are entering the late majority stage of this type of technology. However, with regards to full utility of these products, we are in the early adopter stage,” he says. Technologies abound The weighing solutions available in the market vary from on-board conveyor belt scales to wheel loader scales, and each system is designed for different applications in quarries. The scales save tremendous time and effort because of their ability to directly weigh materials from any vehicle or equipment. This eliminates redundant efforts invested in the payload process and minimises downtimes. Most of the scales on the market are compatible for use with most mobile quarrying equipment so they can be easily integrated with a number of vehicles like excavators and haul trucks. They facilitate real-time tracking of loads while vehicles are in transit due to which the time invested in weighing payloads is significantly minimised. Benefits of scale installation abound and include time and money savings, reduce fuel spend, elimination of operational disruptions, productivity improvement and increased safety, among others. JBI offers a selected range of German- made Pfreundt products, including weighing

Various VEI models from DWS can be fitted on any machine with a lifting piston – from small forklifts to the largest rigid dumpers and excavators.

QUICK TAKE

One critical tool that must be a part of every quarrying business is the on-board weighing system

The digital display fitted in the cabin of the vehicle offers easy assessment of weight metrics which minimises supervisory overhead and human errors

VEI systems from DWS offer accuracies of between 99 and 100% on properly calibrated machinery. With the SG of the material being loaded known, you can measure tonnes and volumes moved

Combined with a cloud-based software, JBI’sPfreundt WK60 is ideal for loadout, stockpile management and machine utilisation analysis in real time

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS OCTOBER 2019 27