Modern Quarrying Q2 2019

CRUSHING

The final product requirement is the cornerstone of equipment selection and plant design.

on the ROM material and the desired end product requirements. “Once all this information is obtained, there are many different simulation programmes available to help determine the correct plant speci- fications needed to achieve the desired end product specifications. Bell and Finlay’s application special- ists work closely with our customers with the initial product selection and thereafter with ongoing plant efficiencies and product support because our core belief is if we help our customers succeed so will we,” he says. Scherf is of the view that selecting the best crushing solution is only the first step to achieving targets and ensuring a successful business. He says that a close cooperation between supplier and customer is critical for long-term success as operating conditions are continu- ously changing. “Nature did not mass produce rocks to the same speci- fications; the deeper you quarry the more competent and hard the rock is. Crushing conditions can also change drastically in some areas due to the rainy season. Having close cooperation means that many of these challenges can be pre-emptively addressed, by ensuring that the correct spares or screening media is in stock before the rains come, for example,” says Scherf. Scherf says when site conditions or the contract spec- ification change, the first person the customer should call is their trusted advisor from the supplier to ensure that fine-tuning of the plant can be done timeously to maximise productivity. “It is very hard to drop costs without compromising on quality, so improving the plant’s performance by 1% has a hugely positive finan- cial impact over the course of a year. A simple example is a 1% improvement on production on a 100 tph plant; over a year it would make up to 2 000 tonnes differ- ence, and that equates to 100 additional tipper trucks delivering to end-users for the same fixed operating costs,” concludes Scherf. l

Pruewasser says only if the supplier and the customer are prepared to work together closely will it be possible to determine, in partnership, the most economical crush- ing system which is able to fulfil the quality demand. Ravenscroft says it’s imperative that the customer furnishes the supplier with all the necessary information

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 2 - 2019