Modern Quarrying Q3 2019

TAKING THE LOAD OFF WEIGHT PROBLEMS

A short time ago, I visited a sand-producing operation which had recently installed a load weighing system on its wheel loader used to stockpile and load customer trucks on site. Under- and over-loading customer trucks – which resulted in huge losses of high-value material and unwanted downtime – was a major problem on site which necessitated the adoption of the technology. Following the installation of the system, the quarry has removed guesswork out of its production planning and loadout processes, and the manager of the operation believes every quarry needs to install this technology on its loading tools to maximise productivity and optimise loadout processes. My view is that not only do quarries need on-board scale technology for their loading tools, but for their

on-board weighing technology from a growing pool of suppliers to optimise operations. The weighing solutions vary from on-board conveyor belt scales to wheel loader scales, and each system is designed for different applications in quarries. The scales save a tremendous amount of 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 andminimises downtimes. Most of the scales on the market are compatible for use with conveyor belts and quarrying equipment so they can easily be integrated with a number of vehicles like excavators and haul trucks. They facilitate real- time tracking of loads while vehicles are in transit as a result of the time invested in weighing payloads is significantly minimised. Benefits of scale installation abound and include time and money savings, reduced fuel spend, elimination of operational disruptions, productivity improvement and increased safety, among others. While you can still get your job done without these technologies, the productivity is sure to suffer significantly. Your conventional practices can increase your operational expenses over time and your workforce may end up spending most of the time doing tasks that are less significant. To get around this whole scenario, I recommend that quarry owners install on-board scales that can turn all the tedious weighing tasks into a total breeze.

haulers too. Any operation that carries and transports payloads needs efficient and accurate weighing solutions because the precise determination of the weight that is being carried is a crucial parameter for the industry. This is why an increasing number of local quarries are employing on-board scales for improved efficiency, throughput and reduced overhead costs. There are several instances in quarries when weighing from a specific site becomes entirely inefficient and inconvenient. This is when on-board scales come into play. The digital display fitted in the cabin of the vehicle offers easy assessment of weight metrics which minimises supervisory overhead and human errors. Many local quarry owners are starting to capitalise on advanced

COMMENT

Munesu Shoko – Editor quarrying@crown.co.za

@MunesuShoko

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 3 - 2019