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Equipment Focus: Drilling & Blasting
The Atlas Copco FlexiROC T45 top hammer surface drill rig gives users a flexible, efficient tool that is uncompromising in regard to fuel efficiency. According to Atlas Copco, field studies showed that the FlexiROC T45 with fixed boom uses half as much fuel as similar rigs using the same drill. Maurice Hunter, Atlas Copco business line manager of surface and exploration drilling equipment, says the FlexiROC T45 uses half as much fuel as its ROC F9 predecessor under similar conditions. In addition, the COP 3060 rock drill mounted on a fixed boom and aluminum feed manages large diameters using the T60 drill string for better performance and reliability. During operation, FlexiROC T45 operators can adjust the airflow and the dust collector fan speed according to actual work demands. The engine speed and compressor are then adjusted automatically. The FlexiROC T45 features a superior cabin environment. Atlas Copco adds the cost of ownership and operation on the drill rig is significantly lower than competitive drill rigs because the FlexiROC T45 has… Keep Reading
Video: Bucyrus-Erie 31-H hydraulic excavator
https://youtu.be/ooJyobQDH2A Bucyrus-Erie's line of hydraulic excavators was developed in the late 1960s. The 31-H hydraulic excavator featured in this video was especially adapted for pipeline duties. It was developed from the 30-H, which was released in 1967. This video was was compiled, narrated and produced by Keith Haddock for the Historical Construction Equipment Association. Keep Reading
P&Q University Lesson 14: Business
Lesson 14 of the Pit & Quarry University handbook discusses businesses and the pros and cons of going public. Keep Reading
P&Q University Lesson 13: Safety & the Environment
Editor's Note This is an old edition — Click to read the newest edition of the Pit & Quarry University Handbook Building an Environmental Management System (EMS) might sound like an overwhelming task for a smaller organization, but it doesn’t have to be. Taken in steps it’s a job that small- and medium-sized organizations can tackle. Let’s take you through the task’s basic steps: ■ Plan: Identifying environmental aspects and establishing goals■ Do: Training and operational controls■ Check: Monitoring and corrective action■ Act: Progress reviews and making needed changes to the EMS Photo by Kevin Yanik PLAN Time and resources are limited in any organization, and it’s important to use resources wisely. The information below illustrates 10 steps in the EMS planning process. Taking the time to figure out what needs to be done, how to do it, and who must be involved will pay big dividends down the road. Step 1. Define organization’s goals for EMS. The first step in EMS planning is to decide why you… Keep Reading
P&Q University Lesson 12- Maintenance & Optimization
Equipment maintenance is an important consideration at any aggregate operation. Properly maintaining equipment prevents costly downtime, and new technologies allow for better equipment optimization to further reduce costs and increase production. One example is the maintenance and optimization of screens and other vibrating equipment. When vibrating screens and feeders aren’t performing well, the first thing aggregate producers may check is the stroke – the measure of the total vibrating motion of the vibratory machine. Is the stroke magnitude correct? However, in addition to the magnitude, other factors should be examined, such as the stroke angle, direction of rotation, and stroke consistency. The stroke can be in the form of a circular pattern, an elliptical pattern, or it can be linear. The stroke pattern will be based on the type of vibratory machine. On most machines, it will be circular or elliptical. If the vibratory machine has two motors (or a dual drive), or is a two mass type of drive, it will be linear, or nearly linear. For a circular… Keep Reading
P&Q University Lesson 11: Loadout, Weighing & On-Road Hauling
Editor's Note This is an old edition — Click to read the newest edition of the Pit & Quarry University Handbook Loadout within any pit or quarry operation is an important stage that needs to be well designed and considered. There is an opportunity to save time and increase profits by understanding the specific needs of a the truck (vehicle) scale and stockpile areas and how the interface between these operations directly affects productivity and profit. Photo by Kevin Yanik From the time the pit or quarry gates open in the morning to the end of the working day, handling stock is a dynamic and important process that involves many movements of plant and equipment and many interactions between workers and other staff. Every time plant or equipment touches the sand, gravel or crushed stone product, it increases costs in wages, tire wear, fuel, machine hours, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize interaction with finished products by automating processes where possible and, when manual processes are required,… Keep Reading
P&Q University Lesson 10: Conveying & Material Handling
Editor's Note This is an old edition — Click to read the newest edition of the Pit & Quarry University Handbook Today’s fully automated material-handling systems are cost-efficient and on-target when building stockpiles in any desired volume or configuration – when loading bins, silos and surge tunnels; when transferring material overland; or when streamlining loading, unloading and stockpiling at barge, railcar and marine distribution centers. Customized conveying and unloading equipment is designed to minimize truck and loader use and lower costs per ton, while ensuring product quality and meeting an operation’s exact parameters. Photo by Kevin Yanik While haul trucks and wheel loaders had long been the standard for material handling and transport, rising fuel, maintenance and labor expenditures began adding significantly to costs per ton. Studies indicate that lifetime (8,000 to 12,000 hours) loader owning and operating costs are no less than 2.25 times higher than the unit’s initial purchase price – and that figure does not include labor and fuel costs. Using a loader is a… Keep Reading
Bucyrus-Erie 500-H coal loader in action
https://youtu.be/de6QQeXX5l8 The Bucyrus-Erie 500-H coal loader was introduced by the company in 1975. Weighing 115 tons, the loader had a bucket with a 5 3/4-cu.-yd. capacity. This video was was compiled, narrated and produced by Keith Haddock for the Historical Construction Equipment Association. Keep Reading
New construction starts fall in August
New construction starts fell 11 percent in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $554.5 billion, reports Dodge Data & Analytics, lowering the Dodge Momentum Index to 117. Each of construction’s sectors experienced declines. Nonresidential building in August dropped 16 percent to $160.7 billion. In this sector, the commercial building categories as a group fell 24 percent, hotel construction dropped 35 percent and office construction declined 34 percent. Despite this, stores and warehouses registered slight gains, rising 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively. The institutional building group in August fell 11 percent, with healthcare facility construction declining 28 percent, transportation terminals down 39 percent, and amusement and recreational buildings falling 43 percent. However, the educational facilities category rose 17 percent due to the start of a $705 million National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kan. Residential building fell 8 percent to $165.5 in August. During the month, multifamily housing retreated 23 percent and single-family housing rose 1 percent. Nonbuilding construction in August fell 12 percent to $128.3 billion,… Keep Reading
