Uptime is essential in the world of aggregates.
Paul Kimmy, a maintenance supervisor at Covia who’s responsible for heavy equipment upkeep, will attest to this. Take, for example, a feeder that simply isn’t performing.
“Malfunctioning feeders can cause significant issues for us, and the consequences of unexpected downtime are severe,” Kimmy says. “A single glitch in a feeder can grind the entire processing plant to a halt.”
Since their installation in the mid-1990s, Covia says five Eriez 65B vibratory feeders and six magnetic separators have delivered optimal performance in the aggregate plant’s gravel drying and screening operations – all while requiring minimal maintenance.
Kimmy acknowledges the unique challenges posed by the age of Covia’s Best Sand facility in Chardon, Ohio, which was constructed in 1938. Best Sand is one of Covia’s longest-running aggregate facilities.
With a specialty in mining and refining sand and silica products, Covia’s Best Sand facility has depended on Eriez equipment for nearly three decades. The enduring partnership helps to ensure the seamless and uninterrupted flow of Best Sand’s aggregate operations.
“As maintenance workers, my team and I always have plenty to do in a plant as old as Best Sand,” he says. “The reliability of the Eriez equipment reduces one threat of potential downtime, and that’s very reassuring.”
Performance put to the test
In a bid to enhance its operations, Eriez offered Covia the opportunity to upgrade one of its 65B vibratory feeders to the latest 65B-HC high-capacity models.
The transition was executed seamlessly, Covia says, as the new 65B-HC feeder shares the same footprint as the original design, requiring no adjustments to the existing hopper or hanger locations to suspend the feeder.
As Eriez describes, a trial program allowed Covia to evaluate the new feeder’s improved throughput capacity and overall value. The program also afforded Eriez the chance to assess the equipment’s performance in a challenging, real-world setting.
Eriez says the 65B-HC electromagnetic vibratory feeder provides complete operational reliability. The feeder has also provided greater capacity than the original model.
In fact, during performance testing of the feeder, Covia achieved roughly twice the throughput compared to the previous model.
Feeders for heavy applications
Eriez offers a range of heavy-duty electromagnetic vibratory feeders that are designed to perform in challenging environments.
The feeders are engineered to handle aggregates, slag, ore or coal, according to Eriez. They can fit in any application demanding precise and high-volume feeding.
Equipped with an energy-efficient intermeshed AC/permanent magnet drive, Eriez says the units are the “workhorses” in their line of vibratory feeders.
For added versatility, Eriez heavy-duty feeders are available in a variety of models with the ability to achieve capacities beyond 1,000 tph.
“Every model we introduce must meet the uncompromising standards customers have counted on for years from Eriez vibratory feeders,” says Rob Yandrick, global product manager of vibratory at Eriez.
As Kimmy describes, Eriez’s feeders have met Covia’s standards.
“Our reliable Eriez vibratory feeders have helped prevent unexpected downtime and efficiency-related issues,” he says.
