Construction, Features

Screening and crushing: Attach2 Equipment

Tim Dittmer headed down to the sunny Wairarapa to see what Attach2 Equipment has in the way of screening and crushing fare. It’s fair to say, he came away pretty impressed.

Masterton-based Attach2 supplies a wide array of screening and crushing equipment, including the Belgium-built Keestrack mobile screening plant. These machines feature quality components and are constructed from wear resistant steels to provide a reliable and efficient form of grading materials. The Keestrack Combo has an in-feed conveyor to load the double-deck vibrating screen and three conveyors to sort a range of materials into three piles. The Keestrack machines range from the smaller-sized screens weighing about 17 tonne up to larger 57-tonne impact crushers, including state of the art mobile jaw, cone and VSI crushers.

Design and maintenance

A Deutz BF210 diesel engine supplies 73 horsepower to the Sauer/Danfoss load-sensing hydraulic pumps. There is no need for a radiator due to the engine being air cooled, reducing maintenance costs and alleviating the chances of damage. It can’t be wrecked if its not there! The load-sensing hydraulic system provides flow and pressure as required, reducing fuel consumption and it allows the machine to be tracked while the vibrators and conveyors are operating. This time-saving feature lets the machine be repositioned remotely from the digger cab without having to shut the screening system down. The Keestrack is moved along as the stockpile is consumed without interruption to the process.

The hydraulic hoses are tidily routed and a lot are plumbed with steel pipes fitted with flexible rubber hoses on each end, allowing easy replacement of damaged or fatigued hoses and reduces the costs of the repair because the hoses are a lot shorter. Furthermore, the hose requiring repair can be quickly removed, compared to a one-piece hose that may well wind its way throughout the machine and take hours to remove.

The vibrating deck is fitted with heavy-duty springs to allow it to handle very large rocks. The hopper and top deck are constructed from Hardox steel giving excellent wear resistance and strength. The whole machine has been powder coated for a more durable and lasting finish.

Access throughout the Keestrack is excellent in all aspects — engine and hydraulic, de-clogging screens and general maintenance. All greasing points are grouped and accessed from the ground, meaning no clambering over the machine with a grease gun. Large opening rear and side doors provide plenty of room around both sides of the engine and easy access to the hydraulic cooler fitted with an electric fan. Accessing the screening decks to change mesh sizes or clean the screens is a fairly straightforward process, though the latter is not usually necessary due to anti-clogging fingers fitted in the bottom deck. These chatter about on the mesh as the screen vibrates, dislodging sticky material. Floating belt scrapers clean both sides of the belts to reduce the chances of punctures and wear. The Keestrack is quick to set up and pack up as all three conveyors are hydraulically controlled, the two eight-metre side conveyors lift up and tuck backwards down both sides of the machine for transport. The 4.5-metre front conveyor folds at midway, back over onto itself to allow it to be shifted on shorter transporters, cutting the overall length to 9300mm. But for ease it can be left extended on larger trailers.

Performance

The Keestrack Combo was screening damp topsoil with some very puggy soil in the mix, but it handled it with no problems and little build up. The conveyors have a variable speed control allowing optimum control of the materials both into and out of the screen. This gives the best efficiency by utilising the full capacity of the screen without sending good material up the oversize conveyor. A range of different types and sizes of screens, such as S-flex screen mat and heavy-duty finger screens, can be fitted, punched, woven and welded, giving the Keestrack the ability to screen all types of soils, rocks and aggregates. The long conveyors give the Keestrack the highest stacking height in its class, resulting in greater output with fewer movements.

For more information contact Attach2 Equipment on 0800 872 254 or visit attach2.co.nz.

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Photography: Tim Dittmer

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