Pit & Quarry, October 2010

O P E R A T I O N S to our limits to fulfill the contract The one customer would have consumed close to 80 percent of the quarrys average annual production It was clear to Mallard and MFM that the company would have to invest funds in new hauling and crushing equipment A tough pull One of the first critical decisions made was to find the right haul trucks for the challenging site conditions at the MFM quarry While the silty clay overburden material might be the right ingredient for kitty litter the haul roads turn into a quagmire when they get wet When it rains everything in the mine turns into a sticky slick mess says Gary Parker vice president of operations for MFM We were looking for trucks that can pull up the ramps and handle the uneven road conditions The 8 to 10 degree ramps and difficult traction meant rigid trucks were not even a consideration even though they could haul more overburden and limestone material in a single load The quarry was using articulated trucks but wanted upgrades to handle the increased demand and significantly higher production capacities of the planned crushing circuits MFM worked with Terex and Great Southern Construction Equipment the Terex Construction dealer for Florida to purchase the right type size and number of trucks For the application five Terex TA40 articulated trucks were the right match With its 42 ton maximum payload the TA40 includes sixwheel drive and automatic limited slip differential in each axle to optimize traction while pulling through the slick and soft haul roads at the quarry The truck has a lot of power and is able to pull the inclines quicker says Lloyd Greer articulated truck operator for MFM A large diameter cylindrical coupling with widely spaced polymer bearings provides oscillation between the front and rear frames to better navigate the uneven clay overburden The truck articulates 45 degrees to the left or right to quickly maneuver around tight corners Powered by a 450 hp turbocharged diesel engine the TA40 s transmission offers six speeds in the low and high ranges It is capable of speeds reaching 233 mph in low and 377 mph in high to shorten haul cycles Cycle times vary depending on where we are working in the pit Parker says However our average cycle time has dropped from nine minutes to seven minutes with the new trucks MFM took delivery of the new articulated trucks in February Typically two trucks are used for overburden removal and three are reserved for hauling limestone to the primary crushing circuit We are getting good performance from the trucks which are operating in tough conditions Mallard says On the infrequent occasion there is an issue Great Southern is there immediately Industrial Parts Inc 877 72 ROMAC 727 6622 770 466 1340 Fax 770 466 1390 Check Our NEW Web Page www romacindustrialparts com Quality Value Service Ask our customers 800 257 5241 Website Email sales@ compasswire com Replacement parts for all OEM equipment Specializing in vibratory screens Trommel screens hook screens urethane rubber clamp rails Various shroud materials and styles banded edges 22 PIT QUARRY October 2010 www pitandquarry com