Alligators set to get bigger

Within a traditional aggregates quarry a significant amount of time and money is spent on ensuring the material reaching the crushing plant is delivered in a size and condition that the crusher can process efficiently. Conversely, in a recycling application, the emphasis is on dealing with waste material as it presents itself, which is rarely in a size or shape that lends itself to immediate processing with most static crushing plants, and there is often a need to split the reduction of material into reusable aggregate into a number of stages.

Even when there is sufficient space for multiple static crushing plants, very large items, such as precast concrete staircase sections and those that contain a large amount of reinforcing bar, are best dealt with initially using a powerful jaw crusher attached to a suitable hydraulic excavator. For nearly 10 years British excavator bucket and attachment manufacturers Digbits have specialized in producing equipment for this type of work in the form of their BAV Alligator crusher range.

The range began with the BAV3, a crusher suitable for use on excavators from 3 to 9 tonnes, built in response to demand from contractors who needed a safe, efficient means of dismantling and recycling concrete paving and structures on confined building sites.

Today the line-up ranges from the BAVmicro for machines of just 0.5 tonne – capable of working inside of buildings – to the BAV5 for 18- to 28-tonne excavators. With a jaw opening of 1m – one of the largest in its weight class – the BAV5 is described as a high-powered production-oriented unit.

However, in response to customer demand, Digbits say an even larger BAV6 model will soon be available. Weighing 3.5 tonnes, this unit will have a 1.2m jaw opening, a ram power of around 120 tonnes, and will be strong enough for use on any excavator with an operating weight from 30 to 45 tonnes. Production of the BAV6 is currently on hold pending completion of the company’s new factory in Rugeley, which should be fully operational by mid-2007.

Digbits Ltd, Power Park, Towers Business Park, Rugeley, Staffs WS15 1UZ; tel: (01889) 503020; fax: (01889) 503021; website: www.digbits.co.uk