Lafarge choose Terex O&K mining shovel for Mountsorrel
Lafarge Aggregates have purchased a new Terex O&K RH 120-E hydraulic mining shovel for use at Mountsorrel Quarry in Leicestershire, one of the largest granite production sites in Europe. The RH 120-E is the second unit of its type to be delivered to the site in two years.
The 284-tonne mining shovel, with its 20-tonne capacity bucket and 1,400hp output, provided by two Cummins QSK19C engines, joins the other RH 120-E to head up primary excavation at the quarry, loading a fleet of eight 100-tonne capacity dumptrucks. This latest addition to the on-site equipment will allow the quarry to reach its production target of 5 million tonnes a year, on a single shift.
Lafarge considered four leading manufacturers before making their purchase. One of the main purchasing influences for the company was the expected life of the tracks: ‘At £220,000 a set, we need to know that we can get a long life from the tracks, as the granite is highly abrasive,’ explained Ian Brown, national production manager at Lafarge. ‘In this respect, we felt that the design of the Terex O&K machine was the best, and we already have proven results from three Terex RH 120-Cs, which have been working at the quarry for the past 20 years.’
Lafarge’s shovel operators also had a strong influence on the selection process, travelling to the US, France and Spain to test the machines. Mr Brown commented: ‘Our operators felt that the Terex O&K Tri-Power front-shovel system, which controls the cylinders by rotating triangular cams and stabilizer rods, supported them with high crowd forces and, as a result, gave them excellent digging power. They also know from experience that the RH 120-E is reliable, delivers more than satisfactory results and will help them meet their targets.’
Terex Equipment Ltd, Newhouse Industrial Estate, Motherwell ML1 5RY; tel: (01698) 503051; fax: (01698) 503200; email: lynsey.hannay@terex.co.uk
The 284-tonne mining shovel, with its 20-tonne capacity bucket and 1,400hp output, provided by two Cummins QSK19C engines, joins the other RH 120-E to head up primary excavation at the quarry, loading a fleet of eight 100-tonne capacity dumptrucks. This latest addition to the on-site equipment will allow the quarry to reach its production target of 5 million tonnes a year, on a single shift.
Lafarge considered four leading manufacturers before making their purchase. One of the main purchasing influences for the company was the expected life of the tracks: ‘At £220,000 a set, we need to know that we can get a long life from the tracks, as the granite is highly abrasive,’ explained Ian Brown, national production manager at Lafarge. ‘In this respect, we felt that the design of the Terex O&K machine was the best, and we already have proven results from three Terex RH 120-Cs, which have been working at the quarry for the past 20 years.’
Lafarge’s shovel operators also had a strong influence on the selection process, travelling to the US, France and Spain to test the machines. Mr Brown commented: ‘Our operators felt that the Terex O&K Tri-Power front-shovel system, which controls the cylinders by rotating triangular cams and stabilizer rods, supported them with high crowd forces and, as a result, gave them excellent digging power. They also know from experience that the RH 120-E is reliable, delivers more than satisfactory results and will help them meet their targets.’
Terex Equipment Ltd, Newhouse Industrial Estate, Motherwell ML1 5RY; tel: (01698) 503051; fax: (01698) 503200; email: lynsey.hannay@terex.co.uk
