New logs for old

Finlay Plant Ltd and Finlay Hydrascreens (Omagh) Ltd have worked together to improve the performance of a Finlay 206 Logwasher that was installed at a Midlands quarry three years ago. Production demands at the site meant that the required plant throughput had increased to a level 25% greater than that originally specified.

Working in hard Trent-type gravels, the Logwasher was running at loads that were consistently in excess of the machine’s design capacity. Consequently, wear and tear was severe and maintenance costs were considered excessive. It was thought that a replacement machine would have to be purchased and tenders were sought.

Finlay proposed both a new machine and a refurbishment option, the latter being significantly cheaper and requiring less downtime to complete. Based on data gathered during development work and already proven on other Finlay Logwashers operating in a variety of applications, Finlay Hydrascreens re-designed the twin logs to afford greater wear protection to the more vulnerable areas when working at high loads. Customer feedback also made a valuable contribution to this work.

The logs were fitted with a different paddle format more suited to the application. The machine has effectively been uprated to achieve tonnages 30% greater than the original design. The revised paddle format has also reduced the running current of the single 45kW motor by 40%, which, together with an anticipated extended wearpart life, will yield significant annual savings for the customer.

Finlay Hydrascreens (Omagh) Ltd, Drumquin Road, Omagh, Co. Tyrone BT78 5PN; tel: (028) 8241 8700; fax: (028) 8224 4294; email: mail@finlayhydrascreens.com; website: www.finlayhydrascreens.com

Finlay Plant Ltd, Lakeside House, Ladford Covert Industrial Park, Seighford, Staffs ST18 9QL; tel: (01785) 282323; fax: (01785) 282991; email: sales@finlay-group.demon.co.uk; website: www.finlaygroup.com