Big success for Hassell at Needingworth

• 
• 1st February 2005
• Quarrying
 

E H Hassell of Stoke on Trent have recently completed a project for Hanson Aggregates at their Needingworth Quarry in Cambridgeshire.

The project which called for much collaboration between Hassell and Hanson management and site engineers involved the supply of a HDF 1200L heavy-duty tracked feeder. Designed and built at the Hassell factory the machine replaced a skid-mounted feeder which was subjected to two or three moves per day as the face progressed. Each of these operations took approximately twenty minutes which involved three separate items of equipment having to be moved using chains attached to an excavator; resulting in increased downtime as well as a number of health and safety issues. 

Commissioned in early October, the new tracked hopper feeder was transported to the site in two pieces, the machine is fully remote controlled and comprises just one piece of equipment. As the machine can be repositioned in less than five minutes big improvements on site and safety have resulted providing a big payback on investment made by Hanson Aggregates.

Designed to process 1 million tonnes a year for 30 years, the HDF 1200L has a feed rate of 650 tonnes/h, weighs approximately 50 tonnes and has a travelling speed of 0-3km/h. The machine features an 8.8m³ capacity feed hopper which is lined with abrasion-resistant plates and has a radio-controlled tilting grid that rejects any oversize material over the back end.

Due to Needingworth’s remote location the Hanson specification demanded that a totally hydraulic drive system was specified.  A Cummins diesel engine provides 155hp at 2,200 rev/min for the hydraulic power pack that drives the track motors, conveyors and reject grid.  Proving its staying power the machine has a 1,000-litre capacity fuel tank, which only demands refuelling takes place once a week.  A 1,000-litre capacity hydraulic reservoir provides cooling, assisted by twin cooling fans.  The hopper feeder also incorporates an ntegrated 24V PLC control system.

Currently the cut at Needingworth is 600m long and 3m deep. The 20m long hopper feeder provides a 30m wide cut and discharges material onto a
1200mm wide drag-out conveyor. Controlling material spillage was another key factor in the design of the unit, which is just 3m high.  This helps to reduce the amount of spillage when material is loaded into the hopper by an excavator,
This low-level design also means that the excavator can be positioned further back from the feeder to give the required cut width.

The hopper feeder also features an auto-lube system that is refilled once a week. Servicing is carried out by Hassell engineers who take oil samples, change hydraulic fluids, and service the hydraulic drives, engine, track motors etc.  Hassell also conducted an initial service which was carried out after 250h with subsequent service intervals taking place every 500h.

Management and staff at Needingworth are very impressed with the overall performance, the back-up service and the ease and the mobility of the machine around the site.

Further Information:

E.H.Hassell & Sons Ltd, Alderflat Drive, Newstead Industrial Estate, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST4 8HX  Tel: 01782 644299  Fax:  01782 657255  Email: info@hassells.co.uk 
Web: www.hassells.co.uk

 

 

Associated Links

• Hub-4 Profile of Hassell & Sons Ltd
• Hassell & Sons Ltd Company Website