Gralex benefits from Trellex wear protection

Belgian quarry operator Gralex have taken delivery of five new Komatsu HD605 rigid dumptrucks with Trellex wear rubber lining plates from Metso Minerals. The plates — which provide high wear resistance and durability — took 32h to stud weld and fit to each dump body.

Around 70 plates were ordered, each measuring up to 1,500mm x 750mm and featuring a range of rubber pad thicknesses vulcanized to a 5mm thick metal plate.

Metso Minerals supplied three different types of Trellex plates — PP50, PP75 and PP100 — providing plate thicknesses of 50mm, 75mm and 100mm respectively, with the PP100 fitted to the bottom, PP75 on the sides and front, and PP50 to the cap.

The haulers currently operate out of the Porfibel Quarry in Quenast, west of Brussels, where some of Europe’s toughest and most abrasive minerals (2,800kg/cm) can be found. The quarry produces more than 2 million tonnes of material a year for use in railway ballast and highway construction.

Gralex have been relying on Trellex wear plates for more than 15 years, and according to Galio Laureiro, the plant workshop manager at Porfibel, the company had no hesitation in specifying more Trellex wear plates across its fleet.

‘At Porfibel, the dump bodies are regularly checked for wear and tear, with our workshop replacing on average three individual plates each year,’ Mr Laureiro explained. ‘The key benefit of the Trellex wear plate is to prevent wear to the dumper’s steel body. As we’ve found, it’s cheaper to replace a plate than a new dump body.’

The rubber pads have also reduced on-site noise pollution, helping Gralex to meet environmental legislation. Trellex wear plates have also been specified to protect the quarry’s 1,300 tonnes/h primary crusher and two new belt conveyors to ensure continued operation at Porfibel.