Metso help improve fuel economy for crushing contractor

Banner Contracts achieve a 35% reduction in fuel consumption with new Lokotrack LT106 machines

WHEN Banner Contracts Ltd first put their two new Lokotrack LT106 mobile crushing plants into operation in December 2012, company director Jo Banner could not believe how little fuel the new investments required.

‘Each one of our LT106 machines consumes 9 litres less fuel per hour than its predecessor, the LT105,’ he explained. ‘That’s a 35% difference.’

After six months in operation at Lafarge Tarmac’s Thrislington Quarry, the Lokotrack LT106 mobile plant’s fuel consumption averaged around 15.5 litres/h. According to Mr Banner, these figures make them the most fuel-efficient mobile crushers in his company’s fleet.

At Thrislington Quarry, all of the processing is carried out by Banner Contracts. The site produces kiln feed, which on-site customer Steetley Dolomite supply for steelmaking after calcination, and lump stone for the blast furnace. In both cases the product acts as a flux, reducing temperature and removing impurities from the iron ore.

The fines produced during the process are also supplied for iron making as part of the sinter, being blended with various materials such as iron ore and coke. In addition, the quarry produces several co-products, including sub-base, capping, aggregates and sand for concrete making.

‘The nature of the process lends itself to having multiple smaller plants instead of one large one,’ commented Mr Banner. ‘The Lokotrack is good on tracks and easy to move. It only takes around 30 minutes to move the machine and start crushing again.’

Mobile flexibility was not the only reason behind Mr Banner’s decision to invest in the Metso Lokotrack LT106 plants. The standard of access and guarding features on the machines also played a key part in the decision.

Another important factor was the level of service, support and the business relationship that Metso provide. ‘Whenever we had problems during the commissioning phase, we just called and a Metso service engineer would come over and take a look,’ said Mr Banner.

Banner Contract’s satisfaction in the LT106 mobile plants was so great that they have taken delivery of another machine, which is currently operating at a different customer’s site.