New Rockster crusher for Alakona Corp
Hawaii-based Alakona Corp increase recycled asphalt efficiency with R700S mobile crushing plant
HONOLULU-based Alakona Corp are looking to the future with the processing and supply of more reclaimed asphalt planings (RAP) to the numerous asphalt paving and maintenance contracts they undertake in the Hawaiian capital, Oahu and the neighbouring islands.
Sustainability continues to change the outlook of the construction materials sector worldwide and after taking delivery of a new tracked Rockster R700S crusher, the intention for Alakona was always to maximize the use of recycled asphalt pavement wherever possible, reduce the amount of material sent to landfill and cut carbon emissions through reduced transport miles.
According to Arist de Wolff, vice president, projects manager and estimator for Alakona, it was important for the business to increase its RAP capacity and efficiency, and the R700S mobile crusher has delivered on all counts.
‘Sustainability is a key factor for the future of not just the company, but also Hawaii,’ he commented. ‘Natural rock on the islands isn’t going to last forever. We need to extract a lot of material for subbases, base coarse and backfills, so using reclaimed asphalt pavement saves natural resources and money.
The Rockster mobile crusher’s compactness and weight (22.8 tons) means the R700S can be easily transported via Alakona’s own flatbed truck without the need of transport permits. This gives the company great flexibility in terms of its future plans and getting a foot further in the door of contracting.
Importantly, the R700S unit is crushing around 5,000 tonnes of asphalt a month for Alakona, with the machine capable of sizing up to several final grain sizes though its screen box and return belt.
Another material that Alakona are processing with the new R700S crusher is coral. ‘In Hawaii, a lot of coral shells can be found underneath the soil,’ explained Mr de Wolff. ‘We like the possibility of using the stockpile belt to produce another fraction. With coral, we run two- to three-inch coarse aggregate from the side belt and one-and-a-half minus from the screen. The end product contains less fines than crusher asphalt, and we use this recycled material as base coarse for house or concrete paths.
With the tracked Rockster R700S crushing plant in full operation, the machine has proved to be the ideal RAP and recycling processing solution for Alakona as the business makes inroads into the contracting market across Hawaii.
‘We are able to crush so many kinds of material, from RAP and coral to concrete and basalt,' said Mr de Wolff. ‘There are so many possibilities for a range of customers such as construction firms, private households and businesses, and, of course, municipalities.’
