Nordkalk benefit from Sleipner transport system

Innovative excavator transport system saves money and increases efficiency at Scandinavian limestone quarry

FINNISH quarrying company Nordkalk have been active on the island of Gotland, off Sweden’s east coast, for the past 30 years. Their current operation includes 2.8 million tonnes per annum Klinthagen Quarry – Scandinavia’s largest limestone quarry – and the Storugns process plant.

Within the quarry, two Komatsu PC 1250 excavators are regularly moved from one loading site to another, which can be up to 1km away. In addition, the excavators are periodically transferred to the workshop, which is 3km away, for maintenance and service.

To help with these excavator movements, seven years ago Nordkalk invested in a Sleipner transport system (pictured) from Finnish company Sleipner Finland Oy. Used in conjunction with a dumptruck, this heavy-duty wheeled system allows an excavator to be moved quickly and easily with its tracked undercarriage raised off the ground.

‘We have used Sleipner transport system since 2004 and are very satisfied with it,’ explained production manager Per-Erik Larsson. ‘We have two 120-tonne PC 1250 excavators, and moving them with the Sleipner system and one of our Komatsu HD 605 dumptrucks is easy, reliable and cost-efficient.

‘We learned about the Sleipner system through our local Komatsu dealer, who had seen it working elsewhere, so we looked into it and immediately noticed the many advantages it offered.

‘We were impressed with its simplicity and relatively low cost, both in terms of the initial purchase price and the maintenance it requires. Furthermore, with the Sleipner we made a lot of cost savings in the maintenance of the excavators, particularly with regard to their tracks and undercarriages.’ said Mr Larsson