Terex Finlay machine boosts productivity at Mercaston

Uprated TC 15 Sand Master unit provides high-capacity treatment solution for Hanson Aggregates

AGGREGATE Processing Solutions have provided an uprated Terex Finlay TC 15 Sand Master to boost productivity at Hanson Aggregates’ Mercaston Quarry, in Derbyshire.

The machine, which has a processing capacity of up to 120 tonnes/h, has been brought in as part of a 28-week contract which will see the sand and gravel quarry produce volumes that would normally be achieved over an 18-month period.

The TC 15 works with a chassis-mounted Terex Finlay MP300 mobile washing system, a Terex Finlay 390, two Terex Finlay 532 conveyors for sand stockpiling and a Terex Finlay 683 producing three grades of gravel. Replacing an older, permanent static system, the TC 15 has two 24in cyclones and produces a –2mm fine sand to meet Hanson’s specification.

Raw material is stockpiled before being fed by the 390 to the MP300 washing system. Sand from the on-board rinsing screen then flows to the TC 15. Any +2mm gravel passes through the integral Terex Finlay 206 log-washer, which feeds on to a dewatering screen that has been configured to produce a –5mm +2mm grit product. Anything above 5mm is fed through the Terex Finlay 683 Supertrak to produce three grades of gravel: 10mm, 14mm and 40mm.

Andy Bull, quarry manager at the Mercaston site, said: ‘The TC 15 Sand Master is quick and versatile, and extremely compact and easy to locate, even with the uneven ground we have here. It deals with our time, space and surface limitations really well and is a durable, fast working machine. Importantly, it uses under half the amount of electricity and water that was consumed before, saving the quarry a lot of money.’

Bob Parker, Aggregate Processing Solutions’ contracts manager, added: ‘The TC 15 is perfect for the fine sand at Mercaston and has enabled us to meet our contractual obligations in terms of production and product specification.’