AB2000 double production with Sandvik QJ341+ jaw crusher

27 June, 2017

First published in the June 2017 issue of Quarry Management

Scottish plant hire firm sees marked increase in output new new mobile jaw crusher equipped with double-deck pre-screen

Last year, Scottish company AB2000 Ltd were so impressed with the QJ341+ they saw on display at Hillhead that they decided there and then to purchase this latest addition to the Sandvik range of jaw crushers. Since the machine was delivered, the company says it has seen a marked increase in production, with an almost doubling of capacity over the previous model.

AB2000 specialize in the supply of both operated and self-drive machinery, including crushing and screening equipment, for the construction industry. Incorporated in 1995 by Adam Bruce, who has more than 50 years’ experience of the operated plant hire industry, the company is now Scotland’s largest privately owned hirer of operated plant and equipment.

A long-standing customer of Sandvik, AB2000’s relationship with the mobile crushing and screening manufacturer started almost 15 years ago with the Extec brand. Over the years the company has purchased a number of machines for its expanding fleet and now owns five Sandvik crushers: one QJ241, three QJ341s and the new QJ341+.

Already familiar with the Sandvik QJ341 mobile jaw crusher, Chris Brown, general manager of AB2000, visited Hillhead in June 2016 where he was interested to see the latest addition to the range, the QJ341+, on display. Sandvik say this new model encompasses the same characteristics as the QJ341 but is fitted with a double deck pre-screen and a number of additional benefits for improved efficiency, safety and operation.

Describing the advantages of the pre-screen and why he was impressed with the new model, Mr Brown said: ‘I liked the idea of the screen and the improved production. In a recycling environment, it gives us the option to produce a graded stone, a Type 1 material, which is popular with our customers. In a quarry environment we can scalp out the material and be a bit more accurate, so we’re not wasting as much of the raw product to put forward into the secondary process.’

AB2000 have been particularly pleased with the increased production delivered by the QJ341+ jaw crusher, and, according to Mr Brown, cost per tonne is looking very good. ‘At Hillhead, Sandvik were stating an increase in production of 30% with the QJ341+. We are actually running somewhere in the region of 300–350 tonnes/h in comparison with the QJ341, which was doing
150–200 tonnes/h, so production’s well up as far as I’m concerned and I’m more than happy with it,’ he said.

The QJ341+ is currently being used at a limestone quarry to process 25,000 tonnes of crushed stone for a concrete plant blend. The –500mm raw material is fed into the QJ341+ and crushed down to 4in before being fed into a cone crusher with a closed-side setting of approximately 25–28mm. The crushed limestone is then fed into a double-deck screen and reduced to a clean 20–25mm product.

For a plant hire company such as AB2000, key benefits of the Sandvik QJ341+ include its mobility, quick set-up time and ease of operation. ‘After arrival on site the machine can be tracked into position, then its hopper wings folded up, jacking legs down, adjust your jaw and away you go – it’s very straightforward,’ said Mr Brown.

One new feature of the QJ341+ that AB2000 particularly like is the self-locking hopper. The hydraulically folding design eliminates the need for an operator to climb on to the machine as everything can be done from ground level, making it easier, quicker and safer to set up.

Another popular feature is the control system, which is common across the Sandvik Premium crusher line-up. The machine is fitted with a PLC control system and a colour screen that provides visual data output of all plant operating parameters. This is simple to operate and all AB2000 fitters are well versed in the running of the company’s fleet, making the progression from one model to the next an easy transition.

Over the years, AB2000 have built up a reputation as a leading plant hire company in Scotland and, therefore, need a reliable equipment supplier, as aftermarket support is an essential aspect to their business. ‘The backup and after-sales support of the machines is pretty good. Generally, any problems that we have on site, we phone in and there’s a fitter sent to site tout suite, so we are quite happy and have no complaints on that side,’ concluded Mr Brown.

For more information visit: www.construction.sandvik.com