CDE Global Debut New Screens at Bauma 2016

07 March, 2016

First published in the February 2016 issue of Quarry Management as Infinity and Beyond

CDE extend their Infinity screening range with new units set to debut at Bauma 2016

CDE announced the launch of their Infinity screening range to the global market in early 2014 after securing a global patent for the new construction of the screen sidewalls. The lead designer on the Infinity range is senior R&D engineer and product specialist Neil Mullan, who recently joined the CDE USA team having spent seven years working at CDE headquarters in Ireland. In this article, Mr Mullan explains some of the innovations behind the Infinity screen as CDE continue to expand the range.

Although CDE are associated with the manufacture of washing equipment for use in quarries, mines and recycling operations across the world, their expertise in the design of screens is, perhaps, less well known. ‘We sell more than 200 screens a year to the global market and these are largely integrated into the modular equipment that we have become well known for,’ explained Mr Mullan. ‘The development of the new Infinity screen range is an opportunity for us to increase awareness of the screening range that we produce, and securing the global patent for the new design proves our capability in this area.’

The Infinity range includes double- and triple-deck screens in 16ft x 5ft and 20ft x 6ft configurations. ‘Going back to day one of the design process, we took our lead from the aerospace industry and how aircraft wings are designed. The only assumptions we made from a design perspective were that the screen was to be rectangular and have one, two or three screening decks,’ said Mr Mullan.

The 16ft x 5ft double-deck screens are integrated into the M2500 mobile washing plant while the 20ft x 6ft version is provided as part of the M4500. The new R2500 primary screening unit (see opposite) also utilizes the double-deck 16ft x 5ft screen, while smaller sizing screens are included on the AggMax portable log-washer. All screens within the new Infinity range are available for application in both dry and wet screening situations across a wide range of materials, including aggregates, C&D waste, topsoil, coal, iron ore and other mineral ores.

The development process for the new Infinity screen range started with the intention of removing all welds from the construction of the sidewalls. ‘The basis for this approach was to prolong the operational life of the screen,’ explained Mr Mullan. ‘The design for which the patent was granted allows for increased thickness of the screen sidewalls but with a reduction in weight. This has proven possible as a result of the extensive finite element analysis process that all our new product developments go through. We are able to produce a screen which provides additional strength and support where required, while not including weight where it is not required.’

According to CDE, screens in the Infinity range are able to generate the same acceleration as conventional screens, but with less weight, which results in a reduction in power consumption and, hence, operational costs. ‘The focus on reducing power consumption is evident in several of the design innovations within the Infinity range and is achieved in balance with using power efficiently,’ said Mr Mullen.

The range also includes a unique design of eccentric shaft which further removes unnecessary weight, reduces power consumption and ensures efficient transfer of energy to the material. The focus on prolonging the working life of the screen is evident through the introduction of wear protection at every impact and transfer point. One example of this is a magnetic polyurethane wear plate on the top of the screen shaft. This not only protects the shaft, but is also quick and easy to replace, ensuring productivity targets are met. Moreover, every screen in the Infinity range is galvanized as standard.

Another design innovation within the Infinity range is the development of new U-Span cast cross-members, which, in combination with the construction of the sidewalls, deliver higher specific stiffness that prolongs the working life of the screen. The Infinity range also utilizes Rosta suspension units which deliver 98% vibration isolation, thereby ensuring protection for the support structure and the most efficient transfer of energy to the material being screened.

‘Another key focus in the development of the Infinity screen range was to ensure that essential plant maintenance could be carried out safely, quickly and easily, and there are several examples of this that need to be highlighted,’ explained Mr Mullan. ‘The most obvious is probably the 30in distance between the screen decks. This allows operators easy access between the decks for the replacement of screen media and also ensures that this can be completed in as short a time as possible.’

CDE have also introduced lightweight and robust GRP guarding across their product range in recent times and this is also evident on the Infinity range. ‘The use of GRP guards has allowed us to eliminate nip points while making sure that the guards can be quickly removed and refitted. This minimizes the time required for essential plant maintenance and demonstrates the focus on understanding how operators will interact with the screen when it is on site,’ said Mr Mullan. Another example of this is the positioning of the grease nipples on the screen, which allows for the application of grease during plant operation, thus further enhancing productivity.

Meanwhile, CDE have recently announced a significant expansion to the Infinity range which will see the addition of new horizontal sizing screens, grizzly screens, dewatering screens and fine sand screens to the existing range of inclined screens. Several of these will be among a total of 13 screens from the Infinity screen family that will be on display at Bauma 2016 in Munich from 11-17 April.

As well as being included on CDE’s series of modular wash plants, the Infinity screens are also available as individual stand-alone units and this is a market where the company believes there is significant potential in the years ahead. ‘We will be using our attendance at Bauma 2016 to promote the Infinity screens into the screen replacement market, said Eoin Heron, CDE regional manager for Europe & Russia. ‘The range has been tried and tested across a wide range of applications – sand and gravel, crushed rock, C&D waste recycling, silica sands, iron ore – and given the global gathering that Bauma represents, this show has been on our radar as the ideal place to launch the expanded Infinity range.’