Mobile crushing offers competitive output

A mobile crushing solution at an Argentine quarry is said to increase production by 100% Caminos del Mercosur found success in the mid-1990s supplying crushed rock for the construction of new roads. Recently the company has enhanced its reputation as an innovator in aggregates production and supply through the adoption of tracked crushing technology. Based in Posadas, Misiones, Argentina, it says it has modernised its production capabilities through investing in a modern, mobile crusher, the Sandvik supplie
November 2, 2012 Read time: 4 mins
The Sandvik QJ341 mobile jaw crusher at the Caminos del Mercosur quarry

A mobile crushing solution at an Argentine quarry is said to increase production by 100%

Caminos del Mercosur found success in the mid-1990s supplying crushed rock for the construction of new roads.

Recently the company has enhanced its reputation as an innovator in aggregates production and supply through the adoption of tracked crushing technology.

Based in Posadas, Misiones, Argentina, it says it has modernised its production capabilities through investing in a modern, mobile crusher, the 325 Sandvik supplied QJ341, which has allowed it to increase production by 100%.

Family-owned Caminos del Mercosur was founded in 1996 by Eduardo Bogado, and the family, and specifically Eduardo, has a long association with the quarrying industry, being able to call on many years of industry experience in order to supply crushed rock and aggregate for use within the construction industry.

From its inception the company was quick to take advantage of the opportunities offered by infrastructure projects that were undertaken in Argentina during the mid-1990s, and this experience enabled Caminos to become the supplier of crushed rock to the contractor working on the construction of the Route 12 highway when its quarry was equipped with stationary crushing and screening equipment, which was able to produce between 3,000-5,000tonnes/month.

As the demand for aggregates grew, Bogado invested in more stationary equipment, which resulted in an increased capacity of 20,000tonnes/month to ensure it became one of the principal suppliers of crushed rock and aggregates in the area.
While able to satisfy the demands for aggregates locally, Caminos del Mercosur soon found its market being restricted, due mainly to the transportation costs of the crushed rock, which were making the final price of the supplied aggregate too expensive to be competitive. Many prospective clients from further afield were finding it more economical to source crushed rock and aggregate locally, and Caminos’ client base was consequently limited to construction companies operating in the local area.

Eduardo Bogado decided to adopt a radical solution and buy a tracked jaw crusher, which he became aware of at 3485 Conexpo 1999 when he visited the Extec (subsequently acquired by Sandvik in 2007) stand. The crushers and screens seen on the Extec stand could be moved within the quarry; transported on roads using a low loader and could start operating almost immediately on arrival at site with no need for time consuming set-up.

When his business requirements changed, Bogado sought out the type of machinery he had seen at ConExpo, and acting on a recommendation, he invested in a QJ341 mobile jaw crusher from Sandvik (the latest development based on the Extec C12 crusher he had seen previously). 

With a jaw opening of 1,200mm x 750mm and a production capacity of up to 400tonnes/hour (depending on multiple variables), the crusher is said to be designed for ease of operation through utilising such features as hydraulically adjustable CSS (closed side setting); high reduction ratios-crushing speed-productivity; reverse crushing action to relieve blockages plus an automatic central lubrication system.

The model purchased by Caminos encompasses new features that ensure continuous, uninterrupted crushing, plus enhanced operator safety including a load control system for the feeder drive; level sensor fitted to the jaw and speed wheel fitted to the main conveyor. A key design change included on the QJ341 enables the main conveyor being fitted with a hydraulic raise and lower facility allowing increased magnet clearance, together with easier transportation.

“I chose Sandvik because of the good communication and technical advice given before the purchase of the machine. Having this mobile crusher will allow us to increase production by 100% compared to the stationary equipment we owned before, and will position us more competitively for supplying customers located at a great distance from our quarry,” says Eduardo Bogado.
Caminos del Mercosur says the QJ341 is

an ideal crusher when crushing rock to be turned into aggregate, but has proved to be equally effective on concrete, rebar, as well as bricks or asphalt in a demolition/recycling environment.
Materials

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Sandvik’s single brand celebration
    July 17, 2012
    The Extec and Fintec product lines of mobile crushing and screening equipment have been formally integrated and rebranded as part of Sandvik Mining and Construction's product offering. The range, under a single brand, is signified by new model nomenclature and machine colours, and a worldwide launch at a global customer event that attracted over 1,000 visitors, with people attending from a variety of places including Venezuela, China, Spain, Ireland, Norway and Scotland. Reflecting on the special four-day i
    Read More
  • Qatar quarry boosts output with SDLG wheeled loaders
    February 8, 2018
    A fleet of SDLG wheeled loaders is helping to optimise production at a quarry in Qatar. The three SDLG wheeled loaders are operating long hours and are being used to feed crushing and screening equipment at the site in Qatar. The three SDLG LG958L wheeled loaders have managed to clock 2,000 operating hours in four months at the quarry. The site is owned by Doha-based contracting company Al Maram International, which uses crushing and screening equipment to reduce and sort limestone, primarily for asphalt
    Read More
  • Crushing and screening help building Qatar’s new routes
    June 7, 2016
    Al-Mohsen Engineering in Qatar is one of the country’s leading specialists for the supply of aggregates to major construction companies. The firm is currently producing materials for many of Qatar’s infrastructure projects. Al-Mohsen is now a major player in the construction segment thanks to its ability to supply large volumes of high-quality aggregates to the market. The firm has invested in a range of Powerscreen rock crushing and screening equipment to meet the aggressive aggregates demands of huge loca
    Read More
  • Innovations in aggregate production
    February 20, 2012
    Innovations abound in the aggregate production sector - Mike Woof reports. With road construction accounting for a significant percentage of aggregate production, developments in this industry are of major importance for the highway sector. Technical advances in aggregate production methods have pushed technological boundaries, resulting in cost/tonne reductions for products and improving operating efficiency for major producers.
    Read More

Highlighted Content