FIFE-based Collier Quarrying and Recycling has invested in the first Terex Finlay 694+ dual power screener in Scotland as the business continues to switch to electric-powered machinery.
Operating from a 117-acre base at Goathill Quarry, Cowdenbeath, Collier provides aggregate products and services. With a ready mix concrete plant and an asphalt plant also on site, diversity is key.
Thanks to the high PSV (polished stone value) of the firm’s quarried aggregates, it is a popular choice for road dressings throughout Scotland and as far south as the Midlands.
With 30,000 tonnes of armour stone on order for a sea defence project in Dundee, the notoriously hard rock is used in a variety of applications. This means the team is required to use different approaches when processing the material to a finished product.
In 2013, Collier invested in a 1.5MW wind turbine and began the switch to electric or hybrid powered machinery where possible.
Utilising some of the energy generated by this turbine to power as much of the company’s processing equipment as possible became a natural choice – and one which led them to the latest purchase of a Terex Finlay 694+ dual power (hybrid) inclined screener, supplied by Molson Finlay Scotland.
The 694+ DP sits in front of an electric-powered drive QMS B4 cone crusher, featuring a 4ft diameter cone mantle. Despite the ‘monstrous’ capacity of the B4, Molson Finlay Scotland revealed the 694+ is ‘more than capable’ of meeting the throughput required, processing 15,000 tonnes per day of saleable products created; 75-40mm, 40-20mm, 20-5mm and dust.
The dual-powered Terex Finlay 694+ hybrid inclined screen offers operators the flexibility to power the plant either by an electrical connection or diesel/hydraulic configuration. The plant features a triple deck screen configuration providing three full-sized 6.1m x 1.53m (20” x 5”) screens.
A hydraulically folded fourth (oversize plus) conveyor allows adjustment with variable tilt and slew discharge, between 18 degree and 30 degree, for recirculating in a closed circuit with a crusher or stockpiling of finished material.
Collier operator Brian Crawford said, “As the 694+ DP is still a mobile machine, when it comes to cleaning up the site, we are able to simply track the machine out of the way to clear any material build ups using the diesel engine – meaning we are not limited to the range of the cable. Once we have done this, we can then track it back into place and instantly start production again. This would not be possible with a static electric drive machine.
“We also benefit from less downtime with this dual power machine compared to a standard diesel drive machine, not only in terms of less breakdowns as thanks to not constantly running an engine, there is less heat generated and less moving parts. There are also less filters to replace during planned maintenance and a significant time saving by not having to re-fuel the machine.”
With the upcoming change in fuel duty set to come into effect from next year, many in the construction industry will be looking at how they can mitigate the impact.
Collier operator Alan Crawford added, “We have been monitoring the consumption of the 694+ DP and calculated that it is saving us in the region of 150 litres of diesel per day when compared to running a diesel drive machine.
“The machine has also proved to be a reliable addition to the fleet, but we also have confidence in the team at Molson Finlay Scotland to be on hand if we have had any questions or issues, as they have been throughout the life of all the other equipment they have supplied over the years.”
Molson Finlay Scotland sales manager, Euan Fairweather, commented, “With dual power options now available throughout the Terex Finlay range, I expect more and more customers to start switching to this hybrid setup and mitigate the running cost increases expected when the fuel duty changes.
“The team at Collier have always been one of my most forward thinking customers and it is very impressive to look at the business they have created in such a short time.
“It is also great to see them benefiting from the features of the 694+ dual power machine. The insight into the savings they have generated has given a great, ‘real world’ example of how this can benefit a wide range of customers.”
