New Optitooth Jaw Plates adding value where it counts for G.F. Job
Scottish Highlands based company G.F. Job Ltd have been one of the first companies to trial the new Optitooth jaw plates, designed and manufactured by Sandvik. They have doubled the lifetime of their jaw plates, whilst also experiencing a number of other key benefits.
G.F Job Limited based in Nairn, Inverness offers a comprehensive range of services ranging from earthmoving, civil engineering, heavy haulage and recycling to contract crushing, owning five quarries of their own and supplying aggregates to leading suppliers in the Scottish Highlands.
Formed in 1990 the business has grown extensively and successfully over the years, currently employing 90 people and owns a wide range of Sandvik mobile crushing and screening equipment, including 4 tracked jaw crushers.
Predominantly the materials they crush in their quarries are granite and glacial cobbles, which is hard, abrasive material. One of the jaw crushers, a Sandvik QJ341 is employed in the same granite quarry for the majority of the year and this produces 500,000 tonnes of 5 in. crusher run to feed an aggregate processing plant.
With a keen interest in business efficiency and running the operation cost-effectively, G.F. Job has previously used a variety of different jaws to test the durability and performance. On this application both the heavy duty 20% style square tooth jaws and the conventional 14% corrugated jaws have been used and a history of tonnages produced from each jaw has been recorded to give a true account of performance in relation to costs. For this reason they decided to trial the new Optitooth jaw plates on this machine.
Innovative design for improved performance
From talking and listening to customers Sandvik has developed a new profile of jaw plate, designed not only to increase durability and productivity, but also aimed at decreasing operating costs and service time.
The new Optitooth jaw plates have been designed around adding material where it matters most. The new profile allows for a higher percentage of the jaw to be worn which results in longer wear life and less manganese waste. The improved tooth profile also allows for better breakage and improved material flow. This results in a more cubical product and a higher quality product shape.
Longer wear life
Following the trial at G.F. Job, the initial test data has been extremely encouraging. The average output increased from 200 to 250 tonnes per hour and wear rates increased upwards of 30%.
Graeme Watt, Plant Manager for G.F. Job who is delighted with the outcome, comments "In this particular granite application previous jaw plates have been ranging between 20,000-30,000 tonnes of crushed material and that's the life of the jaws. Since we went onto this new jaw we're up 50,000-55,000 tonnes for the life of the jaw. If you go into a limestone quarry, you'll get double but this is a hard abrasive material."
Better fuel economy
In addition to the increased wear performance, G.F. Job have also seen benefits in relation to fuel economy and an improved product shape, due to the new profile design of the Optitooth.
"The new jaw plates are creating a better shape of product, but it's also crushing far more economically for us as well. It's reducing the load on the crusher, therefore you're creating better fuel economy whilst also reducing the physical hardship on that machine" says Graeme.
The unique design also makes the plates easier to turn over or replace, saving you time and money.
Reliability all round
G.F. Job has an excellent mutual working relationship with Sandvik. They know that they can rely on the support they receive to keep their machines running at all times. "The backup for us is fantastic" adds Graeme, "the machines are very reliable but the backup we receive from Sandvik is exceptional, it's what sells their machines".
Since the introduction of the Optitooth jaw plates, G.F. Job haven't looked back and have no hesitations in recommending these. "They benefit us all round: we are crushing far more, getting better fuel economy, producing a better product and they are lasting an awful lot longer. We will be looking to order additional sets for our other jaw crushers" concludes Graeme.
The Optitooth jaw plates will be part of our aftermarket offering on display at the forthcoming Conexpo exhibition in Las Vegas in March.
For further information, please contact:
Melissa Baker
Marketing Communications, Mobile Crushers and Screens
Tel: +44 1283 212121
E-mail: melissa.baker@sandvik.com