Jimmy Murphy is the Sandvik Product Specialist for national construction and hire company Porter Group. He summarises how Sandvik mobile products fared in 2021 and advises that forward planning will be critical to the industry’s post-pandemic recovery.
How has Porter Group performed during the pandemic?
We’ve been Sandvik’s national distributor since early 2019. During the pandemic, our business increased its presence in the extractive industries. There’s several reasons for that, eg infrastructure spending, stimulus measures, customer-centric solutions. 2021 has been our strongest year. We’re looking at strong demand for 2022.
Has the pandemic changed the way Porter Group works with Australian quarries?
As the pandemic has evolved, so have our measures to offer best service. When faced with a border closure, we’ve drawn on resources from a branch which wouldn’t typically have the same level of support. We’ve implemented remote commissioning plans and set up virtual sessions where there has been zero ability to attend a site. From a group perspective, we’ve laid strong foundations with branch networks and infrastructure across all states and territories. We have service and parts capability, so having that strong basis pre-pandemic made the challenges less severe.
What are some of Porter Group’s most popular Sandvik products?
From a pure sales volume, the QE442 scalper and the QJ341 jaw crusher. We’ve seen an increase in the Sandvik CH430 and CH440 cone crushers on the mobile chassis. The feed openings on those machines are versatile, there is a range of chamber options, and the gradation and shape the cone crusher can produce, especially in tertiary stage crushing applications, is fantastic.
Is Sandvik adding new quarry spec products to their tracked plant range?
The QA442 and the QA452 doublescreens will arrive in 2022. The triple-deck unit has a 10 per cent extra screening area, with a 25mm top/bottom middle deck. It also has an independent, angle adjustment from primary to secondary box. These models offer operational and maintenance benefits, so hydraulic oil changes are going from a recommendation of 2000 to 4000 hours.
The QI353 impact crusher was launched in November. It is a ground-up design model, with the largest in-class feed acceptance and the largest in-class rotor diameter, with all the benefits of the Sandvik Prisec chamber. The QI353 also has an intuitive Optik PLC system. Its fuel consumption is 16 per cent lower than the previous model. The hydraulic system is more efficient, the servicing recommendation again has jumped from 2000 to 4000 hours for oil changes – equating to a 64 per cent reduction in maintenance costs in the machine over 10,000 hours. The QI353 comes as a stand-alone unit or with a two-deck pre-screen hanging module, as well as a closed circuit for one, two or three products.
What programs and services does Porter offer beyond mobile plant and equipment?
We can offer plant and process optimisation and wear analysis, a range of measures from a basic plant design, or focus on existing circuit bottlenecks. We can also collect rock samples from a quarry for testing in Sweden and use that data for wear analysis prediction to recommend the best optimised circuit. We also offer a stand-alone service agreement or a Sandvik Security Plus agreement which offers up to three years or a 6000-hour warranty on a crusher or a screen.
Sandvik has introduced the Optitooth profile, which offers reduced CO2 per tonne, fuel savings, and maximises wear life by up to 30 per cent from the traditional corrugated profilers that were on the QH341 and QJ241.
MyFleet telematics can diagnose plant issues and assist with troubleshooting. We can speak with the client via phone and take them through simple tests and instigate remote checks, which offsets the need for an off-site visit and gets the client running as quickly as possible. A range of automation features in the process include remote visual support as well as augmented reality.
How advanced is Sandvik in the development of electric power or hybrid engines for its mobile plant range?
The wheeled range is electrically driven, offering a lower cost per tonne. Our U series crushers have electric-powered versions; the operator can select between an on-board generator or electric mains supply as well as diesel-hydraulic. The Q series scalpers and doublescreens have a dual power or a hybrid variant. They have on-board diesel engines and can also connect to an external three-phase electric source.
What will be the quarrying industry’s challenges in the next three years?
We’re recovering from the fallout of the pandemic so everyone in the industry – suppliers and quarries – is facing supply and logistics challenges. Equipment orders and maintenance planning are being all impacted by global shipping delays. With that, unforeseen issues like AdBlue shortages appear to be with us for some time.
How can Porter Group best assist quarries with meeting these supply challenges?
A proactive approach and open communication is key. There will be a worldwide shortage of equipment for the foreseeable future, forward planning will be required to secure machines. The Porter Group can facilitate needs with early open communication.
For more information about Porter Group’s products and services, visit porterce.com.au
This article appears in January’s ‘Industry Leaders’ edition of Quarry Magazine.