Superior Industries offers a holistic approach to screening equipment for its customers, ranging from training and education to new products.
For many customers in the aggregates industry, it is not enough to just purchase the latest equipment. Training and aftersales support are essential components to get the most out of their investment.
Superior Industries understands this, which is why it offers training and after-sales support to complement the new screening equipment.
Top-tier training
Superior supports all of its screening equipment with training for its customers to ensure they get the most out of operating their equipment and achieve higher levels of progression. It recently took this a step further when it launched OptimizeU to provide cost-effective training for new operators and experienced industry veterans. The platform enables operators to access on-demand learning courses in screening, crushing, washing, and conveying. The courses cover technical skills, product knowledge, and industry best practices for operators.
To coincide with the launch of OptimizeU, Superior has included a portfolio of 60 courses, with plans to expand by 50 new sessions each year. The new platform minimises the need for employees to travel to classroom-based workshops for training, thereby reducing the costs associated with investing in professional development.
“OptimizeU was created to meet the needs of today’s aggregate producers,” Superior Industries training coordinator Kristen Randall said.
“We understand the value of flexible learning in an industry where time and resources are precious, and our goal is to equip producers with the tools they need to succeed at any experience level.”
Care for customers
Superior and its dealers are focused on supporting aggregates customers after the sale. They have experienced team that helps customers optimise their equipment. The team members often have decades of industry experience, which guides them in their work with customers and their applications.
Superior Industries vibratory product manager Ed Sauser is one such employee who helps customers optimise their screening equipment.
Sauser told Quarry that it is important to trust the operator’s observation skills when troubleshooting screening equipment, whether the operation is staffed with veterans or new trainees.
“What do you see, hear, or smell when taking an up-close look at a vibrating screen?” he said.
“Using their senses, many veteran plant operators are keenly aware of the sights, sounds, and smells that signal proper screen operation or a potential need for maintenance.”
Sauser said key indicators for the screening equipment can be found within the spring lengths and symmetrical operation.
The symmetrical operation can be measured by observing how the screen runs with the key to look for even operation from side to side.
“Screen operation must be symmetrical. If not, screening efficiency is immediately affected, while costly damage to the machine is likely over the long term,” Sauser said.
“While operations may use the latest electronic sensors or gauges to measure the stroke (motion) of the machine, a manual ‘tracing’ exercise has commonly been used over past decades.
“Just take a pencil and hold it firmly against the sidewall of the screen to see what kind of a ‘stroke pattern’ it creates when the machine is operating. A pattern that’s even from side to side indicates that the angle of the stroke is also even from side to side.”
Outside of symmetrical operation, spring lengths can provide insight into the performance of the screening equipment and can determine whether it’s time to level up the screen.
Sauser said it is best to measure the length of the springs on each side of the screen.
“Spring length does not need to be exactly the same from the feed end to the discharge end, as one end of the machine is usually a little heavier – but when the spring lengths vary from side to side – that’s an issue,” he said.
“A (6mm) difference side to side may not sound like much, but if the opposing corner on the other end of the screen measures the same (6mm) difference, this indicates a (12mm) twist in the support structure – which is a huge problem. Always check for diagonal differences.” •
For more information, visit superior-ind.com
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