The use of versatile, multifunctional machines is becoming increasingly popular in the local aggregate sector in an effort to mitigate rising input costs, says Astec Industries regional product and sales manager Andre Kruger. The company has noted an increasing demand for its Astec-Telestack’s range of bulk materials handling systems and Rock Breaker Technology’s Astec-BTI hydraulic breakers and boom systems, both of which are supplied and serviced in South Africa and across Africa by Astec Industries.

Kruger asserts that replacing traditional fixed infrastructure with mobile, high-capacity, versatile bulk materials handling systems helps reduce operational costs, maximise production rates and enable greater flexibility. Tracked, wheeled and rail-mounted conveyors, hoppers and stackers allow operators to move from pit-to-port, reducing the need for wheel loaders and trucks.

“Astec-Telestack equipment is used for stockpiling and linking in quarries around the world, handling an array of materials from road base to limestone. [Quarries] recognise the many benefits of Astec-Telestack products, including eliminating the need for front-end loaders on the site - along with their labour, fuel and maintenance costs. The double handling of the material is reduced and productivity increased. With Astec-Telestack products, different grades or material can be moved and stockpiled quickly and efficiently,” he adds.

Astec-BTI rock breaker systems are engineered to increase quarry throughput and improve safety. By reducing material to the correct size and reducing material blockages, the systems help to reduce crusher downtime and increase plant productivity. Safety is also improved as the need for secondary blasting is eliminated and there is a reduction in handling of rock by operators.

Astec-Telestack radial telescopic stackers, such as the AggStack TS 36 X 140 and the RSL30 fixed radial stacker, offer a cost-effective method of stockpiling material, says Kruger. Available as tracked or wheeled units, with automation, dust suppression and independent power options, the stackers can be used in mobile or fixed crushing and screening operations. An additional benefit is a reduced need for the use of wheel loaders, which helps reduce site traffic, lower emissions and increase savings on fuel and labour.

The company offers a range of mobile conveyors, including the Astec-Telestack TC 424XR radial mobile conveyor and feeder, which boasts a 450-million-ton-a-year capacity and is designed for flexibility and ease of deployment across various site locations.

Astec-Telestack affirms that its Origin Wheeled conveyor range, which includes the C2000 model, offers affordable, reliable wheeled stackers suited for short- to medium-term, highly mobile applications, as well as versatility and portability, especially in confined areas. Featuring a radial ability from pinned base, it is said to offer superior stockpiling capabilities compared to other, conical stockpilers.

Engineered for surface and underground mining as well as aggregate, construction and demolition applications, Kruger notes that Astec-BTI breakers are renowned for their reliability and design simplicity. “The breaker’s control valve also features a simple design to minimise cavitation, thereby reducing hydraulic component wear and increasing the efficiency and lifespan,” he explains.

An additional feature is the unit’s power-to-weight ratio, which allows larger, more powerful hammers to be mounted onto smaller excavators or boom systems.

Standard features on all models include a nitrogen cushion chamber designed to absorb piston recoil and recycle the energy to increase the output energy on the next blow, dual retainer pins to ensure positive tool alignment and easy tool replacement, short tie rods that utilise protected threads to yield long life and high reliability, and a protected lubrication point.

The Astec-BTI CX, BX and BXR range of rock breakers offer 14 models, from 550 J to 21 500 J energy class, with most models also available in box-style configurations.