Long-Time Eagle Customer Sees Cost-Savings with Sand Screw Update on Existing Wash Plant
A sand and gravel producer operating a 26-year-old Eagle wash plant in De Steeg, Netherlands, is seeing the benefits of EIW’s long-lasting Fine Material Washer gear reducer.
Background
The aggregate plant, which first began operation in 1996, uses an EIW 40’x10’ Classifying Tank with a metering bin and two 66”x35’ Single Screw Fine Material Washers for classifying and dewatering a minus 4mm material at a 400 tph feed rate. The site also operates an EIW Sol-Clay Washer for washing gravel. The producer has used EIW equipment since 1973 at other locations and remains a steadfast user today.
Over the years, the Classifying Tank plant has processed more than 25 million tons of concrete sand. The Fine Material Washer that handled the coarser material (0-6mm) discharged from the Classifying Tank and metering bin had begun to show signs of wear in the bearing, tub, feed box and shaft areas and needed to be replaced. The gears in the reducer, however, were still operating smoothly.
Approach
Due to their experience with Eagle equipment, the customer approached Syscom BV Industrial Equipment, EIW’s dealer in the Netherlands, about replacing the worn elements of the EIW screw, while still continuing to use their existing gear reducer.
“The gear reducer is a major component of a screw washer, both operational and cost-wise,” said Tim Miller, EIW Business Line Director. “If your EIW gear reducer is in good shape, you can purchase a new machine without the reducer, motor and V-belt drive for a fraction of the cost of a complete new machine.”
EIW’s gear reducers are extremely robust and have been known to provide decades of trouble-free operation.
“EIW gear reducers are a heavy-duty design that was developed in the 1960s to replace the open gear drives,” Miller explained. “These enclosed case gear reducers often outlast the tub and shafts that typically provide 20 years of service. We have some sites with gear reducers that have been operating for more than 50 years!”
The EIW manufacturing team fabricated a new tub, feed box and shaft, as well as overhauled the 26-year-old gear reducer with new bearings and seals, and shipped it from the USA factory to the Dutch customer.
Impact
By replacing elements of the old screw and keeping the gear reducer, the customer was able to save significant money on the new machine. The new machine with the reducer from their previous screw washer should provide the customer with another couple decades of reliable performance.
EIW’s robust, heavy-duty equipment is one of the reasons it has earned a reputation for long-lasting service in the aggregate industry.
“EIW brand loyalty ranges from individual gravel pit operators to the largest global major aggregate and mining companies,” Miller said. “People know that when they purchase equipment from EIW, they are purchasing a quality piece of equipment that lasts.”
