TEREX THE CHOICE AFTER DETAILED HAUL

For any quarry business, the purchase of a new haul truck warrants significant evaluation – and that’s just what Victorian independent operation, Northern Quarries undertook. By SHAYNE MORRALL at Victorian Construction Equipment Pty Ltd.

IN any major capital equipment purchase there’s a range of factors to consider – operational suitability, fit to existing plant and production design, safety and performance factors and, not least, financial considerations.

When Melbourne based independent hard rock quarry, Northern Quarries, began sourcing a new 60 tonne haul truck, they started a process in which they undertook many months of detailed evaluation before choosing a Terex TR60 supplied by Victorian/Tasmanian Terex distributor, Victorian Construction Equipment – one of the first introduced to Australia.

Northern Quarries’ Pat Kerr said getting the fine detail right is vital for an investment, which not only has a significant impact on business, but also must deliver in its application.

“There’s so many things we analyse and then we narrow the choices down,” Mr Kerr said. “To begin our process, we’ll start looking at everything from low houred used equipment as well as new and check out the difference between the two.

“A major part of the research at this stage is ensuring availability of the machine,” Mr Kerr said, adding: “It doesn’t then take a genius to figure out that we should be leaning toward a new machine if the financial impost is manageable so we can access the warranty and other benefits and look to reduce our costs over the term of the life of the truck.”

Northern Quarries also readily acknowledge referencing a Sand & Stone magazine article, which explained capital acquisition as a partnership between a purchaser and supplier.

“There’s a methodology in everything we purchase and we used our methodology in conjunction with the CMPA article, as well as things like the suppliers risk assessments, health and safety impacts and even issues like machine handover, maintenance training and driver induction and training,” Mr Kerr explained.

“It is a time consuming and complex procedure and it can take months – everyone who has supplied us with equipment knows that it takes time and know that we ask for a lot of detail, but that is a reflection of where we want to be as a company – we need to make sure every ‘I’ is dotted and ‘t’ crossed.”

Within Northern’s thoroughness there remains a simple business proposition – they’re after the best machine at the lowest financial impact – and one which will give the longest return on investment.

Working with Shayne Morrall of Victorian Construction Equipment Pty Ltd, the Terex TR60 obviously fitted Northern Quarries requirements. Featuring a drive train that fitted comfortably with Northern Quarries, a Cummins QSK19-C700 522kW (700hp) Tier 3 emission engine is coupled to an Allison M6610AR automatic transmission and delivers outstanding gradeability and, importantly, is familiar componentry to this third generation quarrying company.

“We certainly want something that is reliable and while this is one of the first Terex TR60’s around we were comfortable with the drive line particularly the Cummins engine and the Allison transmission which we are basically running in our existing trucks,” Quarry Manager Wayne Deken said.

“We are also impressed with the operators cabin which is spacious and includes a full size additional seat for training, has plenty of room for us to fit a reversing camera and radio unit while the operator’s seat also has a four point harness seat belt.”

Northern Quarries commitment to achieving the right specification includes a range of modifications – including fitment of an Australian Standards approved ROPS to further heighten safety performance.

Working in conjunction with Victorian Construction Equipment, modifications included having the tyre specification changed to a brand and pattern of Northern Quarries selection (a proven hard wearing pattern) and extra lining plates added to the body in preparation for the hard rock haulage task.

Modifications were also made to access steps and handrails to fit Northern Quarries rigorous safety criteria. “We also modified access to the fuel tank by fitting hand rails and a fold out step so refueling is easier for operators,” Wayne Deken said.

The engine was further guarded to reduce nip points, while a range of lights, warning alarms, isolation switches, cameras and decals detailing oil and fluid grades were added.

“Terex also provided ‘hand-over induction training’ for all our operators over a two day period,” Mr Deken said. “We also had the opportunity to make a short video of the program with Terex’s trainer which we can use for future reference.”

While it is early days in what is expected to be a long life span, the Terex TR60 performance is making its mark at the outer Melbourne quarry.

Working daily 10-hour shifts and matched well to the company’s WA600-6 loader, the Terex TR60 body has a unique horizontal floor for improved fill and discharge performance and features a large target area for ease of loading.

The Terex TR60’s low loading height offers Northern increased flexibility as it allows the option of loading with a sales loader as well as the face loader. The one-piece longitudinal ‘V’ floor offers improved rigidity but also a low centre of gravity for better stability and ride comfort. Featuring a uniform depth from front to rear the Terex TR60 body provides a better match for wider bucket front-end loaders than typical wedge shaped bodies.

“We haven’t analysed its fuel economy as yet,” Wayne Deken said, “but it is running the same capacity 19 litre engine as is in our 40 tonne truck and we expect it to off er a per tonne fuel saving compared to that older style truck.”

The Terex TR60’s dual mode retardation system that allows retardation from either the transmission or rear wheel multiple oil cooled disc brakes has also made its mark in the short time in service.

“It is certainly a feature we have been impressed with,”Mr Deken said. “It is used for maintaining ground speed so you don’t over speed the engine when it is loaded on downhill grades – you’ve got the option to select either retarder according to the driving conditions.”

For operators, the ride comfort is paramount. Shifts are made all the more manageable as a result of an operator’s environment described by Northern Quarries as “impressive”. Ensuring excellent driveability is the independent front wheel suspension, independent steering unit delivering uniform touch regardless of speed and combining to offer an impressive 9.5 metre turning radius.

“The operators are also very happy with it – its got a very good ride and is certainly a lot smoother than our older vehicles,” Mr Deken said. “We’re highly satisfied at the moment.”

While it is early days in what is planned to be a long haul, Northern Quarries new Terex TR60 is ticking all the boxes.

For further information please contact Shayne Morrall on (03) 8339 4705

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