Molson Green supply a Terex Ecotec Phoenix 2100T tracked trommel to increase productivity.

Sand quarrying at Heath and Reach on the outskirts of Leighton Buzzard has been conducted for nearly 50 years. The huge site, operated by L.B Silica Sands produces 500,000 tonnes of high-quality sands in various grades per year. As the sand is dug from the site, the resulting void is backfilled with inert material and is under a constant scheme of restoration.

The sand is dug out using a variety of large excavators from parent company M O’Brien Group with the material stockpiled around the site’s processing area according to the seams they come from. The resulting stockpiles are then processed using a variety of tracked screens, trommels and the site’s static wash plant before it is then shipped out across the South of England and beyond.

To assist with an increase in productivity, L.B Silica Sands has recently taken delivery of a new Terex Ecotec Phoenix 2100T tracked trommel from UK supplier Molson Green.

Some of the as dug material contains a large quantity of aggregates mixed into the sand and the trommel is seen as the ideal processing unit capable of removing the larger material to leave a coarse, clean sand.

With an operating weight of 27.5 tonnes, the Phoenix 2100T is designed with a large, 5.6m3 intake hopper capable of quickly taking a full, 4m3 from the attending loading shovel. A heavy-duty, hydraulically adjustable grizzly bar allows clumps of material to break up prior to entering the trommel itself. Any material bridging the bars on the grizzly can be tipped off with just the press of a button leaving the entrance to the hopper clear for another load. The 4.1m long feeder uses 1.05m wide belt to steadily pass the incoming material into the 6.1m long, 1.94m diameter drum. Driven by four friction wheels, the drum’s incline can be altered from 4 to 7 degrees allowing material to pass through at a different rate. A variety of different screening media can be fitted and is designed to be changed with the minimum of downtime. A set of heavy-duty cleaning brushes are mounted to one side of the drum ensuring the screens are kept free of any clogging material. Should anyone be working in extremely sticky material, a second set of brushes can be added as an optional extra.

Power to the Phoenix comes from a self-contained Caterpillar C4.4 Stage V/Tier 4 Final engine. Mounted within a sturdy frame, the fuel-efficient engine and the latest intelligent screening technology ensures the Phoenix 2100T delivers superior screening efficiency.

The Phoenix 2100T is ready to work in minutes of arriving on site with no special tooling required. The user-friendly control system with push button start/stop offers simple operation and diagnostics, allowing the operator to effortlessly configure the machine to suit the required application. The fully proportional, hydrostatic feeder combined with an intelligent control system continually monitors the machine adjusting the feeder speed to optimise screening performance and throughput.

In LB Silica Sands operation, the main 1200mm wide output conveyor feeds a radial stacker allowing for large amounts of material to be screened without the need for moving any plant around. The 1.05m wide oversize conveyor removes any larger material and like the main output conveyor is fully adjustable and hydraulically foldable reducing set-up and tear down times and costs.

“We purchased the Phoenix to replace an older machine and have been very pleased with its productivity.” Quarry Manager Jim Duffy commented.