QMS helps modernise Lithuanian aggregates and mining industry

As part of its continuing export success, Quarry Manufacturing & Supplies (QMS) has supplied, installed and commissioned a future-proofed B2 cone crusher to an aggregates and ore extraction company in Lithuania.  As well as supplying and installing the cone crusher, QMS will be pro-actively supporting the crusher throughout its operational lifetime...

As a former Soviet Republic, Lithuania has many companies involved in aggregates and ore production needing to replace existing aggregate and mining equipment. This was in the main supplied by companies from other Soviet republics or satellite nations. This equipment included crushers and screens used in quarrying and ore extraction in surface mines. Although much equipment was well made for its time, it was generally less productive and efficient than its western counterparts, with the march of time not being kind to equipment of the era.

This situation has led to many aggregates and surface mining companies in Lithuania needing to upgrade their equipment. One such company is an established quarrying and surface mining company, UAB Rudile, which had been running a cone crusher of Czech manufacture for many years. This was now sadly not fit for purpose. The reputation of QMS in supplying cost effective, yet state of the art crushers and screens, led to QMS supplying and commissioning a QMS B2 cone crusher.

“Our export sales team all speak at least one major European language which has made our expansion into Europe a mostly seamless affair,” commented QMS managing director Jonathan Beck. “Many of the team are fluent in German which is the primary language of business in many parts of central and eastern Europe. This has meant that communication between QMS, our distributors and our customers, has been as easy as dealing with UK companies.”

Supply, commission and support

The crusher itself was initially sourced by Lithuanian company Vdraga which acts as the QMS agent in the country. Vydraga, founded in 1991, has used its industry expertise to source and supply mining and quarrying equipment to companies throughout Lithuania and neighbouring countries. Part of the company’s expertise is that it is not only able to supply equipment but also provide full aftermarket care, including spare parts. Vydraga has also formed a close working relationship with QMS which means, that in conjunction with QMS technicians, it is able to pro-actively maintain and service the equipment.

Following in-depth discussions to fully understand the actual requirements of the new cone crusher, with Vydraga acting as vital intermediary, QMS  was able to advise that in order to reduce hard rocks – often river stones – down to 13-35mm, a QMS B2 cone crusher would be the most effective solution. This was chosen as UAB Rudile required an inlet of 115mm x 125mm x 160mm with a capacity of between 43-55m³/h running from a 55kW motor.

“The B2 fitted the customer’s requirement exactly. Added to this was the fact that we were able to install and commission the plant in conjunction with Vydraga, to their specifications. Working with Vydraga, we are also able to provide full aftermarket support. This means that the investment in the B2 crusher is safeguarded and the customer  can benefit from some of the most advanced cone crushing features available on the market today,” said Jonathan Beck.

Modern features for performance

QMS’s B-Series cone crushers have also been designed to generate downstream process savings in cost and efficiency thanks to enhanced reduction promoted by a new chamber design and by the use of QMS’ C3 Complete Crusher Control. This PLC system controls all aspects of the crusher operation. Usability has also been intrinsic to the crusher design as operation could not be simpler: the automatic start up routine incorporates cavity calibration to compensate for liner wear, with automatic adjustments being made to the crusher setting to give consistent and reliable product shape.

Pressure and power in relation to load are automatically adjusted to suit rock properties and moisture content etc. Furthermore, C3 automatically monitors all health functions and provides the operator with information via a touch screen HMI (Human Machine Interface). This screen can be located at the side of the crusher or within a control room via an integrated ethernet connection.

“In designing the B2 Cone Crusher, operators’ feedback and QMS’ extensive experience of servicing other manufacturer’s crushers have been taken into consideration. Easy maintenance is an issue that has been taken particularly seriously, with hundreds of design details making servicing and installation simpler and more efficient,” explains Jonathan Beck. “The change of wear and spare parts with minimum downtime have also been incorporated into the design. For example, the liners of the B2 crusher do not require any backing material like plastic epoxy or zinc. This saves the time usually spent mixing, pouring, and waiting for the curing to take place, whilst also increasing safety for maintenance staff.”

With its host of modern features, user friendliness and high environmental performance, the QMS B2 cone crusher has ticked all the boxes required by UAB Rudile, fitting in seamlessly to the company’s production process.