Owned and operated by Cantera Ofitas de San Felices (COSF), San Felices quarry is considered one of the leading quarries in Spain for the production of ofita. Ofita is a hard volcanic rock composed of feldspar, pyroxene, and limestone, used for railway infrastructure works and road building and other construction and general industrial areas.
Located between vineyards and next to the Ebro river, the San Felices quarry has been active since 1919. The current operation was acquired in 1973. The quarry covers an area of 100 hectares, with roughly half of the space currently being developed. The Doosan DL550-7 loader joins a fleet of machines used to transport and load trucks with an average 250,000 tonnes per year of railway ballast, sand and gravel.
"For this, we need reliable and robust machines. We cannot stop the work," says Javier Fernández, COSF director, and Julián Pérez, manager of San Felices quarry. They continued: "We needed to replace an old loader with a current model. We were looking to reduce fuel consumption and increase productivity and profitability. For this, we have opted for a more modern and larger machine. The size of the loader reduces loading times, which translates into faster tasks and higher performance.
"The main mission of the Doosan loader is the loading of trucks and moving aggregates, basically for the expedition of materials. The DL550-7 model was selected considering several options, but what made us opt for it was its size and capabilities, which perfectly matched the requirements we were looking for. This included having similar characteristics to the machine it replaced, which was also from Doosan, but being a new generation model, it would provide us with greater benefits. While the impressive breakout force allows it to handle the toughest materials."
The DL550-7's powerful hydraulic system allows it to work quickly and efficiently. The Scania DC13 engine delivers optimal power while meeting Stage V environmental regulations. Combining these features gives this Doosan wheeled loader excellent balance, ensuring optimal bucket loading with every cycle. The lifting arm with Z-kinematics provides excellent breakout forces and lifting capacities, especially for heavy materials.
The Doosan DL550-7 loader features smooth and responsive hydraulic and auxiliary connections. The machine is equipped as standard with a third spool with adjustable flow and hold function, which provides a constant flow for the hydraulically actuated attachments.
Fernández and Pérez added: "We saw the evolution of the new loader with respect to our previous models. The operators who use it are delighted with this new model. They have seen their comfort improved, the ergonomics of the controls, a much smoother handling thanks to the LIS system (load isolation system), and they value the precision and speed. The Doosan DL550-7 loader works at very high temperatures in summer, and winter conditions can include extreme cold and fog, so the well-conditioned and heated cab protects the operator.
"Another aspect to highlight is the greater visibility from the cab with the blind spots around it reduced to a minimum, with the 360º vision camera, as well as the many other benefits that the new technologies provide us.
"We compare it to a mobile phone, you have to learn to use it to get all the performance out of it, and this allows us to improve at an operational level."
The DL550-7's new EMCV (Electric Main Control Valve) joystick provides the operator with smoother and more precise control of the lift arm. Features available through the EMCV system include automatic return to dig, bucket tilt and dump and bucket pickup stop position and shock prevention for increased operator comfort.
Designed for more precise control with less lever travel, resulting in less fatigue, the ergonomic joystick control sensitivity can be adjusted and changed according to operator preferences using the new Smart Touch monitor. This easy-to-use and adjustable touch screen provide all the important settings and information the operator needs.
The DL-7 wheeled loader range comes standard with the DoosanCONNECT wireless fleet management system, a tool specifically designed for the Doosan range that provides detailed information on machine performance, safety and encourages preventive maintenance employing two technologies: satellite and mobile network.
Fernández and Pérez were introduced to the DL550-7 by Reyvena, official Doosan distributor for the area, endorsed by Centrocar, the exclusive Doosan importer for Iberia, Angola and Mozambique. They continued: "The relationship after so many years is very good, which implies total trust in the supplier, and proof of this is that we have been expanding, and over more than a decade, we have always opted for the new Doosan models, both in loaders and excavators. The good service and response of the distributor have been fundamental to carrying out all these operations."
The pair said COSF's relationship with Doosan began when the company acquired a Doosan MEGA300 loader and a Doosan excavator in 2010 as part of a major upgrade of 10 machines. The brand, the service obtained by Reyvena, and the durability of the machines were, say Fernández and Pérez, key reasons to continue purchasing Doosan models.
"What we value most today is the reduction in fuel consumption as we have already mentioned, the easy handling thanks to the great sensitivity of movements, the comfort, safety, ergonomics, the incredible visibility and the great load capacity. We have gone down from three or four cycles to two cycles thanks to the loading power and the 6m³ bucket.
"We currently have a fleet of 10 Doosan machines including loaders and excavators from different eras, and all of them, despite the years, extreme conditions and working hours, are still active at the foot of the quarry. We have seen the evolution of many aspects of Doosan machinery, and all of them have met our expectations."
