Scottish Highlands-based company G.F. Job is one of the first companies to trial the new Superior tooth jaw plates, designed and manufactured by
G.F Job based in Nairn, Inverness offers a comprehensive range of services ranging from earthmoving, civil engineering, heavy haulage and recycling to contract crushing. The firm owns five quarries of its own and supplies aggregates to leading suppliers in the Scottish Highlands.
Formed in 1990 the business has grown extensively and successfully over the years. It currently employs 90 people and owns a wide range of Sandvik mobile crushing and screening equipment, including four tracked jaw crushers. Predominantly the materials G.F. Job crushes in its quarries are granite and glacial cobbles, which is hard, abrasive material. One of the company’s jaw crushers, a Sandvik QJ341, is employed in the same granite quarry for the majority of the year, producing 500,000tonnes of 5” material to feed an aggregate processing plant.
Innovative design for improved performance
From talking and listening to customers Sandvik has developed a new profile of jaw plate, designed not only to increase durability and productivity, but also aimed at decreasing operating costs and service time.
The new Superior tooth jaw plates have been designed around adding material where it matters most. The new profile is said to allow for a higher percentage of the jaw to be worn, resulting in longer wear life and less manganese waste. The improved tooth profile also allows for better breakage and improved material flow. This results in a more cubical product and a higher quality product shape.
Longer wear life
Following the trial at G.F. Job, the initial test data has been extremely encouraging. The average output is said to have increased from 200 to 250 tonnes/hour, with wear rates increased upwards of 30%.
Graeme Watt, plant manager for G.F. Job who is delighted with the outcome, said: “In this particular granite application previous jaw plates have been ranging between 20,000-30,000 tonnes of crushed material, and that’s the life of the jaws. Since we went onto this new jaw we’re up 50,000-55,000 tonnes for the life of the jaw. If you go into a limestone quarry, you’ll get double, but this is a hard abrasive material.”
Better fuel economy
In addition to the increased wear performance, G.F. Job has also seen benefits in relation to fuel economy and an improved product shape, due to the new profile design of the Superior tooth.
“The new jaw plates are creating a better shape of product, but it’s also crushing far more economically for us as well. It’s reducing the load on the crusher, therefore you’re creating better fuel economy whilst also reducing the physical hardship on that machine” says Watt.
Their novel design is also said to make the plates easier to turn over or replace, saving you time and money.
Reliability all round
G.F. Job has an excellent mutual working relationship with Sandvik. They know that they can rely on the support they receive to keep their machines running at all times. “The backup for us is fantastic” adds Watt. “The machines are very reliable but the backup we receive from Sandvik is exceptional, it’s what sells their machines.”
Since the introduction of the Superior jaw plates, G.F. Job hasn’t looked back. “They benefit us all round: we are crushing far more, getting better fuel economy, producing a better product and they are lasting an awful lot longer. We will be looking to order additional sets for our other jaw crushers” concludes Watt.
The Superior Tooth jaw plates will be part of Sandvik Mining & Rock Technology’s aftermarket offering on display at the forthcoming Conexpo exhibition in Las Vegas during 7-11 March 2017.
