Knowing about Emipesa’s adjustment problem and the short lifetime of the liners, Metso started laboratory rock tests at the Metso factory in Mâcon, France; the liners of the HP200 should have a wear life of 180 hours. As a result of the tests, Metso recommended Emipesa to reduce the speed of the crusher from 850rpm to 700rpm.
Now the lifetime of the HP200 liners is around 180-190hrs and the crusher’s capacity is even higher. The laboratory estimates made by Metso are hereby confirmed and have even been slightly exceeded, but the problem of having to adjust the settings 7 times a day remained.
When the time came for the company to start producing 4-10 for the road construction project, they called upon Metso and competitors to fix the adjustment issue. This is when the conversations started around having a technology that could combine the operating principles of Nordberg HP and GP cone crushers.
Emipesa was convinced that they wouldn’t have the problem of having to adjust the crusher every 1.5hrs if the adjustment were to happen automatically. Metso wasn’t quite ready to launch the new multi-action technology, but told Emipesa that it was coming soon.
Enabling continuous aggregate production without stops for crusher adjustment settings
Emipesa finally decided to buy the first series MX in 2019. At the time of the visit to the quarry, it had been using the machine for about 4 weeks (100 hours). The crushing operation is now running free of unnecessary stops, as the setting adjustments can now happen while the machine is running. The overall capacity of the MX3 is higher than expected. Next on the list is to determine the best setting for producing as few unwanted fines as possible.
Working alongside the MX3 cone crusher in the ultra-modern plant setup with Metso equipment at Cantera el Poyo Quarry is a Nordberg C125™ jaw crusher, the HP300 cone crusher and a Metso CVB2060™ screen. Two-thirds of the quartzite aggregate product produced at the site is subsequently used in concrete and asphalt for regional construction and highway infrastructure works, with the final third is turned into ballast for national and regional railway projects.