Changing the conversation on maintenance costs

Rear-eject bodies provide an efficient, low-maintenance alternative to end-dump trucks for smaller, niche areas within the mine.

As the name implies, rear-eject bodies use an ejector blade to discharge material. Without moving or raising the truck bed, the blade pushes material toward the rear of the truck. This simplifies the dumping process and enhances efficiency because operators don’t have to wait for the bed to lower before driving away.

Mines can further enhance their level of productivity by keeping an eye out for a few rear-eject features that prioritize simplicity and decrease costly downtime.

When selecting a rear eject, mining operations should keep in mind that less is more. Rear-eject bodies constructed with a single hydraulic cylinder minimize maintenance costs and maximize uptime by operating both the ejector blade and the rear tailgate mechanism at the same time. Selecting a body with ejector guides integrated into the inside of the truck bed provides smooth operation and decreases overall maintenance requirements by eliminating rollers that typically break or bind.

With the guides and track within the bed, there are no external rails that loader operators can hit. A mistake can disable a unit until costly repairs are made.

Some rear-eject bodies feature designs tailored specifically to reduce carryback. Naturally, the unique sweeping action of the ejector blade reduces the tendency for carryback, even with materials prone to sticking to the sides or floor of the truck bed.

But certain conditions, such as a humid, sticky environment, pose even greater challenges. In these instances, true custom manufacturers can work with mines to add exotic steel liners to the ejector blade to deter sticking and further ensure no carryback.

Integrating a rear-eject body into a mine has its obvious benefits for dumping, but these bodies can also be fitted with add-on attachments that further increase the flexibility and utility value of the specialty body in the mine.

Spreading, stemming become options

By safely controlling the dumping rate, when paired with a material spreading attachment, rear-eject trucks can increase efficiency for tasks where materials need to be evenly and precisely distributed.

They are ideal for applications such as haul road maintenance or certain drying applications like spreading salt, diatomaceous earth or lime onto leach beds. These attachments are designed to integrate seamlessly with rear-eject bodies.

Spreading attachments can handle a range of material – from very fine to 2-in.-minus-sized material – and spread width can be adjusted from about 5 ft. to 60 ft. or more.

In addition to hauling and road maintenance, attachments can help to spread grit for traction on icy roads.

Stemming is another time-consuming task where an attachment can revolutionize productivity and increase rear-eject versatility. Many operations rely on side-dump buckets or loaders to fill blastholes with stemming material after the explosives are packed in the bottom. Opting for a rear-eject body with a stemming attachment, however, can greatly improve efficiency.

Consider this: Using a single 3-ton loader, operators might only be able to fill two holes per load before traveling back to aggregate piles to get more material. Depending on how close the stockpile is, this can result in cycle times of 15 minutes or more.

With each blast averaging 100 or more holes, filling the blastholes with stemming material often takes two to four crew members several days, creating a drain on productivity.

Alternatively, producers running a rear-eject body with a stemming attachment on a 40-ton articulated truck, for example, can streamline the process and increase efficiency compared to traditional methods.

Custom rear-eject bodies are compatible with stemming attachments that incorporate into the rear-eject body, offering an adjustable arm that can easily be positioned over the stemming hole to precisely deposit material in less time and with minimal labor. The ejector blade pushes material to a cross auger, which loads the articulating stemming arm and conveyor. The ejector blade speed, in-cab controls, stemming conveyor and operator controls at the stemming arm all precisely control the flow of material for even distribution.

Finding more cost savings with support solutions doesn’t stop here. A mine’s water tank selection also provides an excellent opportunity for improvement.

Don’t forget water tanks

Although they may seem basic, water tanks are crucial for dust suppression, firefighting and more.

Traditional round water tanks limit productivity and increase costs. Round tanks suffer from designs with high sides, which results in a poor center of gravity that can lead to tipping.

Instability is worsened by a baffling system that incorporates open maintenance access cutouts, leading to poor water compartmentalization and excessive water churn. The safety concerns and instability operators feel in these water trucks result in reservations to completely fill the tank, leading to less efficiency and more trips to refill.

To combat this, look for a square tank that addresses these issues from the ground up. The squared-off corners and a more sophisticated baffling system can prevent water from surging between compartments, offering easier maintenance access through doors in the baffling, rather than cutouts. Not rounding off the sides also allows for a higher storage capacity, so drivers can be more efficient with their trips.

Josh Swank is vice president of sales and marketing at Philippi-Hagenbuch.

« Prev Page 1 2 Next Page »