Metso launches hybrid truck body at Bauma

According to Metso, one of its typical truck bodies weighs 20 to 30 percent less than a traditional steel-lined truck body. Photo courtesy of Metso

Metso expanded a cone crusher series and launched a new, compact mobile screen at Bauma 2019. But the global company serving the aggregate industry and others chose Bauma to detail how its product portfolio is expanding into new territory.

At Bauma, Metso launched a hybrid truck body that combines the benefits of rubber and high structural strength steel, enabling mines and quarries to haul more with less, the company says.

“Hauling is one of the most cost-intensive components of a typical mining or quarrying operation,” says Lars Skoog, vice president of mining wear lining and screening at Metso. “In addition to fuel and labor, there’s plenty of maintenance involved, too. To ensure cost efficiency, a haul truck should carry as much payload as possible on every round.

“At Metso, we set out to tackle this challenge and designed a truck body that requires minimal maintenance while maximizing payload,” Skoog adds. “The result is a lower operating cost per hauled ton.”

According to Metso, its truck body is a lightweight, rubber-lined tray designed for off-highway trucks. The elastic rubber absorbs the energy of every impact, preventing it from reaching the frame and allowing for a lighter-than-usual, high-structural-strength steel frame beneath the rubber.

Thanks to this, the body can absorb maximum shock at the lowest possible weight, Metso says.

Metso has been supplying its rubber lining for haul trucks for several decades.

“Many mines prefer lightweight truck bodies because they enable the carrying of more payload,” Skoog says. “However, the problem with these traditional lightweight bodies is their lack of durability – they often have to be replaced every one or two years, or repaired, which gets expensive.”

The Metso truck body is available globally for all major off-highway truck models used in mining and quarrying. Several lining options ensure application-specific fit, the company adds – even in operations that struggle with problems such as carryback.

MX series expansion

According to Metso, the new MX3 enables improved crusher productivity and lower operating costs with a design optimized especially for mid-sized quarrying. Photo courtesy of Metso

In addition to the truck body, Metso introduced its latest addition to the MX multi-action cone crusher series at Bauma.

The MX3 enables improved crusher productivity and lower operating costs with a design optimized especially for midsized quarrying, Metso says.

“Our customers are constantly looking to improve their operational efficiency and to optimize yield for the most desired product fraction,” says Arto Halonen, Metso’s vice president of crushers, aggregates business area. “With MX multi-action technology, we can help our customers to achieve these targets.”

According to Metso, the MX enables cost-effective and safe operations with a high-reduction ratio, great product shape and consistency. The multi-action technology enables higher uptime and savings in the operational costs of crushing operations, the company adds.

The MX3 is suitable for secondary, tertiary and quaternary crushing stages. Designed for both hard and soft rock applications, the MX3 will first be available for stationary solutions.

Entry-level screen innovation

The new Lokotrack ST2.3 is suitable for a range of applications, from scalping to fine screening and recycling. Photo courtesy of Metso

Also at Bauma, Metso is introducing a completely new mobile screen unit – the Lokotrack ST2.3 – to enable new business opportunities in screening. The product will be commercially available in 2020.

“For businesses thinking of expanding their operations into aggregates production, the first logical step is often screening,” says Jarmo Vuorenpää, product manager of mobile screens at Metso. “They can be already working in earthmoving or agriculture and want to utilize their existing soil property to grow their business.”

The Lokotrack ST2.3 is suitable for a range of applications, from multi-use to fine screening and recycling, Metso says. It has a 5-ft.-wide screen with a matching feeder and conveyor, as well as an aggressive stroke up to 13 mm with 5G acceleration.

The Lokotrack ST2.3 is easy to set up and can be ready to screen in minutes, the company adds. In most cases, it can be moved from one site to another using standard trailers.