ON THE COVER: John Deere introduces new ADT to Southern Africa market
Designed with the demands of today's job site in mind, John Deere has introduced the new 460E-II Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) to the local market. This John Deere-designed machine delivers ultimate productivity with a redesigned wider dump body, electrical and hydraulic systems, and new drive modes to help quarries get the job done in various conditions. John Deere says that this machine is built for the long haul as it is aimed at optimal productivity, is easy to run and is highly efficient. Modern Quarrying attended the launch of this ADT in Johannesburg where it was positioned within the John Deere value proposition that aims to give customers peace of mind.
Rooikraal Quarry’s closed water circuit
AfriSam’s Rooikraal Quarry is located near Brakpan, Gauteng and mines competent dolerite rock. The quarry is a big supplier to asphalt markets which it supplies with its sought-after products – especially 10 and 20 mm road stone. In the production of aggregate, sand and gravel used in roadbuilding, raw material is mined from a deposit of high-grade material that is intermixed with other undesirable materials and detritus. As asphalt cannot have aggregates with any particles, the aggregate must be washed to get rid of such materials. Modern Quarrying visited Rooikraal Quarry to learn about the closed circuit it has established to wash its products and which furthers AfriSam’s environmental credentials.
Measuring to manage: load weighing systems sets the standard
In the current cut-throat quarrying industry with its slim margins, operations need to be as effective and accurate as possible when the weight of mined aggregate is determined. Trimble LOADRITE L3180 Smartscale is a system that assist operators optimise the loadout process by enabling them to load faster and more accurately. Glen Webster, the Sales Director at Loadtech, who distributes and supports this New Zeeland product in sub-Saharan Africa, tells Modern Quarrying how this next generation of on-board weighing uses artificial intelligence to track productivity so as to achieve optimal performance.
