High wear resistance and great filling properties were decisive when Björkdalsgruvan chose the Eslöv bucket.
When Björkdalsgruvan, 30 kilometers northwest of Skellefteå, invested in a new bucket, they chose a 9.2 cubic metre Eslöv bucket. The bucket is specially equipped with RaptorPlate wear plates, the Cat Advansys tooth system and an extended width.
– The Eslöv bucket is durable, has a good design, provides a high degree of filling and maintenance is simple. We needed a durable bucket with a long service life and we got that, says foreman Lars Karlsson at Björkdalsgruvan.
The Björkdalsgruvan has been owned by the company Mandalay Resources since 2014 and has been in operation since 1983. Today, gold is mined in the underground mine with a production rate of approximately 1 million tons of ore per year.
The Eslöv bucket delivered in spring 2021 is used on the large and powerful Cat 988K wheel loader from 2019.
– The wheel loader runs 5,500 hours every year, it is run basically around the clock and has run about 12,000 hours since it was new, says Lars Karlsson.
Tough work for the bucket
The main purpose of the wheel loader and bucket is to carry ore from the stockpile to the crusher. The ore is hard, aggressive and contains a lot of quartz.
– The properties of the material mean that the wear on the teeth and the bottom of the bucket is severe. Therefore, we have high requirements that the buckets we use must be extra wear-resistant to last in the long run, says Lars.
The right design gives good filling
Björkdalsgruvan took in several quotes from different manufacturers but chose the Eslöv bucket.
– We received good recommendations about Götene Ufo as a supplier and the Eslöv bucket is a high-class bucket.
In addition, the design and characteristics of the bucket were right for the mine's operations.
– We saw early on that the bucket suited our needs. It has a long bottom, large opening and optimal angle towards the bucket bottom and the rear wall. The design means that the ore both rolls in and out very easily when we fill and empty. This means that the work will be efficient, that the filling rate will be high and driving will be more fuel-efficient, explains Lars.
To further optimize the bucket, Björkdalsgruvan chose to adapt it in collaboration with Götene Ufo, now Fronteq. As a wear plate, the bucket has RaptorPlate at the bottom, the impact protection has been increased, the width has been increased and Caterpillar's own tooth system Cat Advansys has been chosen.
Quick and safe tooth changes
- We wanted Cat Advansys because we have it on our other bucket and the system has great advantages. Changing teeth is much faster and safer. We no longer have to stand and hit the teeth to get them to come loose, but can use a regular ratchet shaft. Cat Advansys also reduces the risk of injuries and accidents because all changes are so gentle.
High wear resistance with RaptorPlate
With RaptorPlate in the bottom of the bucket, the durability of the bucket increases significantly, which is needed in the tough work of the Björkdalsgruvan.
– The bucket will be heavier, but the service life and strength will be so much better. The extra weight is compensated by the durability with more working hours, increased lifespan, fewer downtimes and no unplanned downtime for service or repairs, says Lars Karlsson.
Increased bucket width saves tires
Another adaptation was to make the bucket wider than usual.
– By making the bucket a few centimeters wider so it covers the tires, we reduce tire wear. When the driver drives into the pile and comes far in with the front pair of wheels, it is easy for the material to crash in and damage or, in the worst case, cut the tires. Thanks to the wider bucket, we avoid that risk, he explains.
Met expectations
The Björkdalsgruvan has been using the bucket for a number of months and expectations have been met.
– Götene has been able to solve our needs and if I summarize our first months with the bucket, everything is working according to our expectations. We were looking for an extremely durable bucket with a long service life and the right features and we got what we wanted. We are very satisfied, says Lars.
