Installed system being used in sand production application.
A Terex Washing Systems plant being used by Clarence Sands in Sydney, Australia, is helping that firm produce up to 300 metric tons of sand per hour while recycling about 90 percent of the water used during the washing process.
The wash plant features an H30 50-metric-ton feeder that receives raw sandstone feed material and distributes it evenly on the main conveyor. At this point any stones or rock larger than 100 millimeters (4 inches) are removed from the feed material.
The sand then makes its way up to the modular Deck Rinser Screen. The screen at Clarence Sands has been designed specifically to handle the tonnage needed for that operation, says Terex. A total of 19 spray bars give the material an initial rinse as the vibrating screener shakes the sand and stone down through the polyurethane decks as it is classified by size. The polyurethane decks have a much longer wear life than typical metal decks, according to Terex.
Any larger aggregates can pass through the screen onto aggregate and oversize conveyors where they are stockpiled as products for sale. Any sand, silt, clay or other fine impurities that were present within the feed material is washed to the split catchbox of the screener. Terex Washing System catchboxes have adjustable blending paddles, which assist in blending the correct amount of fines into the coarse fraction. This ensures the required spec is always achievable.
The material is gravity fed into one of two FM 200C Sand Plants. Each sand plant receives a separate split, one coarse sand and one fine sand. The sand deemed up to spec is then transferred onto a 26-meter (85-foot) radial stacking conveyor designed to suit the needs of the customer, says Terex.
The water used to initially rinse the feed material, also washes the sand within the FM 200C is recovered from the dewatering screen to be pumped into a 17-meter (56-foot) rake thickener tank.
In Australia, where water is managed carefully, Terex Washing Systems advised the customer to include “a robust water management system” that would be both environmentally friendly and save on running costs.
“Over the last number of years, Terex Washing Systems have developed our water management product range to the point that we’re confident we can meet the needs of any application,” says Neil Rooney, engineering manager for Terex Washing Systems. “Our wash plant at Clarence Sands is a good example of how an efficient water management system can take an operation to the next level. For Clarence Sands, settling ponds maintenance is drastically reduced, freeing up valuable machinery and time.”
Terex Washing Systems are designed to serve in several applications, including aggregates processing and upgrading other materials generated by construction and demolition recycling activities.
The battery warranty now covers 10 years or up to 20,000 hours of use.
Noblelift, a material handling equipment company in Des Plaines, Illinois, has updated the advanced battery warranty program for its Lithium Iron Phosphate forklifts. This updated battery warranty covers 10 years or 20,000 hours and provides an extended three-year wet cell lead acid guarantee.
“Our customers want dependability, and we’re excited to prove that we can deliver with this best-in-class battery warranty,” says Loren Swakow, managing director at Noblelift USA. “As a global leader, this industry-leading warranty proves our commitment to driving growth in North America.”
The battery is manufactured by GFL International Co., a lithium-ion battery manufacturer based in Toronto. Noblelift says businesses using its batteries can see overall cost savings of at least $50,000 compared with internal combustion forklifts over five years.
Dealers can contact Noblelift directly to find out more about the extended warranty by calling 847-595-7100 or emailing sales@nobleliftna.com.
The Edge TRM831 is designed to offer high production rates in various applications, including compost, household waste and C&D waste.
North Ireland-based Edge Innovate has introduced its Edge TRM831 mobile trommel screen, which is designed to offer high production rates with extensive stockpiling capacities. With an end conveyor design and remote 180-degree radial fines conveyor, the TRM831 is ideal for the high-capacity screening of various applications including topsoil, compost, sand, household waste and construction and demolition (C&D) waste.
The trommel incorporates a host of design features, including an eco-power-saving functionality that reduces unnecessary running costs and an HMI control panel for the adjustment of machine parameters. With a screening area of 613 square yards, the TRM831 is fitted with a variable speed screening drum powered via an efficient hydrostatic drive system.
Screening efficiency is ensured through a 31-foot-long drum with hydraulically adjustable drum cleaning brushes. High production rates are maintained by an Edge intelligent load management system, which the company says can prevent drum overload and ensure the trommel screen is always operating at optimum performance with minimal supervision.
Offering a large hopper capacity, the TRM831 “encompasses a 60-inch wide, variable speed feed conveyor complete with load sensing and automatic feeder shut down to ensure maximum uptime,” says Edge Innovate. Additional hopper options include a reject grid and a two-deck vibrating screen for the pre-treatment of the feed material.
Edge’s HMI control panel allows for sequential start-up and the customization of operating parameters. According to Edge Innovate, this ensures the TRM831 runs at optimum capacity across all applications.
Traders say containers with nonferrous scrap arriving in the third week of January are not being cleared through customs.
Metals traders in Asia and North America are reporting the third week of January has brought with it notices from nonferrous scrap importers in Malaysia that inbound loads are not being released by customs agents at some ports.
Two Asia-based traders have relayed stories of several such incidents to Recycling Today, and another trader in the Southeastern United States tells Recycling Today of similar experiences.
The Malaysian government enacted new scrap inspection and purity standards on or about Jan. 10. It spent much of 2021 preparing to modify and adopt a regimen proposed by government-connected inspection agency SIRIM.
With that regimen now in place, one trader comments, “Inspection on arrival is bound to create holdups; it was chaos in China for example.” He adds, “My feeling is that Malaysia Customs may take a more practical approach than China, but who knows.”
Another trader tells Recycling Today the container clearance delays are a concern, but buyers in the nation have not yet signaled panic regarding the situation. However, those buyers also don’t portray a clear understanding whether some grades could prove more problematic than others in the new system.
Any difficulties that could result in Malaysia will have a considerable impact. According to U.S. Census Bureau figures, Malaysia imported 428,000 metric tons of aluminum-bearing scrap from the U.S. in the first 10 months of 2021.
That figure points to Malaysia being the leading overseas destination for aluminum scrap last year, outpacing India (351,000 metric tons), South Korea (221,000), China (200,000) and Mexico (140,000) as the only other nations that had crossed the 100,000 metric tons threshold in the first 10 months.
Malaysia also has become the leading importer of alloyed copper-bearing scrap, based on U.S. Census figures for the first seven months of 2021. During that time frame, Malaysia brought in 58,800 metric tons of alloyed red metal scrap exported from the U.S. That far outpaced second-place China, which brought in 26,900 metric tons of such scrap from the U.S. during those seven months.
With China playing a reduced role, India and Malaysia have emerged as two of the fastest-growing overseas buyers of nonferrous scrap shipped out of the U.S. While primary aluminum producers in India sometimes lobby to put clamps on secondary producers in that nation, India’s purchases of such scrap seem poised to continue in 2022.
Drewlo Holdings uses an Aqua Cutter 710V from Aquajet to maximize productivity during a 15-year, multiphase renovation of nearly 80 parking structures.
With more than 60 years in the property management industry, Ontario-based Drewlo Holdings has a knack for providing the high-quality accommodations Canadian tenants want. In southwestern Ontario, the family-owned company is synonymous with upscale apartment living, boasting more than 9,600 units throughout Burlington, Kitchener, London, Sarnia and Woodstock.
Drewlo employs a full-service approach to property management which ensures the highest levels of tenant satisfaction throughout their property portfolio. Investing in the right employees—and the tools to help them reach their full potential—is a key concern when it comes to delivering top-quality facilities. From site preparation and construction to long-term maintenance, Drewlo staffs its crews with engineers, contractors and service staff dedicated to providing the best for their residents.
Faced with a 15-year, multi-phase renovation of its nearly 80 parking structures, Drewlo management knew investing in the right technology at the start could minimize the labor requirements and financial impact of such a large undertaking. To facilitate the project, the company partnered with Sweden-based Aquajet for an Aqua Cutter 710V Hydrodemolition robot and Rotolance 1000 attachment to maximize productivity and provide a solution for long-term employee growth over the duration of the renovation.
Investing in proactive maintenance is an important part of Drewlo’s commitment to quality. This not only helps ensure all facilities meet current safety guidelines but also allows the company to plan ahead when larger repair projects are needed to minimize the impact on tenants and staff. So, with a number of its parking structures needing repair, Drewlo tasked the maintenance and special projects department with developing a renovation plan.
“We knew this would be a significant undertaking,” says Allan Drewlo, president of Drewlo Holdings. “We’ve kept up with maintenance at all of our properties, but eventually significant updates are required to meet updated safety guidelines and changing tenant expectations. Our goal was to renovate as many structures as possible while keeping budgets, labor requirements and tenant displacements at a minimum.”
The team identified about 80 structures, the majority of which were one- or two-level above-ground parkades. The list also included about 15 underground garages. The buildup of chloride ions from road salt and decades of wear and tear meant some of the older structures required significant repairs— necessitating removal of as much as 60 percent of the existing concrete in some cases.
“There was a lot of variability from structure to structure,” says Robert Reynolds, special project manager for Drewlo. “Each site presented its own challenges as well as the overall logistical hurdles that come with a project of this magnitude.”
With the resulting schedule, crews would tackle the oldest and most damaged structures first.
First and foremost, Reynolds and his team had to contend with the hefty price tag that comes with such a large project. Minimizing costs would be critical for overall success. The team identified several areas where costs could balloon quickly—mainly labor and materials.
Tackling the project the traditional way, which would include a large workforce with handheld equipment, went against the company’s policy of innovative, highly specialized crews. Not to mention the long-term financial drain that would result from using this method for the projected 15-year duration of the renovation. Using jackhammers also meant crews would have to replace rebar at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars per structure since there was no way to avoid damaging it.
Speed proved to be the next biggest hurdle. Crews would have to work fast, not just for the sake of the tenants, but because this was only one of several concurrent projects. With an estimated average removal of 15,000 square feet on the smaller above-ground structures and 50,000 square feet for the larger underground garages, the property manager needed to maximize productivity with minimal labor.
“Drewlo has always seen the value in investing in potential, whether it be people or technology,” Reynolds says. “When we sat down to crunch the numbers, we realized jackhammers and large crews weren’t the answer. We would basically end up rebuilding the structures at a huge cost both in terms of time and money.”
After discussing their situation with Aquajet team members at a tradeshow, Drewlo decided hydrodemolition provided an innovative solution that would minimize overhead costs and provide a safer, less physical alternative for employees. The impact-free process cleans and descales rebar without damaging it, saving Drewlo an estimated $40,000 per structure. Additionally, the water-based method doesn’t cause microfractures in the remaining concrete, which helps maintain structural stability for longer-lasting repairs.
Working with Aquajet, Drewlo decided an Aqua Cutter 710V with Rotolance 1000 attachment and Power Pack 700 would provide the necessary productivity to keep the renovation project on schedule. Using the Rotolance 1000 attachment, Drewlo crews can maximize removal in less damaged areas by only taking off a shallow layer of concrete. The tool covers a surface diameter as wide as 14 inches and can provide production rates in excess of 1,500 square feet per hour. For the structures with heavily damaged concrete, the team would need to remove a depth of 3 to 3.5 inches.
Working around tenants presented the final challenge to Drewlo’s team. The structures had to remain open for parking and noise restrictions meant crews could only work between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. while the majority of tenants were out of the building. Vibrations also needed to be limited to maintain structural integrity since some structures were connected to the apartment towers and all were multi-level.
“Hydrodemolition isn’t what a lot of tenants were picturing when we informed them of renovations,” Reynolds says. “There was the expected concern for noise, dust and restricted access. However, when we began removal with the Aquajet equipment, tenants were impressed by how quiet it was. We are averaging about 78 dB (decibels) close to the machine with much lower dB away from the equipment.”
Marcel Huard, construction supervisor and site foreman, was Drewlo’s first Aquajet certified operator. He learned on-site as part of the commissioning of the new equipment. Huard is an industry veteran with 20 years of experience in concrete restoration. A second operator was recently added to the team, as well. Fabio Baldinelli is a 19-year-old construction apprentice just starting his career. Baldinelli displayed an aptitude and interest in the hydrodemolition method, prompting Drewlo to single him out for training. Both men felt comfortable with the Aqua Cutter after minimal instruction.
“The machine looks intimidating at first,” Reynolds says, “but it has intuitive controls and a user-friendly interface. The hardest part is you have to have a feel for the concrete itself. The robot does what it needs to within the set parameters, but it takes some skill to determine what those are. Marcel and Fabio make a great team. Both of them were able to grasp the functions quickly. With the breadth of this project, we’re lucky to have an experienced manager and young professional involved to ensure quality all the way to the end.”
Drewlo is three years into the project. In that time, Drewlo’s team has been able to streamline the renovation process.
The crew stations the Aquajet Power Pack 700 high-pressure pump that supplies water to the robot near a fire hydrant as close to the structure entrance as possible. The robot can be up to 400 feet away. To keep parking open for tenants, Drewlo sets up the renovation in four stages per structure. The crew erects netting and tarps around the active work area to minimize debris movement into active parts of the structure, while wastewater is collected using a sump system that allows it to settle before being passed through four fine filters and eventually released in the storm drain.
During the demolition phase of renovation, Huard or Baldinelli will put 40-45 hours a week on the Aqua Cutter, completing removal in 45 days or less depending on the structure. Reynolds estimates hydrodemolition saves about 60 percent of the time compared to using a scarifier or other mechanical means, allowing the team to move on to subsequent tasks, such as pouring new concrete, that much faster.
“Using Hydrodemolition, we’re able to complete renovations in five months to a year, depending on the structure,” Reynolds says. “Any alternative method would have increased the timeline, the labor demands and the budget.”
Keith Armishaw is a business development manager for Aquajet and can be reached at keith.armishaw@brokkinc.com .