https://www.miningweekly.com
Africa|Components|Construction|Crushing|Design|Mining|Service|Technology|Equipment|Maintenance|Solutions|Bearings
Africa|Components|Construction|Crushing|Design|Mining|Service|Technology|Equipment|Maintenance|Solutions|Bearings
africa|components|construction|crushing|design|mining|service|technology|equipment|maintenance|solutions|bearings

Local manufacturer perfects cone crusher performance

23rd October 2022

     

Font size: - +

Motion plastics producer igus South Africa has helped crushing equipment manufacturer Crush Force perfect its two-foot cone crusher, developed to offer a superior alternative to traditional machines, through the replacement of one component.

Crush Force designer and founder Leon Venter experienced repetitive, unexpected failures of a seemingly insignificant bush on a test machine that was being trialled at a hard metal recycling operation near the company’s East Rand factory, in Gauteng.

“The 45 mm bush serves as a guide for the torque arm. Phosphor bronze and several other materials all failed prematurely within a few weeks. In each instance, the entire processing line needed to come to a halt for the part to be replaced,” explains Venter.

Despite finite element analyses, stress tests and a host of other interventions taken during the ongoing development of the crusher, no material could stand up to the stresses exerted on the small bush until igus South Africa brought engineered plastics into the equation.

“igus polymer specialist Juan-Eric Davidtz suggested that we use one of the company’s specially formulated bushes. Having previously used igus materials for other components, I installed the bush on the crusher about a year ago and it is still in operation to this day. On inspection, it is clear that the bush is holding up well and shows no visual signs of wear and tear,” adds Venter.

The bush is made from igus’ iglide material and offers exceptional technical and economic advantages over all types of metal plain bearings (bushes) and enables the crusher to perform at its design capability.

The bushes are also self-lubricating, maintenance-free, chemical resistant, universally applicable and reduce costs by up to 40%, highlights Davidtz.

igus bushes can withstand extreme temperatures, are self-lubricating and are suitable for special machine construction, underwater applications and harsh conditions such as minerals processing and mining, he says.

“We also have a range of standard catalogue options and can customise solutions where necessary.

“This makes upgrading of existing bushes simpler and as with Crush Force, our customers can increase their technology and reduce their costs by up to 90%. In addition, customers benefit through fast lead times, online service-life calculators and tools for nearly all product lines.”

Venter emphasises his frustration with the repeated bush failure, as all the other components comprising the cone crusher are designed to ensure that it outlasts and outperforms ordinary crushers.

“The torque arm bush was the last piece of the puzzle to produce South Africa’s own, world-beating cone crusher.”

Crush Force set out to manufacture the world’s most productive crusher for hard rock applications from the onset. 

“Every part has been designed and redesigned with endurance and performance in mind to take on the tough hard-rock mining conditions in Southern Africa and now that we have ironed out even the smallest of problems, we are set to take on the mining world,” says Venter.

Comments

Showroom

VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd
VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd

For over 60 years, VEGA has provided industry-leading products for the measurement of level, density, weight and pressure. As the inventor of the...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD
Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD

For over 30 years, Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD has been designing, manufacturing, supplying and maintaining specialist...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Resources Watch
Resources Watch
27th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.208 0.244s - 94pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now