Besides a good price, a short delivery time plays an eminent role. Process downtime must be avoided at all times. So too at Recycling Company Stuer in Kruibeke, Belgium, where we delivered a strong (overhaul) sample.
Stuer has a crusher that was supplied by us at the time. The crusher was very clearly in need of replacement after more than a decade of loyal service.
But no replacement was forthcoming, however, although a particularly major overhaul did come that would mark the crusher's second long life.
It was not going to be an easy operation. By mutual agreement, it was decided to take the virtually abandoned crusher out of service during the Belgian holiday period and then transfer it to Pralltec, based in Lengerich, Germany.
Pralltec, for more than five years our partner specialising in overhaul and replacement of crushers on site. It also builds complete turnkey plants for glass and concrete recycling, for example, with production volumes from 5 to 500 tonnes per hour exclusively on the basis of customer specifications and ideas.
Pralltec saw plenty of opportunities to totally overhaul the crusher. It came down to replacing almost everything except the housing.
The crusher was first completely stripped. Then all dismantled components such as the rotor, bearings, rotor shaft and prall works were thoroughly inspected.
The rotor underwent a complete overhaul, installing a new rotor shaft, also fitted with new bearings. It was also found that the crusher housing needed to be aligned and then fitted with armour made of HARDOX 500 wear plates on the inside. These were custom-made at Geha Laverman's workshop in Zaandam. Completely new-built prall works were also fitted. In the process, it was decided to also replace the rear of the crusher.
Magotteaux impact strips made of MMC (Metal Matrix Composite) were installed in the rotor. This material has a significantly longer lifetime than conventional flanges thanks to the use of ceramic inserts in the alloy.
Needless to say, the exterior of the crusher was given a new coat of paint. After all, the eye wants something and this makes the crusher indistinguishable from new.
After exactly four weeks - with long days! - away from home, the crusher was returned to Stuer and is running as before.
Such a major overhaul as described can obviously be avoided by periodic checks. There is a difference between wear and worn. Replacement of wear parts can be provided quickly and on site. Overhauling a worn crusher is time-consuming and, in most cases, will have to be done in a workshop.
