Mammoet Moves 760-Ton Rock Crusher

Transport of the 690 metric rock crusher on SPMTs.

April 19, 2019 - Mammoet has successfully transported a 690-metric-ton (760-U.S.-ton) granite rock crusher and primary conveyor inside the A.R. Wilson Quarry in Aromas, California. Both pieces of equipment needed to be relocated from the top of the quarry to a new work site further down in the mine.

Mine owner Graniterock had previously attempted to drive the rock crusher downhill themselves; however, the crusher lost braking power and the operation could not be completed safely.

Mammoet was contracted because of their previous experience in mining equipment transport and their proposed solution to move the crusher in one piece on SPMTs. Mammoet’s solution meant the machine could remain active until just hours before the move, which significantly reduced downtime and avoided unnecessary wear on the machine. According to the company, the rock crusher is one of only two crushers in the world that has rubber wheels and can be driven and is the only one now in use.

Both pieces of mining equipment were moved further down in the mine, approximately 1,200 meters (4,000’) away. The route encountered an 8 to 10% grade at times and a lot of mud, following several days of rain. Each piece of equipment was moved using SPMTs, allowing for a more controlled move as the SPMT tires provided the necessary traction for the grade challenge and mud.

The 152 meter (500’) primary conveyor was relocated first. Due to its length, the conveyor was broken down into four sections to facilitate transport downhill. Each section was jacked up and transported by SPMTs to the new location. Once a section was in place, a 450-metric-ton (496-U.S.-ton) gantry helped position the old conveyor sections over a new conveyor before both were connected to form one larger unit.

The rock crusher followed, in one piece, with a total travel time of less than two hours. The entire operation was completed on schedule and with no incidents, despite the challenging site conditions. The quarry has been in operation since 1900. Relocating the crusher is expected to enable another 100 years of rock production.