LOGICAL SUCCESSOR

from Quarry Aug 2020

FOUR BECOMES ONE

SEAHAM QUARRY TAKES ON LOGICAL SUCCESSOR TO DECADE-OLD WORKHORSE

Boral’s Seaham Quarry, north of Newcastle, New South Wales, has recently taken delivery of a Komatsu WA600-8 wheel loader – almost exactly 14 years after its predecessor machine, a WA600-6, started work at the quarry.

When it was delivered to Seaham in late 2005, the WA600-6 was the first of this model to be commissioned in Australia.

The quarry is Boral’s main source of hard rock for aggregate production serving the Hunter and Port Stephens regions of NSW.

Like its predecessor, the quarry’s new WA600-8 is being used for both face loading and crusher stockpile handling in a two-shift operation at the quarry – a proven process which has worked successfully for the past 14 years, according to quarry manager Matt Miller.

Material at Seaham is won through a drill and blast operation, with the WA600-8 used as a face loader, loading two dump trucks which feed the crusher during the day shift (from 6:30am to 3:00pm), as well as the boot bin stockpile adjacent to the crusher.

During the afternoon shift (from 3:00pm to 10:00pm), it then becomes a stockpile loader, loading material from the boot bin to the crusher.

“We’ve had a very successful run from the previous WA600-6 since it came on-site in 2005, and that’s the reason we went for Komatsu’s new Dash 8 loader,” Miller said. “Because of its role in the quarry, this loader plays a critical role across both face loading and crusher stockpile handling, so we really depend on it. For that reason, we decided it was time for a new machine.”

The WA600-8 is powered by a Tier 4 Komatsu engine, rated at 395kW net.

During its time at Seaham, the WA600-6 had logged nearly 35,000 hours. In early 2013, at the 21,000-hour mark, Komatsu carried out a rebuild of the loader, including a replacement engine and drivetrain, hydraulic pump and lift and steering cylinders.

Delivered in early March 2020, Miller said the new WA600-8 has been performing very well in comparison with its predecessor.

“The fuel burn on it is significantly less than the previous loader. Terry Johnson, our main operator of the loader, and who’s been there since the last one was delivered, is over the moon with it,” he said. “And our relationship with Komatsu, in terms of service and support is something we are definitely happy with. Any time we need something done, we just need to call them, and they’ll come out and sort out any issues for us.”

Komatsu’s WA600-8 is powered by a Komatsu SAA6D170E-7 engine, rated at 395kW net, is available with operating weights from 55.4 to 57.5 tonnes and takes bucket sizes from 6.4m to 7.8m.

The Tier 4 Final certified engine reduces nitrous oxide and particulate matter levels by up to 90 per cent compared with its Tier 3 predecessors, as well as delivering fuel savings of up to 15 per cent. •

LOADERS, LOYALTY WITHSTAND SANDS, TIME

If the durability of a fleet of Volvo wheel loaders amongst sand dunes and salted air over many years isn’t impressive enough, it pales in comparison to the partnership between the coastal sand producer and the plant distributor.

In the industry of premium quality fine sand, Macka’s Sand & Soil Supplies is a big name renowned for its top-shelf sand and soil products for the commercial, building/ construction, glass and turfgrass industries locally and internationally. The pristine windblown sand is collected from the coastal region between Newcastle and Port Stephens, in northeastern New South Wales, where mountainous sand dunes stretch out as far as the eye can see.

Macka’s Sand & Soil Supplies is a family-run business set up by Robert Mackenzie and his father Bruce some three decades ago. Back in 1991, the plant consisted of a single 1830 Acco truck and a Case backhoe.

“I remember delivering sand at night after working a day job at ACI,” Mackenzie recalled. “I also remember sometimes having to shovel the sand off the back of the truck by hand if the site had an incline.”

Times have definitely changed from those humble beginnings. Macka’s Sand & Soil Supplies is now one of the largest operators on the east coast of Australia, moving two million tonnes of pristine Stockton sand

Owner/operator Robert Mackenzie (left) with CJD Equipment’s NSW general manager Michael Lombardo.

per year. Mackenzie’s two sons have also joined the company, “All things considered it is working out great,” Mackenzie said. “Of course, at times, family businesses can have their challenges, but generally things have been going great with my boys.”

When asking Mackenzie about the main focus of Macka’s Sand & Soil and a little bit of his history, he said: “The main focus of the business is pushing out a high quality, costeffective product into the building/construction industry, glass industries and turfgrass soils. Being located on the coastline behind the Stockton Beach area, we are extracting the windblown dune sand along the edge of the coastal fringe. For me personally, I started out working in a sand mine called ACI when I was 18. I leased a block next door with an option to purchase when I was 20, and here we are today – one of the largest operators on the east coast of Australia moving two million tonnes per year.”

With mountainous dunes surrounding the operation, it’s easy to see how the team at Macka’s can move two million tonnes of sand consistently per year. With such sand substantial volumes being processed, there is an equally important requirement for the right machinery to re-move, screen, process and load into the queue of trucks delivering the sand products across NSW, Australia and abroad. Macka’s has exclusively run with Volvo

machines for decades, and its relationship with CJD Equipment is as strong as the Volvo L220H wheel loaders that work tirelessly day in, day out on Macka’s operations. The efficiency of this outfit is truly impressive.

Mackenzie started out on a Volvo 120D, and after trying other brands while working for other outfits, he always found himself coming back to the Volvo machines. “The fuel efficiency and cost savings are great, but the essential factor for me was the operator comfort,” Mackenzie explained. “Our employees love driving them, and they stand up to the conditions and workloads. Our operators have always provided great feedback and reliability is second to none. Our Volvos and our relationship with CJD Equipment are an integral part of our success.”

LONG-STANDING PARTNERSHIP When discussing Macka’s machines with Mackenzie and Michael Lombardo, the general manager of CJD Equipment NSW, it is evident that there has been some unique customisation developed to maximise the efficiencies of Macka’s vehicles. “It’s a pretty fastmoving pace on-site and the Volvos navigate in and around each other with precision manoeuvring that does justice to the skill and the hours that the operators put in,” Lombardo said.

Mackenzie says what sets him apart from his competition is his hands-on approach and operating hours to support the communities in his area. “Our hours of operation, hands-on approach and the desire to supply all industries that have a use for sand and soils is no doubt the secret to our success. We have also put a lot of importance in the value of working with the communities of our very important area,” he said.

Lombardo’s personal relationship with Macka’s goes back nearly 13 years with Mackenzie and his father Bruce, and with CJD Equipment’s relationship preceding even that, it is remarkable that such partnerships and loyalties have stood the test of time.

“It has been a pleasure to work with both Bruce and Rob over the last 12 years,” Lombardo said. “During this time, apart from supplying their machinery needs, we have worked together to deliver buckets that meet the maximum efficiency requirement of their loaders. It’s this close type of relationship where we can go the extra mile to meet our client’s expectations that we pride ourselves on here at CJD Equipment.

“Working in and around sand dunes and coastal salt air environments can be very hard on some machinery, but we have been thrilled with our Volvos’ ability to excel over long periods of time in these testing conditions.”

This is a fact that has been equally appreciated by the team at Macka’s Sand & Soil. “Rob has a mix of Volvos throughout his fleet. However, purchases over recent years have concentrated around the L220H series wheeled loader,” Lombardo explained. “There is a very close relationship with CJD Equipment and the Volvo product that Rob developed, and he has a wealth of knowledge and market intelligence about what is going on in his immediate area and the greater Newcastle region. Rob allows us to work collaboratively with him throughout his business, from the point of purchase and machine set-up through to the level of aftersales support we can offer him, resulting in maximum uptime.” •