Multotec Australia is offering the MBV System as a screen media solution that enhances safety and reduces maintenance time.
When it came to fine-aperture rubber cross-tension panels, customers were approaching Multotec with a similar story; the available options took too long, the cost was too high, and the replacement rate was untenable.
Based on this, Multotec got to work designing a solution that would be smarter and more sustainable for quarry operations.
The company’s research and development process led to the MBV System.
“We developed a system that converted the screen from a typical cross-tension configuration to a modular configuration without changing anything on the sub-frame,” Multotec Australia business development manager for quarrying and aggregates Matthew Ferguson said.
“Traditionally, quarries have only had limited options for fine aperture screening where wet, sticky or high clay material is present, or where blinding and pegging are constant issues, so they turn to rubber. MBV, in terms of performance, is equal to, if not better than rubber screens, and provides the wear life benefits of the polyurethane.”
The key to the MBV System is the robust chassis, which stays permanently in place. It may sound like a small tweak, but the development reaps major rewards for operators in terms of safety and maintenance.
The MBV System, unlike traditional fine-aperture rubber cross-tension panels, only requires the worn media sections to be replaced, which can be done in seconds rather than hours. This is because the MBV panels are designed to fit a standard fastening system intended for modular panels, and the panels interlock at the edges, making installation and replacement straightforward and able to be conducted by one employee. From a maintenance perspective, customers only need to carry back-ups of the modular components, which Multotec Australia can support through its after-sales service.
Not that panels need to be regularly replaced. Multotec Australia installed the MBV System on a local quarry in May 2021, and it remains in operation to this day in its original configuration.
“The MBV uses a permanently installed chassis frame on the screen that is installed as a typical cross tension panel would, but it accepts modular media into it that is pinned in. It can be changed in situ without removing the chassis,” Ferguson said.
“This provides a massive safety improvement because the modules that insert into the MBV weigh around a kilo, and they can be changed within seconds. It also helps reduce workers’ exposure to confined spaces. Once you have installed a full deck of chassis on the screen, the only stock you need to hold are the modular components on the screen. This means you no longer need to hold big, bulky and expensive cross-tension panels on the shelf.”
The MBV has been on the market since its debut by Multotec in 2021. Since then, it has been used in a variety of quarrying applications, including high clay content materials as well as coarser materials. The product has also been popular for customers where space restrictions or egress is restricted, or manual handling during maintenance periods is an issue.
“I think the feedback of the industry is that people are getting frustrated with supply chain issues and the price increases of products in this application. This means people are looking for alternatives. MBV is certainly one of them,” Ferguson said.
Multotec Australia maintains a robust manufacturing presence in Queensland. The company is currently expanding its Logan facility to add an additional 10,000m² to the existing 10,000m², which will further enhance its production capacity and advanced technology capabilities. These enhanced capabilities mean Multotec Australia can support customers in the local quarrying market as well as regional markets, including Southeast Asia and New Zealand.
“We’ve worked hard to get our lead times to a competitive level, and we’re comfortable we can deliver MBV in a shorter timeframe than the traditional rubber alternative,” Ferguson said.
Multotec Australia believe the MBV System will help unlock a new level of safety and efficiency for local quarrying operators.
“It is not limited to fine screening. Any clients who are looking to rethink their maintenance strategies with modular solutions, especially if they’re hamstrung by machine restraints, can use the MBV,” Ferguson said
“Any clients that are considering modular systems to lower their operational costs can use MBV without needing mechanical structure changes on the screen. I think the sky is the limit for MBV.”•
For more information, visit multotec.com
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