SSAB has shown how its Hardox® 500 steel can unlock savings when used in stationary equipment in quarrying and mining applications.
When it comes to stationary equipment, few things are as fundamental as a quality wear plate.
In a quarrying or mining application, the wear plate can serve as liners in hoppers, feeders and chutes or as hammers and screeners in crushing applications. All of these applications are notable for their abrasive materials, including hard rock.
This can lead to quarries needing to turn to frequent replacements due to the extensive wear rates and incur high costs for this maintenance. SSAB has heard this concern from the sector and unveiled a solution: Hardox® 500 wear plates, which are known for their high hardness levels.
Conventional wisdom often turns to AR steel, a thick, standard type of steel characterised by its relatively low hardness of 400 HBW.
Its popularity stems from being cheaper per kilogram than harder steels. However, it is often overlooked that operators may need to purchase more of this “cheaper” steel over the long term, as the replacement rate is likely to be higher.
SSAB conducted internal testing on how cheaper wear steel is compared to other alternatives, including the Hardox® 500 wear steel, and the results were conclusive:
- Upgrading from AR 400 steel to Hardox® 500 wear plate achieved double the wear life.
- Upgrading to harder steel, like the Hardox® 500, reduced wear plate purchases by 50 per cent.
- Purchasing harder steel reduced downtime and maintenance time required.
- The total cost per day was lowest when purchasing harder wear steel like the Hardox® 500.
“With Hardox® 500, durability pays off – both in cost savings and sustainability. Using less steel means that less steel is produced, transported, processed and installed over the course of the equipment’s lifespan, reducing your environmental footprint,” the SSAB representative said.
“Several qualities set Hardox® wear plate apart from conventional wear steels. It is a highly consistent material with guarantees for thickness, flatness and bending properties. “This results in predictable processing in the workshop and predictable performance and maintenance planning in the field.
“One of the most critical factors in wear resistance is the steel’s through-thickness hardness. Hardox® wear plate retains at least 90 per cent of its surface’s hardness to the core. This unique benefit explains its exceptionally long service life, and why the data proves that Hardox® is a smart investment for your bottom line.”
SSAB offers a range of Hardox® wear plate grades and thicknesses, tailored for heavy industrial applications. SSAB conducts an in-depth evaluation to determine the best match for the customer’s application.
“We recommend a thorough evaluation of the wear conditions and abrasive materials. Our technical development managers and material specialists have decades of experience in solving wear challenges,” the SSAB representative said.
“They will help you assess your specific challenges and recommend the best Hardox® grade for maximum durability and performance.”
SSAB will have its team of experts on hand at the upcoming International Mining and Resources Conference and Expo (IMARC) in Australia. Taking place in Sydney, IMARC attracts a global audience with attendees from more than 120 countries travelling to attend the key industry sector.
The program covers the entire mining sector through a series of panel discussions, keynote speeches and exhibitors from major manufacturers. SSAB will be one of the exhibitors at this year’s showcase with its range of Hardox® products taking centre stage.
The manufacturer will showcase its wide range of solutions for the mining sector, including the wear plate range of the Hardox® 450 and Hardox® 500, Hardox® 500 Tuf, which are renowned for their strength, hardness, and toughness. Also on display will be the Hardox® HiAce, which delivers lasting wear plate performance in acidic and corrosive environments by reducing the oxidation process.
SSAB is eager to engage with attendees to see how its products and local service can support the common pain points faced in the mining and quarrying sectors.
“We are always looking to produce new products and improve the ones we already have,” the SSAB representative said.
“It sounds simple, but local technical support can really go a long way. Technical support comes in all different facets, but whenever the customer needs us, we’ll be there.” •
For more information, visit ssab.com
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