Strøjer Tegl has invested in JST loading buckets, which have been adapted to the brickworks and their new Caterpillar loaders. This has significantly increased the efficiency of the brickworks
The loader bucket is important for efficiency
At Strøjer Tegl, they move around 400 tonnes of clay per day in production, and when raw clay comes in from the clay pits, the machine operator moves up to 1500 tonnes of clay per day.
“That’s a lot of trips with the loader. Therefore, how much can fit in the loader bucket and how well the bucket works is quite important. The bucket is actually just as important for efficiency as the tractor shovel,” says Niels Opstrup, Technical Manager at Strøjer Tegl.
“JST buckets are quick to fill with clay and quick to empty of clay.”
Technical Manager, Niels Opstrup
“JST buckets are quick to fill with clay and quick to empty of clay. This is achieved by making the buckets very wide but not very deep. In addition, the buckets are completely smooth on the inside and the curve of the buckets is a soft one that allows the clay to slide off better. The design of the loader bucket also ensures that the heavy and sticky clay turns around inside the bucket so that the bucket can be filled to capacity,” says Niels Opstrup.
“This means that with a loader of the same size as before, we can now transport an additional two tonnes of clay each time.”
Machine operator, Henrik Lauritsen
The JST loader buckets can be filled to capacity every time by the brickworks’ machine operator, Henrik. It’s a big improvement compared to the buckets the brickworks had before, where he could only utilise about 75% of the volume. “This means that with a loader of the same size as before, we can now transport an additional two tonnes of clay each time,” says the satisfied machine operator, Henrik Lauritsen.
JST helped find the right solution
Henrik, together with JST’s sales consultant, Rene Eriksen, has helped to ensure that the daily challenges are incorporated into the solution. The mixed clay is stored in large boxes with concrete sides. When Henrik drives inside the boxes, he has to drive all the way along the concrete sides to get everything. That’s why the bucket is made 5-10 cm wider than the tyres on the Caterpillar loader, so it’s the bucket that touches the concrete wall and not the tyres. This protects the tyres so they last longer and makes it easier to completely empty the boxes of clay and manoeuvre the articulated loader in the box.
“One of the things we pay attention to when finding the best solution for our customers is the tyre size of the machine. It determines which bucket to choose and affects both the width of the bucket and the angle of the bucket ears,” says Sales Consultant Rene Eriksen.
It is also important for Strøjer Tegl that the loader bucket can be cleaned with the brickworks’ bucket scraper. This is another reason why it must be completely smooth on the inside, and it must also be possible to lay it down in the right angle.
“We’ve chosen countersunk bolts for the bolt-on front cutting edges to make the bucket as smooth as possible so it can be cleaned with our bucket scraper.”
Technical Manager, Niels Opstrup
“When we move raw clay and mixed clay, it’s very important that we don’t mix the two types of clay. Therefore, the bucket needs to be relatively clean when switching from one type of clay to another. Sometimes we also move sand and sawdust, and it’s important that 200 kg of clay doesn’t accidentally fall into the sawdust,” says Niels Opstrup, “which is why we have also chosen countersunk bolts for the bolt-on cutting edges at the front. It’s also an added advantage that the countersunk bolts don’t wear out, because it’s easier to replace the bolt-on cutting edges when they have been worn out,” he explains.
Brickwork bucket ears ensure the right angle on the bucket
The bucket is mounted directly on the loader with brickworks bucket ears customised to the loader, as well as to the driving height and angle Strøjer Tegl wants when tipping material out of the bucket. It was important to Niels Opstrup that the loader buckets were made with as vertical an emptying angle as possible.
“Our machine operator and the sales consultant from JST talked about at what height the buckets should be horizontal and at what angle they should unload, so the bucket ears and buckets have been optimised for the tractor shovel.”
Niels Opstrup, Technical Manager
“It was a bit of a challenge because of the way the Caterpillar loader is made,” says Niels. “Our machine operator and the sales consultant from JST talked about at what height the buckets should be horizontal and at what angle they should unload, so the bucket ears and buckets have been optimised for the tractor shovel. And it’s worked really well. The buckets run better than the old buckets and with a larger volume, so we have a larger capacity.”
JST loader buckets are also designed with a V-shaped arm cover on the top rear of the bucket. This ensures that less clay falls onto the hydraulics and bucket ear when the bucket is fully raised in the retracted position. This is another feature that results in everything lasting better and for longer.
Collaboration and service are important
However, it’s not just quality and functionality that contributed to Niels Opstrup choosing JST buckets for his newly purchased loaders. “When I make the first contact with a supplier, it’s important to me that I have a feeling that the collaboration will go well.
“The collaboration with the JST steel workshop has been characterised by fast, precise and efficient communication.”
Niels Opstrup, Technical Manager
“The collaboration with Maskinfabrikken JST has been characterised by fast, accurate and efficient communication. They have responded to emails quickly and have always been available on the phone. In cases where this has been needed, JST has quickly sent out a sales consultant so that we could clarify any questions and get exactly the buckets we wanted,” says Niels, who is very satisfied with both the new buckets and the good service received from JST.
Looking for the right bucket for your machine?
Are you interested in a bucket or another attachment that fits your particular machine and your exact needs? Contact Rene for a chat about the possibilities:
Rene Eriksen
re@jstas.dk
+45 26 25 50 59
