In the coastal region of Stockholm, a construction contractor is taking another step into the future: the entire crushing and screening process is being handled by a purely electrically powered, line-coupled plant train from Kleemann consisting of a MOBICAT MC 120 PRO jaw crusher, a MOBICONE MCO 110 PRO cone crusher, and a MOBISCREEN MSC 953 EVO screening plant.
The spectrum of applications it can handle is impressive. As the contractor predominantly processes granite and recycled materials, it is often necessary to adjust the machine settings to accommodate the wide range of different feed materials. This is one of the reasons why a complete plant train consisting of three Kleemann machines is now in use.
From the jaw crusher, the crushed material with a grain size of 0 – 150 mm is passed to the cone crusher, where, after further crushing to a size of 0 – 60 mm, it finally reaches the mobile classifying screen, which separates it into three fractions with the following grain sizes: 0 – 16 mm, 16 – 32 mm, and +32 mm.
There is a significant difference in the way the company handled materials processing in the past. Today, the entire plant train is exclusively electrically powered. “Our decision to go fully electric was motivated by energy-saving considerations and the desire to reduce emissions,” explains co-owner Freddie Erickson, co-owner of Kentas Last & Schakt.
The investment also pays off financially: The company estimates that the operating costs otherwise incurred by diesel fuel consumption are reduced by approximately half when using an electric power supply. The procedures are also simpler and save valuable time: no daily refuelling, no warm-up times, and, as the electrical systems are more reliable, maintenance tasks are also easier and less complex.
The conditions at the location also confirmed the viability of the Swedish company’s project from both financial and logistical perspectives. A substantial six-figure Euro sum was invested in infrastructure measures, including a transformer station and the laying of underground power supply lines. There was no state funding.
The individual components of the plant train are interconnected by smart line coupling, which, thanks to automated regulation, ensures a stable process chain from start to finish. The machines communicate via fill level sensors and autonomously regulate their output: The upstream machine, for example, reduces the feed when the downstream machine reports a high fill level. If an emergency stop is activated anywhere on the train, all machines are stopped simultaneously.
SPECTIVE CONNECT is used for operating on-site. It allows machine data and settings to be conveniently viewed and adjusted on a smartphone – safely and efficiently, without the need for direct in-person presence at the plant.
The experience gathered with all-electric operation has been positive across the board. In view of the results, the company in Sweden is already planning the electrification of further machines: “We are actively working on the conversion of as many of our machines as possible to electric power. This is clearly the way forward, and we are determined to implement this change across our entire fleet,” said Erickson.
