Big Island is the largest of the Hawaiian Islands and, with Kilauea and Mauna Loa, is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes. The properties of the lava from eruptions vary from rocks containing gas bubbles and jagged edges to extremely dense and hard basaltic rocks from the cooled interiors of lava flows.
This so-called Hawaiian Blue Rock is a hard basalt with a shiny bluish tint that is in high demand due to its exceptional quality, but is also particularly hard to crush. For this project, contractor Goodfellow Bros., therefore, required a particularly rugged and simultaneously reliable and powerful crusher that could meet these requirements. The contractor chose a Kleemann MOBICAT MC 110i EVO2 mobile jaw crusher for the job, a machine that is in use around the world for pre-crushing almost all types of natural stone and recycling.
The Blue Rock is being crushed to produce aggregates in two grain sizes for use in the sewer construction project: 0-20 mm for the base layer and 0-100 mm for filling. The new-generation EVO2 mobile jaw crusher from Kleemann is designed to assure an optimal material flow and, thanks to its high hourly output, is a particularly cost-efficient crushing solution. Its multi-stage overload system detects and automatically regulates overload situations caused by excessively hard and uncrushable materials. This increases machine utilisation rates.
Machine operator Bully Fergerstrom was impressed by the quality and solid build of the machine. He particularly emphasised the user-friendly functions like the Continuous Feed System, or CFS, and the intuitive operating concept that guides him through the process workflow on the project site. ‘I like the functions. They make sure I can do a good job. The user-friendly display guides me through the process and shows me what steps come next to get the machine up and running. Operating the machine is pretty easy.’
A powerful machine with easy handling and close collaboration with a trusted local partner plays a decisive role, especially on projects involving the crushing of untypical rock types. This is why foreman Chris Pulgados appreciates not only the high quality of the machine but also the outstanding service provided by local Wirtgen Group dealer Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf: ‘The service they provide couldn’t be better. We’re so lucky to have them nearby. If we call them, it takes them only around five minutes to get here.’
