Kemach Equipment, recently acquired by Kanu Equipment, used a customer open day to introduce its latest offering, the McCloskey J6 jaw crusher – the largest in its stable to date. Attended by the local crushing and screening community, largely crushing contractors, the event was held at the company’s Jet Park, Gauteng headquarters on July 7.
At the time of writing, the first machine was due to be deployed at a customer site on a trial-to- purchase basis. Bradley Karolus, sales specialist at Kemach Equipment, says the new 75-tonne (t) machine gives the company a tool to compete at the heavy-duty end of the mobile crushing market.
Massive upgrade
Previously, the McCloskey J45, with a 250-300 tph production capacity, was Kemach’s largest jaw available for the local market. With a much larger capacity of 600-700 tph, the J6 is a massive upgrade from the J45.
With a 1 200 mm x 864 mm jaw opening, the J6 accommodates large feed size of 700-800 mm. In addition, the machine is said to deliver high tonnes per hour due to its innovative jaw chamber design and enhanced material flow.
The material path is enhanced with the adjustable 1 204 mm x 2 360 mm double-deck grizzly pre-screen under the hopper that, along with the variable speed pan feeder, allows for better sizing of material with a variety of mesh options.
“The J6 is an exciting addition to our jaw crushing product range in the local market. By introducing this machine, we have answered our customers’ call for a heavy-duty mining machine. It is a significant leap, in terms of size, compared with the J45,” says Karolus.
More features
With a minimum closed side setting of 70 mm, the J6 comes with a 1 400 mm-wide, angle-adjustable main conveyor with a discharge height of 5,13 m. According to Karolus, a quick release and ground-level access makes the belt easy to maintain and service, thus enhancing machine uptime. In fact, the whole machine is designed with service in mind, with ample space around all the key service points.
“In addition, while a side conveyor remains an option for many jaw crushers in its class, the J6’s folding conveyor is standard and has an 800 mm adjustable speed belt with a stockpile height of 3,99m. We also offer the machine with an on-board rock breaker as standard,” says Karolus. “Another key talking point is that the J6 is equipped with well-known hydraulic and electrical components such as Danfoss, Eaton and Kawasaki pumps.
Despite its large size, the J6 does not compromise on portability for transport purposes. With a transport length of 17,96 m, the machine has a transport height and width of just 3,9 m.
McCloskey, adds Karolus, placed technological advancements at the centre of the development of the J6. For example, the standard 12” control panel provides push button control of the jaw, track and feeder functions.
Furthermore, the new crusher is fitted with a telematics modem for the new 365SiteConnex, a connectivity solution for the monitoring of McCloskey products. 365SiteConnex is based on the latest leading-edge communication technologies to collect, analyse and deliver machine information which customers rely on to optimise production and increase efficiency.
Also contributing to the efficiency of the J6, particularly in remote locations, is the high-volume fuel tank, said to be sufficient to run the machine for approximately 20 hours.
As with all McCloskey equipment, safety is paramount, and the J6 is equipped with a number of features to ensure workplace and operator safety. For example, engine safety shutdown systems, start-up alarms, full safety guarding, external maintenance access and a tagout capability on the isolator, all contribute to the safe operation and maintenance of the machine. Ground level access also promotes safety, and allows for quick service and maintenance, reducing downtime for customers.
Competitive edge
Based on interactions with customers during the open day, Karolus is confident that the J6 will find quick traction in the market, with several customers expressing interest in the new jaw crusher. “One of key competitive edges is that we are price-competitive, not only on the capital outlay, but also on our parts and the cost of service at large,” he says. “This is key to reducing the total cost of ownership for our customers.”
Stock availability, he says, is another key competitive edge. Under the ownership of Kanu Equipment, the company has invested significantly in its stock to eliminate waiting times for customers. To provide context, Kemach Equipment has 45 stock machines (McCloskey) on order.
“Following the takeover by Kanu Equipment, we have made significant investments in not only machine inventory, but also in our aftermarket support capabilities. At the centre of our aftermarket regime is a new 6 000 m² parts warehouse in Pomona, which carries millions of rands worth of OEM spare parts at any given time,” he says.
Karolus says the Kanu Equipment takeover has brought with it a positive change in the business. Under the leadership of GM Twan Bell and CEO Stephen Smithyman, the company has not only invested in expanded machine and parts inventory, but also in the right skills to ensure high levels of customer service.
“We have beefed up our McCloskey team with four highly skilled individuals with a deep understanding of the crushing and screening business. This will be key to enhancing customer experience, in line with our ‘Experience the Support’ mantra,” concludes Karolus.
