Soil Recycling Co. is at the forefront of soil screening in Australia, dedicated to promoting the reuse of soil as a valuable resource rather than disposing of it in landfills. This innovative company specializes in soil handling and recycling, collaborating with major waste management firms like ResourceCo to transform organic waste into usable products such as soil mixes for gardening and landscaping. Currently, Soil Recycling Co. is working at the South Gippsland Highway, Hampton Park in Victoria.
Founded in 2012, Soil Recycling Co. emerged from a passion for soil and organics, recognizing the inefficiencies in how materials were handled. The company saw countless trucks transporting soil and organic materials, only for them to return to the site soon after. This inefficiency sparked the mission to make onsite resources usable, eliminating unnecessary transport and fostering sustainable practices in the industry.
When Chris Keay, the Director of Soil Recycling Co., faced the challenge of processing wet, clumped soil that affected the performance of the Terex Ecotec Trommel, he recognized the necessity for a more effective solution. Two main issues arose due to the damp and wet soil:
- Less aerated soil resulted in clumps clogging the hopper and Trommel.
- The operator, Craig Jameson, had to clean the trommel multiple times a day, leading to significant downtime and fatigue, thus affecting productivity.
Initial attempts with another type of screening bucket featuring outdated drum technology failed to break down the lumps and dense soil, resulting in clogging and drastically reduced production. In search of a more reliable option, Chris Keay reached out to Walkers Hammers on September 16th, 2024, and discovered the innovative screening solutions from ALLU.
After reaching out to Walkers Hammers, Chris was introduced to Sami Rahman, the ALLU area sales manager based in Melbourne, Victoria. Together, they identified the ALLU DN 2-12 with TS 25 Axe as the optimal bucket for the demo. Sami, along with Carlo Costanzo from Walkers Hammers, prepared the rental bucket for a demonstration scheduled for September 17th. Upon arriving at the site, it became clear why the Trommel Screener had been struggling; persistent rain had saturated the soil, complicating the processing.
Once installed on the Hidromek excavator, the ALLU bucket quickly demonstrated its capabilities. The unique TS drum setup, designed for anti-clogging, optimal flow and self-cleaning, allowed for effective processing, leading to significant improvements in output. Impressed by its performance, Chris decided to keep the rental bucket for ongoing use, ensuring he had the right equipment to tackle his challenges effectively.
To further enhance productivity, the decision was made to switch from TS 25 to TS 50 blades, allowing for better fragmentation of larger soil lumps. Carlo from Walkers Hammers took the bucket back for the blade change, although it could have been done onsite. The bucket was delivered the next day with the blades changed to TS 50, ready for action.
Operational Highlights:
September 18: ALLU bucket installed in the morning; processed 310 m³ of topsoil for the remainder of the day (measured from the monitoring system installed on the Terex Ecotec Trommel).
September 19: Next full day of operation with the ALLU bucket, processing 280 m³ of topsoil due to the poor weather with heavy rain.
September 20: To be able to compare the customer decided to use the GP bucket the full day which resulted in approximate 20% lower efficiency than the ALLU bucket, and required frequent cleaning due to clogging issues.
The following are production figures with ALLU and GP bucket after the demo/test:
In addition to enhancing productivity, the ALLU Variable Drum allows customers to bid on smaller jobs, reducing reliance on larger trommels. Immediately, the productivity of the Terex Trommel increased by 10-20% with the smaller ALLU rental bucket, and with the new purchased DN 3-12 TS VD further great efficiency is anticipated. This capability not only streamlines operations but also promises a quick return on investment, making it an attractive option for contractors looking to optimize their resources.
This collaboration highlights the strong partnership between ALLU and Walkers Hammers, reflecting our commitment to delivering efficient solutions. Together with Walkers Hammers and our valued customer, Soil Recycling Co., we are dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and efficient waste management.