Precisionscreen’s Sandscrew is an entry-level option for washing and grading sand, able to work in conjunction with the business’ stockpile conveyor range
Brisbane-based Precisonscreen offers its customers a variety of sand washing plants, with its cost effective, entry solution – the Sandscrew – proving to be a popular choice.
The efficient and low cost solution is used for washing and grading sand, and is described as an entry level option, due to its price point and low volume of water usage.
Precisionscreen’s chief operating officer Jonny McMurtry says sand can be used in a range of applications, from producing concrete sand to washed sand product for manufacturing bricks or asphalt, with the type and grade of sand determining which application the material is used in.
“When bricks and concrete are being produced, you have to have a certain type of washed sand and grading,” McMurtry says.
“A super fine sand might be used in bricks or masonry, whereas you’d use a coarser sand for the manufacturing of concrete.”
By washing the sand, McMurtry says unwanted particles such as clay, silt and dust are removed.
“The Sandscrew will essentially push the sand up, and then all that unwanted organics and fine material will slowly float down with the water and be transferred to ponds or other settlement areas,” McMurtry says.
Wet materials enter the feed tube at the base of the screw and as the heavier particles sink to the bottom, they are pushed up a trough through a spiral screw.
Dewatering then occurs up the length of this channel until it is discharged at the end via a chute, creating a simple solution for sand classification.
All screws are driven hydraulically and can run off a screening plant’s powerpack or similar power source. The screw also has an adjustable overflow weir to help maximise the recovery of fines and control the discharge of wastewater.
Because sand is heavier than the water, it needs time to drop down, McMurtry says. By having the adjustable overflow weir, he adds that a greater volume of water and settling time is enabled.
“Anything that’s heavy drops low and gets screwed up the conveyor,” he says.
“If you had a smaller weir, you’d have choppy water that won’t allow the sand to fully settle, and it will just wash out over the top.”
Coupled up
Precionscreen’s SM stockpile conveyor range can also be coupled up with the Sandscrew, as the perfect running mate.
Working together, the Sandscrew will wash the sand, drop it onto the conveyor, and then it can be stockpiled.
Precisionscreen offers various standard conveyors starting with the SM450 10m (30ft) conveyor with 4.5m stockpile height, the SM650 at 12.5m (40ft), the SM750 coming in at 15m (50ft) and the SM850 at 18m (60ft).
All conveyers are fully designed and manufactured in-house at Precisionscreen’s Brisbane workshop, so customers can be assured the machines are built for Australian conditions.
Key features include a hydraulic drive, poly rollers, triple seal bearings, return slides and the ability to work with imported and other existing machines.
“Our conveyors can be adapted to work with other branded machines that are already existing on a site,” McMurtry says.
The business’ SM conveyer stockpile range also offers customers versatility, with the ability to hire these machines, and the option to purchase at the end of hire.
In addition to the standard conveyors, the business can also modify the machines to adapt to customer needs – providing further versatility.
This is emphasised by Precisionscreen’s new SM680 conveyor, that was designed and built specifically for one of the business’ clients in New Zealand.
The New Zealand-based client needed the conveyor to be fully galvanised and had specific requirements for the length, 12.5m (40ft), and width, an 800mm belt.
Preicisonscreen had no problems with this, building the SM680 to the exact specifications – creating a modified version of the SM850, with a shortened length.
As an adapted version of the already existing product, the new name ‘SM680’ was given, with the ‘6’ representing a 6m stockpile height and the ‘80’ standing for the 800mm belt.
“Our customer had a need, we took on that work and understood what they were looking for,” McMurtry says. “From the customer’s point of concept, we designed, manufactured, galvanised and shipped all within eight weeks.”
For more information on the Sandscrew and the SM conveyer stockpile range, visit www.precisionscreen.com.au or call 1800 727 991.
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