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ADAM DAUNT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"WA](\"https:\/\/www.quarrymagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG-2273-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWA Limestone wanted a rock breaker with some \u201cmeat on the bones\u201d to handle its hard rock quarry in Onslow.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Western Australia\u2019s northwest is a rugged environment, characterised by gruelling conditions and tough rock. It is here where WA Limestone, one of the state\u2019s biggest aggregate suppliers, can be found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Steven Della Bona, director at WA Limestone<\/strong>, said the material is a very hard rock to mine, because it is so dense,\u00a0abrasive,\u00a0and hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe wear factors and the damage that it does on your machines is pretty horrendous,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou need the right machinery and the right wear parts on your machinery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The family-owned company<\/strong> found\u00a0Kobelco<\/a>\u2019s SK500XD to be the answer for a heavy-duty machine that can handle abrasive aggregate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kobelco<\/a>\u2019s SK500XD weighs in at 52,200 kg, making it one of the heaviest machines in its class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It features a heavy-duty boom and arm set as well as factory-fitted, triple-plated, hardened steel applied to all key structural sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This includes the boom-to-arm connection, the boom centre, and the end of the arm, providing a high level of durability and longevity to the attachment structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A specially designed full-length rock guard is installed on the inside of the dipper arm, on top of additional steel plating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A quadruple track guide frame and reinforced heavy-duty 600mm triple grouser shoe provide reliability in rocky underfoot conditions, making easy work of rough terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The durability of the track links has also increased, while the idler frame has received substantial double reinforcement plating inside and out, resulting in improved undercarriage reliability which prevents premature wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The heavy-duty steel bolted underbody guard protects vital machine components and provides additional weight for greater stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The additional metal, which helps the SK500XD handle the Onslow quarry site, is a key feature for WA Limestone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was pretty impressed by the extra steel on the track frames and the extra steel and reinforcement around the arm, the excavator frame and the dipper arm,\u201d Della Bona said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBeing in the conditions that we operate in and especially with the hard rock you need a machine that can handle the bumps, hard rocks and all the stresses and pressures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe machine has worked really well and hasn\u2019t let us down at all, it\u2019s been reliable and done everything that we asked it to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is powered by a Hino Toyota engine, alongside Kawasaki pumps and hydraulics, which delivers 257 kW of power and an average fuel consumption of under 30L per hour. This helps the SK500XD generate a breakout force of 293 kN, and slew torque of 183 kN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hydraulic system notifies the operator if<\/p>\n\n\n\n filter performance is compromised which helps manage maintenance and reduce downtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re a proven hydraulic pump and hydraulic system so there is no reason why we wouldn\u2019t get a good run out of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The company has road-tested several machines over its five decades in the industry. Della Bona, who has been with the company for 38 years, understands what makes a quality machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was trying to find a dedicated rock-breaking machine and I rang a couple of clients who run them, and they had nothing but good words to say,\u201d Della Bona said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was able to buy that machine pretty quickly and get it up and running and that was a big part of the decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am keen to see how it continues to perform but we\u2019re really happy with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kobelco has confidence in the machine\u2019s ability to handle the demanding conditions of the Australian worksite providing an extended major component warranty of four years or 6000 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mark Johnson, Kobelco Australia\u2019s general manager of product and distribution, said the machine has all the tools to be a hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s engineered for the most extreme environments around the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt also builds on Kobelco\u2019s excellent reputation for machine reliability, taking it to a new level by providing a factory-installed, comprehensive set of structural reinforcements\u2014not to mention class-leading digging performance and fuel efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe result is a machine that is the perfect choice for quarry work.\u201d\u2002<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information visit kobelco.com.au<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.quarrymagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG-2281-300x225.jpg\")