Mass Earthworks
Excavation fleets feeding mobile crushing units for temporary aggregate production and site reuse.
Aggregate production, hard-rock mining, tunnelling, drilling, demolition recycling and mineral processing are mapped to machine classes, wear systems and field-service routines.
A crusher is not selected in isolation. It sits behind drilling and blasting decisions, beside screens and conveyors, and ahead of stockpiling, washing or grinding. Sandvik treats each industry application as a chain of constraints. The engineering discussion begins with material, feed size, throughput target, moisture, abrasiveness, required product curve and maintenance access. That structure helps procurement teams compare options without hiding risk in vague claims.
These parameters are the starting point for a Sandvik review. They keep the conversation factual and let the buyer see which assumptions drive capacity, wear life, safety access and operating cost. If the site has incomplete data, Sandvik can still prepare a preliminary recommendation, but final selection should be verified against sampled material and plant layout.
| Discipline | Key Spec | Standard | Sandvik Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate | Throughput t/h, CSS mm and screen aperture | ISO 21873 reference logic | CX-class 200-1,500 t/h |
| Hard-rock Mining | Feed size, ore abrasiveness and duty cycle | Mine safety documentation | Primary crushing and underground haulage |
| Tunnelling | Advance rate, rock-tool wear and muck size | Project-specific geotechnical file | Drilling tools and mobile crushing support |
| Recycling | Rebar content, contamination and product curve | CE guarding and access review | Impact crushing with screen recirculation |
| Quarry Drilling | Hole diameter, bench height and fragmentation target | Drilling method statement | Rock tools, bits and drilling rigs |
| Mineral Processing | Reduction ratio, moisture and downstream mill feed | Process design basis | Jaw, cone, screen and conveyor package |
Buyers regularly ask which primary crusher and which mineral-processing route is "better." The honest answer is that neither is universally correct - they are each correct under specific feed, product and site conditions. Sandvik documents both sides so the decision can be defended on data rather than vendor preference.
Tolerant of high-abrasion, hard-rock feed (Mohs 6-9, UCS 200-400 MPa). Lower wear-cost per ton in granite, basalt and iron ore. Reduction ratio typically 4:1 to 6:1, jaw opening 600-1,500 mm. Limitation: cubicity is poor; downstream secondary crushing is mandatory for asphalt-grade aggregate.
Produces a more cubical product (flakiness index typically below 15%) suited to high-spec asphalt and concrete aggregate. Reduction ratio up to 20:1 in a single stage. Limitation: blow bar wear cost rises sharply on hard, abrasive ore (silica content above 40%); recommended feed Mohs 4-6.
Sandvik selection logic: hard, abrasive feed and mining duty - jaw plus cone. Limestone or recycled concrete with strict shape and gradation specs - impact crusher with screen recirculation.
Standard route for sulphide ores and fine-particle iron beneficiation. Flotation and wet magnetic separation deliver higher recovery on fine fractions (sub-75 µm). Requires 1.5-3 m³ make-up water per ton of ore plus tailings dam capacity.
Used in arid regions or where tailings storage is constrained. Dry magnetic separation can recover strong-magnetic iron at competitive grades; air classification handles coarser cuts. Limitation: fine-particle recovery (below 100 µm) drops 5-15% versus wet route.
Sandvik selection logic: water availability, tailings permit duration and downstream metallurgy decide the route. We document both before quoting; the customer's environmental and cost team should sign off, not the equipment supplier alone.
Vendor claims rarely include limits. Sandvik's preliminary recommendations are explicit about where the proposed package will need verification or upgrade.
Send the material source, target product curve and plant layout constraints. Sandvik will return the correct review path for crusher selection, screen setup, drilling support and service planning.