In the field, MB’s BF90.3 crusher bucket is more than living up to the expectations Otta Excavations first envisaged. Managing Director, Graeme Viney, cites its portability, robust construction and high productivity as significant attributes.
MB’s BF90.3 crusher bucket has a throughput of 500 tonnes per week of product.
Deep in the quarry near a pile of large rocks, the boom of the JCB JS200sc excavator was extended outward, it then gently lowered, and in one smooth motion, the BF90.3 crusher bucket dug deep into a large mound of rocks. The excavator’s arm rose, and the machine began a 180-degree clockwise slew towards where a fresh stack of crushed-rock was forming.
Operator Courtney smiled and nodded, acknowledging our presence on-site as the JS200sc completed its swing. Then, in a seamless motion, the steady soft thump, thump, thump of the BF90.3 primary jaw commenced and crushed rock streamed from the underside of the bucket.
Portable
The BF90.3 is a mid-size crushing bucket in MB’s mobile crusher bucket range covering machines from 4-tonne through to 70-tonne. However, what makes this crusher bucket a popular choice for operations like Otta Excavations is its ability to attach to machines like the 20-tonne JCB excavator. The machinery in this size range is easily transported to and from jobs sites economically on a standard tri-axle float, compared to larger machines that require specialised quad-axle low-loaders with escorts and transport permits.
Productivity
In terms of productivity, the BF90.3 is at the head of its game. With a reported crushing output of 42 cubic meters per hour. It boasts a good size bucket opening of 910 x 540 mm (36 x 21 inches), making it capable of accepting rather large rocks. The material output size can be adjusted from 15mm to 140mm (0.6 to 5.5 inches) to suit customer requirements.
The BF90.3 requires an oil flow of 180l/min at 220bar to operate at peak efficiency. Its outer dimensions are 2185 x 1340 x 1390 mm (7.1 x 4.39 x 4.5 feet), and it has an all-up weight of 3.5 tonnes.
Versatile Unit
The portability and flexibility of the BF90.3 crusher bucket have not only expanded the services that Otta Excavations can provide customers it is delivering environmental advantages as well.
“When we have a small crushing job for a client, the MB crushing bucket is the ideal choice,” Graeme Viney said. “We can bring the excavator with a traditional bucket and the crusher bucket to a quarry site like this one here today and process the material to the customer’s specifications, then load it on the trucks for transportation all with the one machine.”
As well as the civil construction side of the Otta Excavations operation, there is the demolition arm that makes good use of the MB crusher bucket.
“The main benefit of crushing hard-core material such as concrete from sites is that it saves on disposal and ensures materials are recycled and reused. Providing us with an additional source of income as well as promoting environmentally friendly resources to our customers.”
Adjustable
“The final crushed size of the product is adjustable depending on customer’s needs,” Graeme adds. “It is a simple process of releasing the tension on the spring and either adding or subtracting shins to adjust our crush size. Moreover, the crushing action is excellent and produces a uniform size, which is ideal for our needs.”
“Furthermore, the buckets’ operation is quiet, which is important for us,” Graeme explains. We are often required to work in environments that are sensitive to noise, and the quiet operation of the crusher bucket and JCB JS200sc mean we can operate in these sensitive areas.
“In a nutshell – it works, and it works well,” Graeme adds. ” Essentially, it does what it says on the box! It is very reliable and comes with excellent service and back up service.”
With the MB crusher bucket, Otta Excavations can achieve up to 500 tonnes per week of product with an average of 100-120 tonnes a day, including loading the product on trucks.
“By increasing the volume of material that Otta Excavations recycle, they’ve been able to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in Tasmanian landfill sites.
“Recycling for us is a key consideration,” Graeme says. “With the landfill dumping costs continually rising annually, we have been able to reflect the savings we make on disposal in the prices we charge our customers.”
Girl Power
Operating the JS200sc excavator was not Courtney’s original career choice, but Courtney agreed to give it a go after a bit of encouragement from the family.
Courtney cites the comfort and quietness in the cabin as features that make working an entire shift in the JCB 20-tonner a pleasant task. Likewise, the controls are effortless to use and provide precise control for all actions.
Courtney revealed she enjoys the work, even if her friends are not quite so sure.
“Most of them just laugh at me,” she says with a smile.
Being a female doesn’t get her any favours on site either, “if there is a problem, then we deal with it and move on … unless I break a nail, she laughs.
Graeme adds that having females working on a construction site is not common, although it had its advantages.
“Their attention to detail is excellent,” Graeme says. “They are probably neater than us guys too.”
Courtney agrees. “They tell me off for being too fussy, but I like to be good at what I do.” She admits she started working in the family business out of a desire to operate machines like her partner and see’s herself sticking at it for a while yet.
BF90.3 Specifications
Overall Dimensions 2185 x 1340 x 1390 mm
Opening Dimensions Length 910mm, Height 540mm
Load Capacity 0.9m3
Output Setting >15mm <140mm
Oil Flow 180L/min.
Pressure 220 bar
Counter Pressure 10 bar
Weight 3.5 Tonne
Maximum Production 42 m3/h
