Lima South Quarry, located in Victoria, produces high-grade hornfels blue metal aggregates renowned for rail ballast, concrete, asphalt and sealing applications. A key supplier to state and local governments and private road‑construction contractors, the quarry prides itself on “Superior Stone with Superior Service,” operating year‑round to meet the high demands of infrastructure schedules.
Situation
The quarry’s standard 3.5 m³ capacity excavator bucket was wearing out rapidly and struggled to keep up with the required production rate. Frequent downtime and maintenance were impacting efficiency and pushing operations into overtime.
Response
We worked closely with LS Quarry to understand the site’s main concerns and how these could be addressed with a fit for purpose bucket. Engineered with Hardox 500 Tuf wear plate and Strenx steel, the XMOR buckets lightweight, inverted tubdesign minimizes ground contact and wear, whilst also boosting payload. ONTRAC Group’s analysis predicted an extra three tonnes per swing, cutting truck‑fill cycles by 3 passes without compromising wear.
Outcome
The XMOR BHC80 high production bucket delivered a 43 % increase in tonnes per hour output by raising throughput from 700 tph to over 1,000 tph. Fewer haul trucks were needed, overtime dropped, and operators quickly adapted to the unique curved design of the XMOR bucket. Wear has remained at a satisfactory level, and ONTRAC Group’s proactive support continues to ensure peak performance.
Results
| Traditional (3.5m3) | XMOR (5.1m3) | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes per hour | 700 | 1,000 | 43% increase |
| Trucks per hour | 18 | 25 | 39% increase |
| Time to fill a truck | 3min 20sec | 1min 45sec | 45% reduction |
| Passes to fill a truck | 8.5 | 4.5 | 33% reduction |
| Time to move same amount of material | 12 hours | 8 hours | 47% reduction |
