The use of recycled concrete and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) has grown exponentially on a global scale, offering practical business opportunities for small- to medium-sized crushing contractors.
Waste management has become an issue of increasing concern as cities run out of landfill space. To provide context, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which measures the generation of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in the United States, estimated that 569 million tons of C&D debris was generated in 2017.
Recycling and reuse have, therefore, been identified as the efficient solutions in dealing with waste. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), for example, supports and promotes the use of recycled highway materials in pavement construction, in an effort to preserve the environment, reduce waste, and provide cost-effective material for the construction of highways. About 80 percent of asphalt removed from U.S. roads is recycled, according to the FHWA.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
For contractors to take full advantage of this surge in recycling demand, the choice of correct equipment from a reputable supplier that has a strong global support footprint is key, says Vesa Tuloisela, director, Nordtrack offering, Metso Outotec.
Some of the key considerations when buying crushing equipment for recycling concrete and asphalt, advises Tuloisela, include equipment compactness, ease of use, ability to be moved easily between worksites, accessibility, reasonable price point, quick return on investment, and product support.
NEW NORDTRACK RANGE
Metso Outotec has a long history of offering purpose-built equipment for recycling. A case in point is its Lokotrack LT1213 horizontal shaft impact (HSI) crusher, which has been serving this sector with great success over a long period of time. This unit is renowned for its high capacity and efficient fuel economy. It can operate as a primary or secondary crusher—especially in recycling applications, such as processing concrete, asphalt, and demolition waste.
The launch of the Nordtrack range in October 2019 ushered in a new era for the global recycling contracting sector. A key feature that appeals to this group of customers is the compactness of the range.
“Typically, most recycling projects happen at the point of demolition to reduce transport costs. This is mostly in urban areas, where space is at a premium. It’s important that crushing machinery is compact in size and easy to move between sites,” says Tuloisela.
The Nordtrack I908S, for example, is a crusher and screen in one. It is a compact, lightweight recycling crusher that is easy to transport between project sites.
TIME IS CRITICAL
Recycling contracts by their very nature are short, with strict project timelines. Consequently, crushing contractors are looking for quick lead times for their crushing equipment. Delivery times for Nordtrack equipment are usually just a few weeks, on average. With standard designs for off-the-shelf availability and plug-and-play features, complemented by an extensive Metso Outotec support network, these mobile solutions make it easy to get contracting operations up and running quickly.
With recycling contracts mostly small in size and value, crushing contractors are looking for affordable solutions.
“The Nordtrack units are generally smaller and compact in size with a lower price point than larger units with more options and tailoring. Thanks to various leasing possibilities, too, contractors can get started in the recycling business with a moderate initial investment,” concludes Tuloisela.
The Nordtrack range includes 19 products, such as small to midsize jaw crushers, impact crushers, mobile screens and mobile conveyors. The products are designed to be used in multiple applications, whether it be aggregate production, recycling or sand and gravel. The range is ideal for contractors looking for flexibility–to have a solution they can use in any application and move from one application to another. Read more at www.metso.com/nordtrack.