Multi-Team Effort Sets Up Ore Crushing for Success
By Cole Pilling, Aggregate Production Manager
When faced with a challenge such as our recent rapid response ore crushing project at Kennecott, the Ames team draws on years of experience and expertise to make it happen. For this project to be successful, many parts and pieces have to align.
Ames’ Aggregate Production Team travels the country producing all types of materials for projects ranging from small transportation construction jobs to large mining operations such as Kennecott. The flexibility of our people allows Ames to make these projects happen.
► 793 Haul Trucks hauling run-of-mine (ROM) material to feed pile for Ames’ 988 Loaders
► 994 Loader loading 793 Haul Trucks from Ames’ Radial Stackers
Putting together an operation that functions 24/7 begins with assembling experienced personnel and bringing on and training new team members when needed. The Aggregate Production Team pulled the ore crushing team together so that we could say “yes” to a client’s request. Superintendents Larry Krish and George Freestone played a major role in organizing and conducting operations to make the project successful.
On a site like Kennecott, every crew member must have Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) training and must also complete the owner’s site-specific training, along with special training to be allowed to drive a vehicle at the site. The training completed by Ames’ safety and HR personnel with little notice makes it possible to complete the work needed in a timely manner.
► Three jaw crushing plants operating 24/7
► Production goal of 25,000 tons per day
► Reached 1,000,000 tons processed in 40 days
Mobilizing equipment that is MSHA-compliant and meets the owner’s standards is a monumental task. Ames maintains safety standards above and beyond the requirements from state and federal agencies to ensure these items are covered at all times. The project requires crew members to not only perform the work, but also to maintain both mobile and processing equipment between shifts in support of round-the-clock operations.
Fortunately, Ames has developed strong relationships with our vendors to ensure that these types of projects are successful.
With several other projects in the Western Region currently running aggregate processing operations, the biggest challenge for this project is staffing three crews, each of which consists of one crushing foreman, three 988 loader operators, and one utility operator. Shifts run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Superintendents and the entire Ames team stepped up to ensure coverage to accomplish the work for a valuable, long-term client.