Gravel extraction with duty cycle crane: SENNEBOGEN 655 in UK

Our UK sales and service partner, AGD Equipment, delivered a SENNEBOGEN 655 dragline excavator in the middle of 2016 to the customer, Thomas Armstrong Aggregates Ltd. Fitted with a 27 m boom and two powerful 160 kN freefall winches, the duty cycle crane digs tons of gravel every day for the manufacture of construction materials.

With a company history that dates back over 180 years the Thomas Armstrong Group is undoubtedly one of the most highly traditional companies in British industry. Ever since the family business was established in 1830, it continues to progress as a market leader in numerous sectors, ranging from extraction, building material using wooden building materials to the transport of goods.

40 seconds for an unloading cycle – thanks to the sturdy configuration of the machine

Sand and gravel are extracted as raw material for numerous building products in the same gravel pit using dragline excavators. In 2016 the company invested in a duty cycle crane, a SENNEBOGEN 655 HD, for this purpose. Fitted with a 27 m long lattice boom and two 160 kN freefall winches, the machine excavates tons of sand a day from the earth. A sturdy design and reliable technology, “made in Germany”, were first and foremost the crucial purchasing criteria for the Management at Armstrong. For the dragline excavation operation the 655 duty cycle crane was fitted with an additional slewing gear, which is hydraulically driven with 261 kW from the engine. The operator only needs 40 seconds for a 90 degree unload cycle. A optimised fairlead with rope guide in the boom base and the individually set freefall speed by potentiometer provide the best operability in operating the dragline duty cycle crane.

The comfortable Maxcab offers the operator a pleasant work environment. An extensive lighting package and cameras ensure the best overview in daily operation. The machine is located in North-west England, in the heart of the county of Cumbria. Thanks to a close service network the competent sales and service partner, AGD Equipment, can be on site quickly if necessary for maintenance and spare parts supply.