Portable Equipment vs Tracked Equipment. What Can You ...
Choosing the right crushing and screening equipment tailored for your environment, materials, and final products is crucial. Using the incorrect equipment can lead to significant financial losses and time wastage. Therefore, understanding the relative benefits and drawbacks of different types of equipment is essential in making the best decision for your business.
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Wheeled Portable vs Mobile/Tracked: Which is More Suitable?
Cost of Ownership and Operation
Evaluating Various Cost Factors
Purchase Cost & Life Cycle Cost: The initial purchase cost of both tracked and portable equipment of similar quality is approximately in the range of $1.5 to $2.0 million. A well-maintained portable plant (excluding components such as generators and normal wear parts) can last up to 20,000 hours in tough applications and even up to 30,000 hours in easier conditions before a significant overhaul becomes necessary. On the other hand, tracked plants often see their usable life diminish to about 12,000 hours due to wear on diesel engines, hydraulics, undercarriages, and electrical components; this can drop to as low as 8,000 hours in challenging situations.
Although the upfront costs might be comparable, the discrepancies in capacity, lifespan, production flexibility, and operational expenses become quite apparent over time.
Depreciation Costs of Production: Let’s analyze the depreciation costs based on a hypothetical purchase price of $1.75 million:
| Equipment Type | Purchase Price | Hours | Est. Depreciation per Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track Mounted | $1,750,000 | 8,000 (Hard & Abrasive Conditions) | $218.75 |
| $1,750,000 | 12,000 (Soft and less abrasive conditions) | $145.83 | |
| Portable | $1,750,000 | 20,000 (Hard & Abrasive Conditions) | $87.50 |
| $1,750,000 | 30,000 (Soft and less abrasive conditions) | $58.33 |
Depreciation costs are significantly higher for track-mounted equipment! While this analysis may seem straightforward, it does not account for resale value. Portable equipment tends to retain more of its value and can still have significant productive life left at the 20,000-hour mark. A study of auction results highlights this difference and demonstrates what to expect from resale or trade-in.
Financing Implications: Rapid depreciation and reduced lifespan may lead to negative equity issues with tracked equipment during its usable life.
Operational Capacity
Many tracked equipment manufacturers design their Jaws, Cones, Impactors, and Screens for use in both portable and stationary applications. Notably, these machines often showcase higher production capabilities when operated electrically. This phenomenon is especially evident in high-temperature conditions where hydraulic fluid viscosity diminishes, unlike electric motors, which deliver full torque regardless of operating RPM.
Fuel and Operational Costs
Every tracked plant possesses its own diesel engine, leading to multiple engines across a spread of tracked equipment, complicating regular operations with daily refueling and starting/stopping requirements. Conversely, portable equipment is powered by a single diesel engine generating electricity, which reduces fuel consumption and streamlines maintenance requirements.
Safety Considerations
The operator of portable equipment enjoys the advantage of working within a dust-free, climate-controlled tower that offers 360-degree visibility and a one-button complete shutdown. In contrast, operators of tracked equipment may need to navigate to each machine for shutdowns.
Setup and Transportation
Tracked plants are favored for their speedy setup time, appealing for small-scale or short-term production adjustments. However, this advantage dissipates in multi-plant high-production settings. Well-designed portable equipment not only enhances efficiency but also reduces setup time significantly. Moving tracked plants can incur higher costs due to their weight and dimensions compared to portable equipment, which can be transported using a standard highway tractor.
Operational Efficiency
Crusher Size: Productivity tends to peak with portable equipment as it experiences less downtime for maintenance and repairs. Portable equipment can also house larger crushers and screens, allowing for substantial volume production.
Environmental Considerations
Tracked equipment comes with several hydraulic systems, increasing the risk of spills during fueling compared to portable setups, which centralize fuel and hydraulic requirements.
Maintenance Factors
Equipment well-maintained outlasts its poorly maintained counterparts. Maintenance costs for tracked systems are expected to be higher over time due to mechanical complexities and multiple diesel engines compared to portable setups that require less upkeep.
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Footprint Considerations
The spatial footprint of each type of equipment can affect their suitability for particular applications. Tracked equipment may be preferable where space is restricted, such as in recycling applications or when a single processing unit suffices. Tracked systems are often used in the initial stages of mining due to their minimal footprint.
Rental Options
In situations where a single piece of equipment supplements existing operations, renting could be an efficient solution, especially for smaller jobs. The market favors tracked equipment rentals due to their self-contained nature.
Why Choose Portable Equipment?
- For long-term investments, ownership and operational costs are lower with portable equipment.
- For varying product requirements that demand adaptable process configurations.
- To achieve substantial tonnages in set timeframes, especially with multi-shift operations.
- For production rates typically associated with stationary "factories" while retaining operational flexibility.
For more insights, please consider Crushing & Screening Equipment.
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