M. Tucker & Sons Recycles Construction Aggregates for Reuse with Anaconda TD516R Trommel

Snapshot : M.Tucker & Sons uses an Anaconda TD516R Tracked Trommel Screen to recover 20mm aggregate from municipal drainage systems to use in the company’s on-site concrete ready-mix plant.

M. Tucker & Sons, located in Mount Evelyn, Victoria, Australia, is a civil and trenchless solutions provider for a wide range of sewer, drainage and stormwater system challenges. Established in 1989 by Mark Tucker, M. Tucker & Sons is a family-owned and operated business with a reputation for reliability and excellence that is driven by technology, safety and environmental priorities.

Challenge

Mr. Tucker’s commitment to environmental sustainability led him to pioneer a wash plant for receiving, separating and recycling debris generated from municipal and stormwater maintenance, as well as non-destructive drilling and horizontal directional drilling projects. All the material is assessed and categorized for appropriate disposal under the Environmental Protection Authority’s guidelines.

The debris Mr. Tucker received from the municipal waste stream was predominantly comprised of sand and gravel from the roadways. He decided to recycle these aggregate materials – saving them from going to the landfill and minimizing their carbon footprint – and return them back to the industry as concrete product, which he mixes on site for use in other aspects of his business’s extensive portfolio.

“We found out that the portion that we needed was around the 20mm size and 20mm down,” explained Mr. Tucker. “That was the bulk of the material, the 20mm crushed rock, so we needed a machine that would feed the plant and be variable and controllable.”

Solution

Mr. Tucker purchased an Anaconda TD516R Tracked Trommel Screen from OneTrak, Anaconda’s Australia dealer. The TD516R features a hopper that feeds a 5.15m long screening drum with a 1.37m diameter and is fitted with two hydraulic product conveyors. It separates the material Mr. Tucker wants to recycle from the bulk feed ahead of the wash plant by removing any debris larger than 20mm.

The availability of the machine coupled with the local service and support from OneTrak at its Hallam location nearby were deciding factors in Mr. Tucker’s decision to purchase the Anaconda Trommel.

“They were keen to work with us and get the right grades,” Mr. Tucker said of the startup service received from Anaconda and OneTrak. “The material is quite aggressive that we’re putting through it, so we made some adjustments in the early days with the machine, which we worked with the Anaconda team and OneTrak to get this all on board. We put some hard-wearing materials in the machine to suit the heavy wear, but pretty much, it’s done the job perfectly.”

Results

The Anaconda TD516R Tracked Trommel Screen is a critical part of the infrastructure at M. Tucker & Sons. It’s helping to recover recycled aggregates from municipal waste and put it back into the infrastructure, reducing the carbon footprint and minimizing waste sent to landfills.

“The TD516R has worked out to be the perfect machine for us. It’s got variable speeds on every facet of the machine, on all the belts and drives,” Mr. Tucker said. “The machine makes the processing system at the back end of the plant much easier.”

Mr. Tucker said the Anaconda TD516R Tracked Trommel Screen can be operated easily by one person and that the maintenance has been pretty standard. He’s had a great experience with Anaconda and OneTrak in terms of service and support. “The service and support has been amazing. You just give them one call and they’re straight on the phone,” Mr. Tucker said.

He’s also benefitted from the OneTrak team being so close to his operation. “They’ve been fantastic,” Mr. Tucker said. “I’ve got nothing but praise for them and their team in there.

Mr. Tucker added that he’d definitely buy another Anaconda machine. “I love it,” shared Mr. Tucker. “It’s a great machine. It’s doing the job very well.”