Why Automate

what automation will do for you
	The goal of an effective automation system is to safely maximize the plant efficiency and production by sensing the process variables and constantly making adjustments based on the information received. Even the best operators have difficulty adjusting to all of the changing process conditions, so what ends up happening is they find a “sweet spot” where the plant will run and not cause problems and extensive downtime. Under this scenario, there are many times throughout the day where more production is possible, but the system is running slower to handle problematic conditions. An automation system is sensing all of the equipment in the plant 30 times per second and making the programmed adjustments based on this information. This allows the system to anticipate problems and adjust for changing process conditions (i.e gradation changes coarse / fine, moisture content, etc.) effectively gaining production throughput by utilizing the unused capacity of the existing equipment.

	No other equipment investment made at a quarry can come close to the return on investment as automation.

why it is difficult to automate quarries
	All major manufacturing industries have installed automation systems to improve their processes, but the majority of quarries remain un-automated. The constant variation in the feed (moisture content, gradation, etc.) and the rugged operating environment provide specific challenges to an automation system. The automation approach of setting a production rate and controlling to a setpoint and typical PID control loops do not work well in the process. The process knowledge of the automation integrator and the calibration effort are critical to the success of the automation. Increasing costs of labor and energy are driving more and more automation in the industry.

key benefits of automation
Increased production Less downtime Lower operating costs Less operator dependency More effective maintenance planning Improved product quality due to consistent operation Automated production reporting Historical trending and data analysis capabilities Increased data improves business decision making

why automate with etheridge
We are experts in crushing efficiency with over 70 years of combined industry experience and have developed innovative control schemes to handle the challenges with quarry automation. Our focus is on increased production and our Etheridge Maximizer™ crushing circuit logic is proven over decades to handle feed variations while continuously pushing the most amount of product through the system. We have developed innovative solutions to quarry automation problems, such as, Software Speed Switches™ and the Etheridge Maximizer Probe™ for level measurement and system leasing options. We have products to fit all sizes of aggregate plants and all budgets We are committed to successful implementations as evidenced by our 10% production increase guarantee. We offer annual maintenance contracts and can assist with troubleshooting from our office via the internet.