Skip to content
- We saw a huge improvement quite immediately. There is little doubt that this works even better than expected.
The words come from Rolf André Hagen, site manager at Romarheim Entreprenør. He has taken a seat in the Eikefet quarry just an hour outside Bergen, where just over a million tonnes are produced annually.
- "Quarrying is not gold, it's stone. So one of the big ways to save money is to have wear steel that provides a low cost per tonne," Hagen begins.
Last summer, Romarheim decided to test out the dental system C-REX from Combi Wear Parts, with Entrack AS as their dealer. It's a choice they don't regret.
- We first converted a 6 cubic metre bucket that ran on a 100 tonne excavator. The results with C-REX were so good that we quickly decided to convert a further five buckets and buy a brand new one. The system simply works very well," continues the site manager.
Great effect
Hagen was asked to specify what benefits Romarheim sees from the steel grip they have taken.
- We can highlight two key parameters. One is the cost of replaceable wear parts per tonne produced. "We haven't replaced the intermediate pieces yet, but I'm guessing we'll end up with around NOK 0.5 - 0.55. That's a reduction of almost one and a half crowns compared with the steel we used previously," says Hagen.
- The other thing we can emphasise is diesel consumption. I estimate that there will be a reduction of at least 10 per cent with the C-REX - and I'm being cautious. That's also a great figure; after all, we're talking about quite a lot of money saved on a 100-tonne excavator over the course of a year.
Durable
However, the Romarheim man is quick to add more lessons learnt after reaching 1,000 hours with the C-REX.
- The steel is durable, it lasts a long time. At the same time, it's very easy for the operator to change the parts. This makes the system less time-consuming for us," he says.
Hagen points out that the fact that the steel exceeds what was predicted in advance creates a great deal of confidence in dealer Entrack.
- Just finding a supplier who can say something about the expected cost per tonne is difficult. However, Entrack, together with manufacturer Combi Wear Parts, was able to do so and they delivered an estimate that we found exciting. So it's extra fun that the forecasts actually appear sobering afterwards," he says.
Goes well in the stone
Machine operator Anders Steinsland is one of those who knows first-hand how the C-REX behaves in the quarry at Eikefet. With his Cat 395, he has been driving with the tooth system since September.
- "Personally, I really like C-REX. It runs very well in the stone and I easily fill up the tray," says Steinsland.
- "This system goes into the masses better than previous steels I've used. And the easier it goes, the more efficient the work becomes - and we can drive more tonnes," he continues.
With a twinkle in his eye, site manager Hagen explains that the machine operator is known for giving clear feedback internally on whether equipment is working - or not.
- "One of the most important things in order to do a good job is to have the best possible equipment. With C-REX, efficiency is high," says Steinsland.
Good co-operation
Speaking of efficiency. At Eikefet, Romarheim also has several autonomous tipper trucks that transport large quantities of materials on a daily basis. To put it simply, there's no doubt that Hagen and co. are a forward-thinking bunch.
- "We always want to be a little better. Among other things, this has led us on the exciting journey we've been on with C-REX," says the site manager.
He highly values the collaboration they have with Entrack.
- We have a long history together. Entrack appears to us as a stable and serious partner who is genuinely interested in finding the best solutions together with us," says Hagen, before adding:
- Because of the close follow-up we receive, we are always at the forefront. In addition to our own small stock, Entrack also keeps the parts we need in stock. This gives us peace of mind that we can make replacements when we need to - and we avoid having to drive with equipment that is worn down to the bone. That's very valuable over time.
- Pleased to see the effects
Entrack salesman Øyvind Hope is the man who follows Romarheim most closely in the search for the best possible wear steel and teeth.
- "We've delivered a lot of different equipment to Romarheim over a long period of time, but things slowed down a bit when we started looking at these large drawers. The collaboration has been very rewarding for us, and it's particularly gratifying to see the effects Romarheim is having," says Hope.
He is quick to point out that Vevle Mek on Osterøy deserves praise for the welding job done on the converted buckets. Hope goes on to say that demand for the patented C-REX tooth system, an agency that Entrack has had since 2023, is steadily increasing.
- "We didn't expect it to be so popular. There are now many machines around the country, from 8-150 tonnes, with this system. The feedback is that the teeth stay sharp, the steel lasts a long time and the economy is good. So this is a product that we have great faith in going forward," Hope concludes.
