In typical quarry or mining operations, wear plates are essential components in stationary equipment, states SSAB. They serve as liners in hoppers, feeders and chutes, as well as hammers in crushers and screens for sorting. All of these applications endure extensive wear from abrasive rocks and ore, leading to frequent replacements and high maintenance costs.
A lot of this equipment relies on thick, standard AR steel with a relatively low hardness of around 400 HBW. SSAB is challenging that convention with Hardox wear plate in higher hardness levels as a cost-effective alternative.
At first glance, ordinary steel seems less expensive per kilo or pound than harder steel. But the real question is, how much of this “cheaper” steel will you need to buy, process, install and maintain over time?
For any operation facing extreme wear, the goals are clear:
- Maximize equipment and machine wear resistance.
- Maximize productivity and the safety of your operation.
- Minimize downtime for replacements, maintenance and repairs
SSAB has tested wear steel at different hardness levels – and the results speak for themselves.
As the table shows, upgrading from an AR 400 steel to Hardox 500 wear plate doubles the service life – from 2.4 to 4.8 in relative numbers. What can this mean in practical terms?
- During the equipment’s lifetime, you can cut your wear plate purchases by 50%.
- You only need to process 50% as many plates in the workshop and only need to install 50% as many plates, which saves man-hours and is a safety benefit.
- Instead of downtime and man-hour costs for two maintenance stops, you only need one stop for the same period of time.
- This adds up to a 40% daily cost reduction compared to an AR 400 steel.
With Hardox 500, durability pays off – both in cost savings and sustainability. Using less steel means that less steel is produced, transported, processed and installed over the course of the equipment’s lifespan, reducing your environmental footprint.
More Cost-Efficient
Several qualities set Hardox wear plate apart from conventional wear steels. It is a highly consistent material with guarantees for thickness, flatness and bending properties. This results in predictable processing in the workshop and predictable performance and maintenance planning in the field. One of the most critical factors in wear resistance is the steel’s through-thickness hardness. Hardox wear plate retains at least 90% of its surface’s hardness all the way to the core. This unique benefit explains its exceptionally long service life, and why the data proves that Hardox is a smart investment for your bottom line.
The chart below shows the hardness measurements through a cross section of a 75-mm thick plate of Hardox 500 versus a standard AR 500 steel.
Know Your Wear
To find the optimal grade and thickness of Hardox wear plate for a particular equipment and environment, SSAB recommends a thorough evaluation of the wear conditions and abrasive materials. Its technical development managers and material specialists have decades of experience in solving wear challenges. They will help assess specific challenges and recommend the best Hardox grade for maximum durability and performance.
SSAB, www.ssab.com