For more than six decades the Gerken group of companies has worked successfully to build and improve infrastructure throughout the northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan regions. Limestone, sand and gravel products are all available through a network of quarries as well as sand and gravel production facilities conveniently located throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. This enables the company to have the stock, selection and, vitally, the locations to give its customers a cost effective and simplified aggregate material buying experience.
Challenge
In order to continually recycle asphalt grindings for reuse on its many highway and road projects, Gerken required a crushing plant to recycle its ‘junk pile’ which includes chunks from driveways, parking lots, or road grindings. They needed a plant that was highly portable, easy to operate, with a quick and easy setup and tear down, because the unit would be moved every two to three weeks to a new location. This would ensure that supplies to areas were continually maintained.
Solution
Ideal for Gerken’s unique requirements was IROCK’s RDS-20 Horizontal Shaft Impact (HSI) Crusher. It combines a closed circuit design, high performance four bar impactor and heavy duty components for reliability, increased efficiency and the precision to produce a uniform, cubical product. The machine features a 5’ by 16’ double deck screen. IROCK’s 100’ electric conveyor is powered by the onboard generator of the RDS-20 and delivers high levels of productivity even when faced by challenging ground conditions.
All of these features, and more, make the highly versatile IROCK products an invaluable component of Gerken’s operation. “This plant is easily taken down, placed on a low boy, moved over the highway and setup at the next plant, making it highly portable and very consistent when moving it from location to location. It’s the easiest piece to move, meaning that we are faced with the least amount of time to prep to move and crush. It takes half a day to get ready and move onto the next location to start crushing,” says Ryan Sager, Gerken Asphalt Paving.
Results
Gerken uses the IROCK RDS-20 machine to primarily process asphalt, producing 250-300 tons per hour, averaging ½” minus. The end product(s) consist of reclaimed asphalt aggregates, crushed and recycled concrete aggregates and crushed limestone aggregates, all used for asphalt paving, granular fill material and road base material.
The IROCK crusher and stockpiler were supplied to Gerken by Ohio CAT, IROCK’s local dealer.
“Gerken Companies could not be happier with the sales people from Ohio CAT and especially the technicians who offer support on the IROCK equipment,” explains 25-year Gerken veteran Dave Keifer. “The Gerken Companies have been a great partner with Ohio CAT. My interactions within the organization for the past 20+ years have always been collaborative, with a solution based approach to products and services. They are industry professionals, leading the markets they serve in quality, safety, and innovation,” concludes Jeff Dress, account manager Ohio CAT.
