Intermediate Storage Bin and Finished Product Yard of a High-Quality Aggregate Production Line

The principal equipment in a mature production line comprises crushers and screening machines, with auxiliary machinery including conveying equipment, washing apparatus, storage facilities, and electrical control systems.

Larger-scale aggregate plants often incorporate intermediate hoppers between primary and secondary crushing units to enhance operational efficiency. These hoppers store substantial material volumes, effectively dividing the system into front and rear stages.

Advantages of intermediate hoppers:

1) When upstream equipment malfunctions due to quarry conditions, transport disruptions, or maintenance, downstream units can continue operating for hours or even days using stockpiled material. 

2) It facilitates staggered operational schedules. Primary crushers, typically configured with larger equipment to handle bulkier feed from the quarry, require less continuous operation to meet daily output targets. Consequently, downstream equipment need not be oversized, allowing for extended daily operating hours. Thus, the intermediate storage bin enables distinct operational timetables for primary and secondary stages.

Intermediate stockyards employ various structural configurations, with the most common approach involving surface stockpiling and excavated underground passages. Material is conveyed from underground using feeders and belt conveyors. Constrained by topography and investment, a storage capacity of 1–2 days' output is generally optimal. 

The capacity of stockpiles for different finished product specifications should be proportional to the percentage of total output accounted for by that product. The layout of finished product stockpiles depends on the user's output method, differing for example between loader + dump truck systems and a single conveyor belt feeding directly to port loading or railway wagons.

OCP Heavy Industry, with 40 years of experience in manufacturing and developing large-scale mining equipment, offers core machinery including jaw crushers, impact crushers, cone crushers, sand makers, washing and sorting equipment, and conveying systems. We provide tailored production line solutions based on client requirements, including complimentary installation and training. Site visits to our facilities are welcome! Click our website chat for immediate free consultation – available 24 hours online.