Dust Boss

Leading Limestone Mining Operation
Increases Production with Innovative
Dust Control

CUSTOMER

Linwood Mining and Minerals Corporation

LOCATION

Davenport, IA

Challenge

Eliminate or greatly decrease lapses in production caused by excessive dust emissions in the area surrounding the limestone mining facility, by replacing fire hoses and spray bars with a more effective method.

Solution

The DustBoss® DB-60, a powerful ducted fan design with a 25 HP motor that generates 30,000 CFM, capable of covering as much as 21,000 square feet (1,950 square meters) with a fine mist of atomized droplets for outstanding dust control.

Results

Linwood has not experienced any downtime due to their dust emissions since purchasing the unit. They have also noticed an improvement in the quality of the material they are processing due to a decreased amount of water being sprayed over the crushing area.

Linwood Mining and Minerals Corporation, is a proven leader in the limestone industry. In operation since 1944, the company is one of the largest underground mines in Iowa and ranks among the largest limestone mining operations in the U.S., producing more than one million tons of limestone each year.

Dust Control Technology, is a leader in effective dust and odor control solutions for demolition, construction, transfer stations, composting facilities, mining operations, wood processing and scrap industries. The company's DustBoss product line helps reduce labor costs, freeing up manpower for more important tasks. The automated units also use less water than hoses and sprinklers, with some customers realizing payback in as little as 6 months and netting an annual cost savings of more than $50,000.

For more information, contact:
Dust Control Technology
1604 W. Detweiller Dr.
Peoria, IL 61615
Tel: (309) 693-8600
Toll-Free: (800) 707-2204
Fax: (309) 693-8605

Linwood Mining and Minerals Corporation, located in Davenport, Iowa, is a proven leader in the limestone industry. In operation since 1944, the company is one of the largest underground mines in Iowa and ranks among the largest limestone mining operations in the U.S.

Linwood operates 5-1/2 days a week, year round, to produce more than one million tons of limestone a year. Once brought to the surface, the limestone is run through the primary crusher and reduced to 5" or less material. The crushed material is then put on the surge pile where it is taken to the secondary crushing plants on the site to be reduced down to a variety of sizes.

An electronic DNR monitor constantly assesses the air quality in the area of the mining operation and forwards the readings to Linwood and to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. In order to maintain compliance with government air quality standards, dust emissions from Linwood's plant and other production facilities in the surrounding area must stay within a specified range of values over a 24-hour period. If the readings exceed the specified range due to excessive dust, the facilities must shut down. For every hour Linwood experiences downtime, thousands in production dollars are lost.

DustBoss helps REDUCE dust over the primary crusher at the plant.

Designed for Dust Control

In the past, Linwood has used water hoses and spray bars to help control dust both at the crusher and at transfer points. On average, due to excessive dust emissions, the plant experienced a substantial amount of downtime each month. Not only were the hose and spray bar methods ineffective, they also over-saturated the material, making it sticky, muddy and difficult to handle during the finishing process. More importantly, quality is an issue because use of dirty material inherently contributes to the failure of the end product, creating air pockets in asphalt and causing cracking or pop-outs on the surface of finished concrete.

After seeing the DustBoss at ConAgg/ConEXPO early in 2008, Linwood Mining decided to rent a DB-60 on a trial basis. The unit was set up to run over the primary impact crusher used on the site, a Universal 4650. Immediately, management at Linwood observed an improvement in dust control - in addition to a considerable increase in the quality of the crushed limestone - and decided to purchase the unit.

According to Jim Gilliam, Mine Manager, the DB-60 unit paid for itself within one month of use due to the marked decrease in downtime. Before purchasing the unit, the plant experienced several periods of downtime a week, resulting in lost production time. Since implementing the DustBoss at their site, Linwood has not experienced any downtime due to their plant's dust emissions.

Gilliam notes, "The portability of the unit and our ability to direct the mist as needed makes it more flexible than other options when dealing with the wind. The unit's performance and low maintenance have definitely met and even exceeded our needs." Production Manager Jim Petersen adds, "Some material is dustier than others, depending on the mine horizon. We've run the unit over the dustiest materials we process...it's done exactly what we've needed it to."

The DustBoss PAID for itself within one month at Linwood, according to the mine manager.