Substantiation of the wheel loader employment at dimension stone quarries in Ukraine

Abstract

The study describes the most effective way of using wheel loaders at typical Ukrainian dimension stone deposits, and shows the economic benefits of their use. The loading and transportation of commercial blocks (LTB) and waste products (LTW) are analyzed, using respectively 4 and 3 alternative techniques. The most eligible techniques are then selected. It has been found that financial expenses for LTB can be reduced using the wheel loader for all operations. As regards the expenses related to LTW, the use of the wheel loader is more costly than the combination of wheel loader and dump truck. This study therefore indicates that the benefits gained from using wheel loaders make them a desirable choice across a wide range of companies.