Scott

September 21, 2010 | General

Web Extra, September 2010 BioCycle


Complementing “Controlling Costs In Compost Manufacturing,” BioCycle, September 2010, p. 26. Complete front-end loader cost-accounting analysis – comparing four bucket sizes to conduct tasks related to windrow building, tear down and screening.

Loader time needed to handle material for windrow building

Bucket
Size (cy)

CY/
day

Buckets/
Day

Min/
Bucket

Min/
Day

Hrs/
Day

FTEs

4
945
236.25
3.0
720

12

1.6
6
945
157.5
4.6

720

12

1.6
9
945
105.0
6.9

720

12

1.6
15
945
63.0
11.4

720

12

1.6

Loader time needed to handle material for windrow tear down

Bucket
Size (cy)

CY/
day

Buckets/
Day

Min/
Bucket

Min/
Day

Hrs/
Day

FTEs

4
945
236.25
1.5
360

6

0.8
6
945
157.5
2.3
360

6

0.8
9
945
105.0
3.4

360

6

0.8
15
945
63.0
5.7

360

6

0.8

Loader time needed to handle screening operation

Bucket
Size (cy)

CY/
day

Buckets/
Day

Min/
Bucket

Min/
Day

Hrs/
Day

FTEs

4
945
236.25
6
1417.5

23.625

3.1
6
945
157.5
6

945

15.75

2.1
9
945
105.0
6

630

10.5
1.4
15
945
63.0
6

378
6.3

0.8

Loaders needs analysis



Work to be done

Bucket
Size (cy)

Total/Min
day

Hrs/
Day

Hrs/
Year

Available Hrs/
Year

#FELs
Needed

4
2497.5
41.6
10406.3
2500

4
6
2025
33.8
8437.5

2500

3
9
1710
28.5
7125.0

2500

3
15
1458
24.3
6075.0

2500

2

Note: This assumes each model type doing ALL the materials handling above.
Loaders capital cost analysis

Bucket
Size
(cy)

Ex. FELs Cost/Year

Used Mach. Cost/Year
New Mach.
Cost/Year

No.
Needed

Total Annual
Cost

Cost
/Hr/
FEL

Cost/
Hr

4
$13,139.16

$26,808.48
1 exist,
3 new

$93,564.60

$12.48

$37.43
6
$27,155.52

$28,835.52

1 exist,
2 new

$84,826.56

$11.31

$33.93
9
$26,637.84

$41,474.40

1 exist,
2 new

$109,586.64
$14.61
$43.83
15

$53,259.72
$75,743.64

1 used,
1 new

$129,003.36

$17.20
$51.60

Note: Cost per loader based on 2,500 hours per year per machine.
 


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