Brands
Sand and gravel operations often work with material that appears straightforward at first glance. The feed may already contain a high percentage of fines, suggesting minimal processing is required. But even material that looks simple can be difficult to turn into a clean, consistent final product.
At Carramar Resources in Western Australia, the site’s goal is to produce clean building sand that meets specifications every time. The material being processed ranges from 0–100 mm, with approximately 90% already passing through a 6 mm screen, so on paper, it looked like a simple screening application. However, small amounts of unwanted stone and organic contamination were still slipping through the process and reporting into the wrong material stream. This meant the sand was not coming out as clean or consistent as required, resulting in extra handling, reprocessing, and slowing overall production.
The customer was using a competing machine producing approximately 280 tonnes per hour under the same feed conditions. To avoid overwhelming the screenbox, feeder flow had to be reduced, yet carryover into the mid-grade product persisted. Blinding was also more evident across both decks.
Even with careful adjustments, the operation could not increase output without sacrificing product quality. In a market where consistency and volume directly influence profitability, this inefficiency was limiting the site’s ability to meet demand with confidence.
We worked alongside the customer to assess the material behaviour and machine configuration, focusing on practical adjustments that would deliver immediate results.
The Powerscreen Chieftain 1700X – A Screening Solution Built for Consistency
To address on-site challenges, we supplied the Powerscreen Chieftain 1700X, a mid-sized tracked mobile incline screen engineered for high-volume applications.
The machine was configured with a 40 mm woven-mesh top deck and a 6 mm piano-wire bottom deck. The screenbox angle was set at 34 degrees and could be quickly adjusted to operate in reverse using a hydraulic control lever mounted directly on the screenbox, making setup simple and operator-friendly.
Running the screenbox in reverse proved to be the turning point. It held material on the deck slightly longer, giving fines more opportunity to pass through the media and eliminating carryover into the mid-grade product.
The result was a measurable shift in performance. Average throughput increased to 484 tonnes per hour, calculated across three 20-minute peak production periods. The piano wire deck remained clean after a full shift with no blinding, while the impact section of the top deck effectively managed the initial material volume.
Output rose by more than 70% while delivering a cleaner, more consistent product. For the operator, this meant fewer adjustments, less rehandling and greater confidence in consistently meeting specification targets.
Engineering That Makes the Difference
At the heart of this performance is the patented screenbox design of the Powerscreen Chieftain 1700X – the only machine of its size on the market that can switch from a 4-bearing to a 2-bearing setup on site in just a couple of hours.
In heavy sand applications, this provides a significant advantage. A 4-bearing screenbox will not lose stroke or speed under load, meaning it does not “dampen” like a traditional 2-bearing setup. This allows the screen to maintain aggressive separation even at high tonnages.
Running at 1140 rpm as standard, with an adjustable throw of 6.5 mm, the unit delivers an excellent 4.7G of force – a 17.5% increase compared to the previous Chieftain 170 model. This translates directly into improved material stratification and higher throughput.
Beyond the screenbox, the machine combines a 4.8 m x 1.5 m (16 ft x 5 ft) screening area, a 5.3 m³ hopper capacity, and 1050 mm feed and main conveyors with hydraulic variable-speed control. Hydraulically folding side conveyors provide generous discharge heights, while the CAT engine delivers reliable power with an available dual-power option.
Serviceability also plays a critical role in uptime. Hydraulic raise-and-lower functionality improves access to the top-deck mesh for maintenance. Self-tensioning side conveyor paddles reduce spillage and eliminate the need for removal during transport. Hydraulic rams fold and unfold the screenbox walkways, enabling fast, efficient setup on site.
Safety as Standard
Performance alone is not enough. The Powerscreen Chieftain 1700X was supplied with custom guarding across all external conveyors, additional emergency-stop lanyards on both sides of each conveyor, and fire extinguishers mounted directly to the chassis.
Like all machines we supply, these safety features are designed to meet or exceed Australian Standards. They help protect operators from moving components and falling material while still allowing safe, practical access for maintenance and inspection.
The result is a machine that supports both productivity and safety on site – without compromise.
Lincom Group delivers complete material processing support across sales, hire, service, parts and training. Whether you’re dealing with downtime now or planning your next stage of growth, our team can help you find the right solution.