Salt harvester
Loadquip, in collaboration with CMP Engineers, delivered a pair of 1,500 t/h salt harvesters to operations in Western Australia.
These machines traverse evaporation ponds, picking up salt and loading trailers on either side as they move from end to end. The design is derived from earthmoving track systems, equipped with a variable-pitch feeder, screw lift, and bi-directional conveyor system.
The harvesters are rated to harvest salt at an average rate of 1,500 tonnes per hour, and can surge to 2,000 t/h if needed. Although typical cutting depth is 250 to 300 mm, the machine is capable of cutting as deep as 400 mm.
Key features
- Salt is collected and loaded onto trailers on both sides of the machine, optimising throughput
- Delivers consistent feed rates and control over salt volume intake
- Two elevating conveyors feed into a central bi-directional conveyor to dispatch salt efficiently
- Operated by one person, who controls machine steering, cutter depth, ground speed, and load trimming
- Travel speed control can be automated to optimize power usage and reduce operator workload
Applications
- Harvesting salt from evaporation ponds for industrial salt production
- Environments requiring high throughput salt extraction with minimal manual handling
- Sites where continuous, reliable harvesting across large pond surfaces is needed
