Tracked Hopper Feeder

ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder is a mobile feeding equipment developed to address pain points in global bulk material handling scenarios, such as "complex ground conditions, frequent equipment relocation needs, and difficulties in multi-link coordination". It can seamlessly connect front-end feeding equipment (wheel loaders, grab cranes, excavators) with back-end processing equipment (belt conveyors, telescopic stackers, mobile ship loaders, truck unloaders), providing domestic and foreign customers with an integrated solution featuring "flexible movement + controllable feeding + multi-scenario adaptation".

With a "tracked mobile chassis" as its core carrier, the equipment combines the stability of static feeding and the flexibility of dynamic movement: the hopper capacity ranges from 7-15 m³ (horizontal stacking), the maximum handling capacity reaches 1000 tons per hour (TPH), and it is equipped with a 15-28 m hydraulically adjustable tilting arm, capable of handling various bulk materials such as aggregates, ores, and coal with a particle size of ≤150 mm. It can be optionally equipped with a 360° central slewing bearing to further expand the operating angle and stacking range. Meanwhile, it supports two options of rubber tracks and steel tracks, adapting to different ground conditions in port terminals, mine areas, quarries, biomass yards, etc. This completely solves the problems of "site restrictions and difficult relocation" of traditional fixed feeders, making it the preferred equipment for high-mobility bulk material handling scenarios worldwide.

Core Highlights of Tracked Hopper Feeder

The functional design of ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder is fully based on the actual operating needs of global customers. Both the chassis and control system have been optimized in a targeted manner to ensure the equipment reaches an industry-leading level in efficiency, stability, and adaptability:

Tracked Mobile Chassis

Different from wheeled equipment that has high requirements for ground flatness, ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder adopts a high-strength tracked chassis, which adapts to multi-scenario ground conditions through three major designs:

• Dual options for track material: Standard configuration includes steel tracks, suitable for hard ground such as mines and quarries; rubber tracks can be optionally installed, which are designed for port concrete floors and soft ground in biomass yards to avoid ground scratches and equipment sinking, and protect the operating site environment;
• Hydraulically adjustable outriggers: Equipped with hydraulically adjustable jack outriggers, the equipment can be quickly fixed after positioning, reducing chassis vibration during operation and ensuring feeding accuracy; when moving, the outriggers are retracted, and the tracks realize flexible steering through hydraulic drive, with a minimum turning radius of only 3.5 m, facilitating relocation in narrow spaces (such as gaps in port terminals, underground mine passages);
• Strong ground adaptability: The track contact area reaches 2.8 m² (taking the HF 520 model as an example), and the ground contact pressure is as low as 0.08 MPa. It can drive stably on sloped ground with a gradient of ≤15° and mine ground covered with gravel, without the need for additional cushioning, reducing site transformation costs.

Precise Feeding System

The feeding system of the tracked hopper feeder aims for "low loss and high stability", and key components adopt heavy-duty design:

• Wear-resistant belt and drive: The feeding belt is a 1200 mm wide EP 500 type 3-layer structure (5 mm base belt + 1.5 mm wear-resistant layer), with a tensile strength of 500 N/mm, and its wear resistance is twice that of ordinary belts; the tilting arm belt is an EP 400 type 3-layer (3 mm base belt + 1 mm wear-resistant layer), suitable for long-distance conveying of 15-28 m, avoiding material scattering midway; the drive system uses a high-torque motor (single-drive/dual-drive optional), combined with a variable frequency drive (VSD), which can realize stepless speed regulation of 0-1000 TPH, accurately matching the handling capacity of back-end belt conveyors and mobile ship loaders, avoiding material blockage or capacity waste;
• Hopper anti-blocking and wear-resistant design: The hopper adopts a "wide feed inlet + U-shaped bottom" structure, with an inlet width of 3.2-4.5 m (adapted to capacity), supporting full-hopper discharge of grab cranes and large loaders without the need for分次 positioning; the hopper inner lining can be optionally 6 mm hardened steel or 15 mm ULF wear-resistant material, and its service life is extended by more than 3 times for high-strength materials such as iron ore and granite; a bolt-fixed anti-fall system is built-in to prevent large particle size material blocks from damaging the belt and improve equipment safety;
• Intelligent control panel: A control panel is installed on the side of the equipment, integrating an HMI human-machine interface and fault display function, which can monitor parameters such as feeding speed, motor temperature, and hydraulic system pressure in real time; it supports communication interlocking with back-end equipment (such as telescopic stackers) to realize synchronous start and stop of "feeding - conveying - stacking", reducing manual intervention.

360° Rotation Function

For scenarios requiring multi-angle operations such as port ship/barge loading and unloading and mine circular stacking, ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder can be optionally equipped with a "central slewing bearing" component, achieving three core advantages:

• Full-angle operation: 360° rotation without dead angles, a single equipment can cover an operating range with a diameter of 30-50 m (depending on the length of the tilting arm), replacing the combined use of multiple traditional fixed feeders and reducing equipment investment costs;
• Parallel movement adaptation: In ship/barge loading and unloading operations, the equipment can move parallel to the hull through the track parallel movement function, without frequent adjustment of the overall equipment position. Only by rotating the hopper can uniform feeding of the entire ship hull be completed, increasing loading efficiency by more than 25%;
• Stacking capacity optimization: In mine stacking scenarios, 360° rotation combined with hydraulic lifting of the tilting arm can build conical material piles with a height of 9-13 m (depending on the model). The stacking capacity is 40% higher than that of fixed feeders, making full use of site space.

Multi-Equipment Linkage Adaptation

As an important part of ZOOMRY's bulk material conveying product family, the tracked hopper feeder can be seamlessly linked with equipment such as belt conveyors, telescopic stackers, mobile ship loaders, and scraper feeders, forming a "non-breakpoint" processing process:

• Linkage with belt conveyors: The discharge port of the feeder can be directly connected to the feed port of the belt conveyor through an adjustable chute. The chute inner lining is a ceramic wear-resistant layer, reducing material impact wear; through communication interlocking, the "feeding speed is automatically adjusted with the conveyor load" is realized, avoiding material accumulation;
• Linkage with mobile ship loaders: In port loading scenarios, the feeder cooperates with the telescopic arm of the mobile ship loader through 360° rotation, covering the entire hatch of the ship. The loading speed is stable at 800-1000 TPH, reducing ship berthing time;
• Linkage with scraper feeders: In biomass yards, the feeder can receive materials such as wood chips and straw conveyed by scraper feeders, temporarily store them in the hopper, and then stably convey them to back-end processing equipment, avoiding uneven feeding caused by loose biomass.

Typical Application Scenarios

With "high mobility, high stability, and multi-adaptability", ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder has served customers in ports, mines, quarries, biomass power plants, etc., in more than 60 countries and regions around the world. Its core application scenarios include:

Port Ship/Barge Loading and Unloading

In the loading and unloading operations of ores, coal, and cement clinker at port terminals, traditional fixed feeders need to be distributed along the terminal to cover ships at different berths; ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder can be quickly transferred between different berths through track movement (with a transfer speed of up to 3 km/h), and a single equipment can meet the loading and unloading needs of 2-3 berths.

Mine Stacking and Reclaiming

In mine raw material storage and pretreatment scenarios, the ground is mostly covered with gravel or has a large slope, and wheeled equipment is prone to slipping and getting stuck. ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder adopts steel tracks, which can drive stably on mine ground with a slope of 12° without laying steel plates or concrete cushions; during the stacking stage, the equipment can build material piles with a height of 9.7 m (taking the HF 523 model as an example) through 360° rotation and a 23 m tilting arm, with a stacking capacity of 880 m³ (18° stacking angle), which is 50% higher than that of traditional wheel loader stacking; during the reclaiming stage, the feeder can be directly connected to the mine crushing station, receive the crushed ore and convey it to the belt conveyor, reducing the transfer link of loaders and saving more than RMB 800,000 in annual fuel costs.

Quarry Aggregate Transfer

In the aggregate handling process of quarries, the crushed aggregates need to be transferred from the crushing area to the screening/washing area. The traditional method relies on repeated transfer by loaders, which easily causes excessive crushing of aggregates (loss rate of 10%-15%). ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder can be directly parked at the exit of the crusher. Loaders unload the crushed aggregates (particle size ≤150 mm) into the hopper, and the aggregates are directly conveyed to the screening equipment through a 15-20 m tilting arm, realizing seamless connection of "crushing - feeding - screening". Taking a quarry with a handling capacity of 1000 TPH as an example, the equipment can replace the transfer work of 2 30-ton wheel loaders, reducing the aggregate loss rate to less than 5%, while reducing dust scattering and meeting environmental protection requirements.

Biomass Yard Assistance

In biomass (wood chips, straw, mulch) handling scenarios, materials are loose and easy to agglomerate, and heat accumulation due to stacking should be avoided. ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder can be upgraded through customization to adapt to biomass characteristics: the hopper inner lining uses smooth ULF material to prevent material adhesion; a material agitator can be optionally installed to break up agglomerated materials before feeding; the tilting arm belt uses a herringbone pattern belt to avoid biomass slipping; at the same time, the equipment can cooperate with an aeration device to perform mild aeration on biomass during the feeding process, reducing heat accumulation and improving operation safety.

Technical Parameters and Customization Options

ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder provides multiple model options and supports targeted customization. The core technical parameters and customization options are as follows:

Core Technical Parameters

Power and Control Options

• Drive method: The feeder and tilting arm support single-drive/dual-drive configurations, with electric (380V/480V) or hydraulic drive optional, adapting to different on-site energy supply conditions;
• Engine options: For highly regulated regions (EU Stage V/US Tier 4 Final), CAT C3.6 ACERT (74.5kW/100Hp) and Deutz TCD3.6 (85kW/114Hp) engines are optional; for less regulated regions (EU Stage IIIA/US Tier 3), CAT 4.4 (75kW/100Hp) and CAT C4.4 (96.6kW/130Hp) engines are optional, ensuring compliance with local environmental protection standards;
• Control functions: Standard configuration includes HMI control panel and fault display; radio remote control can be optionally installed, realizing full-function operation such as feeding speed adjustment, track movement, and tilting arm lifting within a range of 50 m, suitable for high-risk operating environments (such as underground mines, material yards with high dust concentration).

Customization Upgrade Options

• Wear-resistant upgrade: The hopper inner lining can be upgraded to 10 mm hardened steel, and the drive drum can be optionally covered with ceramic rubber, adapting to high-wear material handling needs (such as iron ore, granite);
• Environmental protection upgrade: The tilting arm can be equipped with a canvas/galvanized dust cover to reduce material scattering and dust pollution; a belt magnetic separator can be optionally installed to separate metal impurities in materials;
• Safety upgrade: Equipped with a tilting arm anti-reversal system and a pull-cord emergency stop device, complying with international safety standards (such as OSHA, CE);
• Material adaptation: For biomass materials, a material agitator and herringbone belt can be optionally installed; for large particle size materials, a hopper grid (static/vibrating type) can be customized to prevent oversize materials from entering the feeding system.

Why Choose ZOOMRY?

High Degree of Customization

ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder supports multi-dimensional customized configurations, which can be flexibly adjusted according to the operating site and material characteristics: two options of track types (steel and rubber) are provided, adapting to hard mine ground or port concrete ground that is easy to scratch; the hopper inner lining can be optionally installed with 6 mm hardened steel or 15 mm ULF wear-resistant material to meet the needs of high-wear material handling; the tilting arm can be equipped with a canvas or galvanized dust cover to reduce material scattering and dust pollution, and a belt magnetic separator can be configured according to needs to separate metal impurities in materials.

Full-Chain Equipment Linkage

ZOOMRY has a complete bulk material handling equipment system including belt conveyors, telescopic stackers, and mobile ship loaders. The tracked hopper feeder reserves communication interlocking interfaces and mechanical adaptation structures with the full range of products during the design stage, without the need for additional customized adapter components. The equipment can realize synchronous start and stop and parameter coordination with back-end conveying, stacking, and loading equipment, quickly building a "feeding - feeding - processing" non-breakpoint operation process and shortening the overall system commissioning cycle.

Efficient Service Response

Relying on a complete supply chain system, ZOOMRY Tracked Hopper Feeder has significant advantages in cost control. At the same time, the equipment transportation plan is optimized - it can be transported by ro-ro shipping or disassembled and loaded into 40-foot high-cube containers, reducing global transportation costs. In terms of technical support, it is equipped with a control panel that supports remote fault diagnosis. Combined with cooperation with local logistics providers in major global markets, spare parts can be delivered within 72 hours. Common problems can be quickly solved through remote guidance, reducing equipment downtime.

Convenient Operation and Maintenance

The equipment adopts a modular design. The power unit, feeding system, and tracked chassis can be disassembled and maintained independently, reducing the overall disassembly workload during maintenance; the control panel integrates an HMI human-machine interface and multi-language display function, supporting the switching of multiple languages such as Chinese and English, adapting to the operating habits of operators in different regions; at the same time, a detailed maintenance manual is provided, covering daily maintenance processes such as belt replacement and lubricating oil addition. The customer team can independently complete basic maintenance operations, reducing dependence on external technical personnel.

Customer Support and Service

ZOOMRY always takes "customer needs as the core" and provides professional and efficient support services for global customers to ensure the long-term stable operation of the equipment:

Free Selection and Planning

After customers provide the operating scenario (such as port/mine), material characteristics (such as aggregate/biomass), and handling capacity requirements (such as 500/1000 TPH), ZOOMRY's technical team will combine the experience of similar global projects and provide a customized selection plan through "material simulation testing + site layout analysis", including model selection, recommended customized components, and equipment placement planning, avoiding the problems of "excessive selection leading to cost waste" or "insufficient selection failing to meet production capacity".

Installation Guidance and Training

When the equipment is shipped, a detailed installation manual is attached; the technical team can provide remote installation guidance (real-time problem solving through video calls), or send engineers to the site to assist in installation and commissioning according to customer needs (domestic customers arrive within 24 hours, international customers arrive within 72 hours). At the same time, 1-2 days of on-site training is provided for customer operators, covering equipment operation, parameter adjustment, daily maintenance, etc., to ensure that personnel can operate the equipment independently.

After-Sales Maintenance and Spare Parts Supply

• Remote diagnosis: When the equipment fails, customers can initially locate the problem through the fault display function of the control panel, or contact ZOOMRY's technical team for 24-hour remote diagnosis (supporting real-time data transmission). 80% of minor faults can be solved through remote guidance;
• Spare parts supply: Common spare parts (such as belts, drive motors, track shoes) are pre-stored by local logistics providers and delivered within 72 hours after the customer places an order; special spare parts can be expedited through international air transportation to ensure rapid replenishment;
• Regular return visits: After the equipment is put into operation, ZOOMRY will conduct regular return visits at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months to understand the equipment operation status, provide maintenance suggestions, and extend the equipment service life.