DoppstadtUS, Avon, Ohio, has announced the availability of its new auto stop/start sensor, the latest in its line of fuel-saving trommel options, the company says. The option involves an infrared sensor mounted above the hopper that measures the depth of material in the hopper. When material in the hopper falls below a specific point, the trommel will automatically shut down the drum, feeder and conveyors and power down the engine to an 800-rams-per-minute idle. As the hopper is reloaded, the trommel automatically powers up, restarting the machine in sequence to begin screening the load again. This feature can dramatically increase fuel efficiency, especially for facilities run by one or two persons, the company says. As the operator is loading material onto a truck or retrieving new material to load for screening, the trommel will cycle down rather than run empty and burn unnecessary fuel. In addition, by eliminating operation at low-load conditions material spiking is significantly reduced, resulting in a much cleaner fines product and higher overall product quality, the company says.