Heidelberg Materials UK commissions 60 m radial stacker conveyor from QMS
Hanson Aggregates, already before its acquisition by Heidelberg Materials UK, had been one of the country’s largest users of rail freight, moving over 2.5 million t of aggregates a year from seven rail connected loading points to 12 distribution depots. The company produces and moves so much material it has its own fleet of locomotives and wagons, whilst barges are used to supply production facilities alongside the River Thames. For road haulage, Hanson had a core road fleet of 1200 trucks operated principally by self-employed owner drivers under a franchise scheme.
With such a distribution fleet at hand, and in order to effectively and efficiently load its aggregates onto a variety of haulage solutions, the company required a flexible and efficient aggregates loading system. This had to be able to move the aggregates at high speeds, yet at the same time not lose any material from the conveyor. Following discussions with Coalville headquartered Quarry Manufacturing & Supplies, a bespoke 60 m long radial stacker conveyor was supplied and constructed at the Frindsbury Wharf site.
Driven by experience
The QMS 60 m long radial stacker conveyor was designed by the company’s experienced inhouse technical design department which is able to draw on many years industry experience. Manufactured entirely at the company’s UK headquarters, it was installed and commissioned, and now serviced, by QMS service engineers.
“The QMS range of robust conveyors are engineered to create a trouble free connection between crushing and screening equipment. They are designed to increase stockpile capacity and reduce onsite material handling,” explains Quarry Manufacturing & Supplies managing director Jonathan Beck. “We believe that our radial stacker conveyor is one of the most cost efficient and effective ways of stockpiling material as the reduction of segregation, degradation, contamination and compaction when stockpiling ensures ‘in specification’ material for any application,” further adds Jonathan Beck.
Essential tool
Heidelberg Materials UK produces and distributes aggregates, crushed rock, sand and gravel from a network of quarries, depots, and wharves across the UK. The company supplies these aggregates for a variety of construction uses including ready-mixed concrete production, pre-cast concrete, brick and block manufacture and asphalt production. It also produces specialist sands for glass making, horticulture, agriculture and leisure. Additionally the company is also able to offer an extensive range of specialist sub-base and base aggregates, including industrial sands, agricultural lime, SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems) aggregates, and sea defence aggregates. It further sells aggregate sand and gravel to other precast and ready mixed concrete manufacturers and to the general market.
“Given the wide variety of aggregate products Heidelberg Materials UK produces, and the wide range of customers the company services, an efficient, cost effective radial stacker conveyor is an essential piece of equipment for the company. The QMS 60 m radial stacker conveyor is able to produce stockpiles that are easily accessed by even the largest loading shovels. It uses mains electricity at the site so is environmentally friendly as well as cost efficient. It has proved itself to onsite and is now considered to be essential for the Frindsbury Wharf site,” concludes Quarry Manufacturing & Supplies managing director Jonathan Beck.
