The local aggregate industry is reaping the rewards of Readymix (West Indies) Ltd newly acquired Sand and Gravel Wash Plant, which has signalled an increase in productivity as well as a marked improvement in the quality of aggregate produced.
The benefits of the Wash Plant to Readymix and its customers include an improved level of quality. The plant is designed to produce four grades of aggregate, which are essential components in concrete batching, the process in which ingredients are combined to make concrete. Readymix not only produces concrete, but quarries locally for the components present in concrete.The prime function of the wash plant is to act as a sieve, separating the aggregate from unwanted silt and clay materials.
The plant has the capacity to "accurately and cleanly" sift and separate these aggregates from the unwanted material, increasing the overall quality of the product to customers. The four grades of aggregate produced are 0-6mm sand; 6-10mm aggregate, 10-20mm aggregate and 20-75mm aggregate.
Readymix's quarried material is not only used in concrete batching, but is sold to companies that require sand for their operations. A dewatering unit is used get a dried sand product for immediate use, benefitting on the scale by not paying for a high moisture saturated sand product.
Another key benefit of the plant is its time and cost effectiveness. Production levels are high–200 tons an hour–while maintenance costs are low. Compared to Readymix's previous plant, this new system has much lower maintenance costs, maximum efficiency and productivity and allows the company to be much more competitive in the market.
Linked to the 'time-efficiency factor' is the plant's capacity to be operated as seamlessly as possible. Also of great importance is that as technology advances, companies commit themselves to environmental-friendliness. The plant adheres to this through the inclusion of settling ponds, which are strategically placed near the system.
Dirty water from the plant, which contains silt and clay materials, is sent to a series of settling ponds which are set up so that the silt drops to the bottom and clean water rises over the top, producing clean, reusable water.This is the largest project Readymix has embarked on for a long time and the most successful in terms of production. The team involved in the project has been extremely impressed with all aspects of the wash plant, from conception through to the end product.
