Page 42 - Hub Magazine Issue 56

Quarrying
Ace Plant keep Queen Mary
Quarry dust free
L-R: Keith Whitlock & Gary Langton
Recently the HUB team visited an operation which is slightly different to the norm and found out how they have successfully controlled any dust issues...
Located at Laleham near Staines-upon- Thames, Queen Mary Quarry is leased and operated by Brett Aggregates. In a
previous life the ‘quarry’ (although it’s a reservoir) was operated by Reservoir Aggregates with the reservoir being owned by Thames Water. Built before the second World War, the reservoir is one of many in the locality and is one of the largest of its kind in the South East. Over the years in excess of 50-60 million tonnes of aggregate has been excavated from the reservoir which has been a substantial benefit to the local community in terms of aggregate and essential building products. Today it’s an operation with a bespoke plant producing high quality aggregates making it a very successful operation for Brett with the whole operation being committed to the supply of concreting and essential building materials.
Aggregate is removed from the reservoir by a large clamshell dredger that digs and drops the aggregate into one of two barges which bring the materials over to a recovery dredger which then releases the material beneath itself onto the bottom of the reservoir. A recovery grab then loads the material into a hopper with the aggregate then delivered
onshore via conveyor to stockpile adjacent to the washplant, where it is left to dry.
Gary Langton – Operations Manager – LHC, commented, “The Queen Mary operation is a little different to most quarries as most of the material is dredged from the reservoir. In addition, we bring in material from a variety of local sources which we process on-site into various sizes.”
A dust suppression system was required in and around the site for health and safety and planning compliance and a dependable suppression kit was soon identified in the form of Ace Plant (Adams Cundell Engineers Ltd). Ace Plant have in excess of 40-years’ experience and have developed a wealth of experience in several specialist areas. They offer a wide range of Dust Suppression Units with attachments such as splash plates, rain guns, road wash systems, pressure washers and their innovative F1 inspired carbon fibre spinning disc water applicators. Their extensive dust suppression range also includes their self-contained Dustfighter, fan-based mist blowing equipment.
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www.hub-4.com May/June 2019 - Issue 56