CDE commissions major wash plant for Granite
The 550tph plant in Utah is serving construction projects in the wider Salt Lake City area...
CDE, a leader in the design and engineering of sand and aggregate wet processing solutions for the waste recycling and natural minerals processing sectors, has commissioned a 550 tons per hour (tph) plant in Utah for Granite (NYSE:GVA).
Granite, one of the largest diversified construction and construction materials companies in the United States, is a full-suite civil construction provider that delivers infrastructure solutions for public and private sector clients throughout the United States.
Granite’s operations include 35 aggregate and 59 asphalt plants across seven western states and one province, including Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and California and British Columbia, Canada.
The need to meet increased demand
The investment in the new wet processing facility came as Granite aims to increase its aggregate supply to meet the rising demand in the Wasatch Front region, including the Greater Salt Lake City area.
Sand and aggregate are a finite resource, and this region is experiencing rapid economic development and infrastructure expansion, driven by population growth and its strategic importance.
The latest US News and World Report ranked Utah third for both infrastructure, which takes into consideration transportation, energy and internet access, and economy which assess the growth, employment and business environment of the state.
Just recently the Utah Governor’s office of economic opportunity convened community partners to envision how Salt Late City (SLC) will develop over the next 10 years.
With SLC is set to host the 2034 Winter Olympics, substantial infrastructure investments are planned, further increasing the demand for construction materials.
As a company involved in both construction and materials supply, Granite sought to increase the volume of material it could supply to the market to affirm its position as a major sand and aggregates supplier in the Greater Salt Lake City area.
First impressions building solid foundations
Granite and CDE first met in 2023 through preferred partner Goodfellow Corporation who supported the introduction. Together the parties have worked together to bring this new plant to life.
After initial discussions, CDE showcased its solutions and technical capabilities through site visits to plants in Texas where the relationship continued to develop. During ConExpo 2023, the conceptual development discussions continued, and an agreement was signed by late August 2023.
The firms continued to plan and work together to design a plant that met Granite’s business objectives for its new operation at the Coyote Pit site.
The Granite team also visited CDE’s manufacturing base in Northern Ireland to tour the facility, inspect the quality of the equipment and deep dive into the project plant which provided reassurance and cemented their belief that CDE was the right partner.
Commenting on the decision to work with CDE, Ric Skinner, Manager at Granite said: “We were impressed by CDE’s technology from the get-go, but after seeing it in action at the reference sites in Texas, attending CDE’s Open House event with Calgary Aggregate Recycling in Alberta, and in its manufacturing facility, we knew we had made the right choice.
“CDE’s approach, technology and commitment to providing the most optimal solution to meet our business needs all played a critical role in cementing this partnership.”
CDE’s Business Development Manager Ryan O’Loan says it was CDE’s proactive approach throughout the entire process that helped build trust.
“Granite’s decision was solidified after visiting several of our plants to see the technology in action. Organizing these visits certified our commitment to going the extra mile for our customers, along with our transparency in showing past projects, which played a critical role in securing this partnership.”
A complex solution delivered quickly
The urgency of the project became a top priority in late 2023, with Granite needing to have material on the ground by May of 2024. Granite had a location close to the city and a market starved of aggregate. They needed a high tonnage solution that met its complex water management and mud handling requirements, all to be delivered in a fast timeframe.
Ryan O’Loan added: “After building a solid relationship, and showcasing our innovative technologies, the team at Granite knew they could trust CDE. We were able to guarantee tonnage, quality and delivery with our performance statement and commercial terms.”
The 550tph plant is comprised of CDE’s AggMax™ scrubbing and classification system, EvoWashTM sand wash system, AquaCycle™ thickener primary stage water management, AquaStore water tank, and filter press sludge dewatering system.
One of the biggest challenges with this site is water management. In the dry climate of Salt Lake City, water is a precious commodity, making efficient usage crucial. The balance between the limited water availability and the need for high-specification sand and aggregates—both of which require washing—presents a unique challenge. The only way to achieve both goals is through a solution that 1) washes and scrubs the materials as efficiently as possible and 2) retains as much water within a closed-loop system, significantly reducing the need to source additional water from the environment. This is why CDE has integrated its filter press and AquaCycle thickener technologies. When these two systems work together, they recycle up to 95% of the process water for immediate re-use in the system, in turn significantly reducing the freshwater consumption. To date, the plant has only required 11,000 gallons per hour of freshwater, demonstrating Granite’s commitments to sustainability and preserving the area’s water supply.
A consistent and reliable supply of sand and aggregates
This solution, which typically loses about 20% as tailings, allows Granite to produce over 300 tons per hour of washed concrete aggregate products, either for internal use in its construction projects, or as saleable products.
With the pressing sand urgency, it was vital that Granite’s solution processes material efficiently and optimally to maximize outputs and meet the demands of the market.
In addition to the filter cake, with CDE’s technology, Granite is producing a C33 washed concrete sand, #67 washed rock, 1 ½” washed rock, 3/8” washed chips, and ¼” washed chips.
To date, Granite has produced over 410k tons of sellable material which are serving construction projects in Salt Lake City and the wider Wasatch Front region, enhancing Granite’s supply chain efficiency.
Stormy Watne, Plant Manager at Granite commented: “This plant is everything we could have wanted and more. CDE have delivered exactly what they set out to. We had a number of challenges facing us, such as the commissioning deadline, the need for efficient water management and mud handling capabilities, but at every step of the way CDE reassured us and demonstrated that their solution is suited to our objectives.
“We’re very glad to have chosen CDE as our partner for this venture. We needed a plant that could serve our business needs, as well as supporting our customers and their projects, and CDE has designed a solution that does just that. Since we commissioned the plant, the aftercare support from both CDE and their partner Goodfellow has been fantastic. They have guided us on high-wear critical parts, and we’ve invested in stock to ensure we’re up and running round the clock.”
Ryan O’Loan said: “From the outset we knew that this would be a meaningful and impactful project. This plant was complex and took meticulous planning and collaboration to see it successfully operate.
“Personal relationships and trust were pivotal throughout every stage of the process. We’re proud to supply a solution that ensures Granite can provide a consistent and reliable supply of sand and aggregates for use in the local construction market.
“Granite’s commitment to CDE, as well as our commitment to them, is evident in what we have achieved with this plant, and the positive impact the facility is having in Salt Lake City and beyond,” he concluded.
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