Five-year contract awarded for Saint Gobain's Newark Gypsum Quarry
Saint-Gobain’s Formula arm in the UK has awarded a five-year contract to Darlington-based Banner Contracts to extract high purity Gypsum from its open-cast mine in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
Banner Contracts was chosen after a thorough tender process involving eight potential suppliers, with Formula (a Saint-Gobain sister brand of British Gypsum) focused on securing a safe, competent and professional partner for this strategically key operation in the East Midlands.
The opencast mine, known as Bantycock, produces around 230,000 tonnes of gypsum every year. The high purity material is used in a range of everyday products from plasterboard (manufactured within British Gypsum sites) to plaster used in dentistry, ceiling mouldings and beer making.
Saint-Gobain Formula Plant Manager Mark Yates said: “Banner’s professionalism and expertise is second to none so we are delighted to announce this contract. Their experience in mineral processing was a key factor in their selection as they will help us continue to improve our yield of useable gypsum versus the amount of rock we extract. This improved yield helps maximise the reserve life, whilst operating in a safe and sustainable manner. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship over the duration of the contract.”
Banner Contracts Director Jo Banner commented: “This is an exciting opportunity for our company. Our mineral processing experience in quarries has proven to be directly transferable to the manufacturing of the grades of gypsum which Saint-Gobain Formula requires.
“The contract is a sizeable undertaking for our company and we have invested heavily in new plant and equipment to ensure that the anticipated increased demand for gypsum can be met in an efficient and timely manner. We are also eager to invest in the continued professional development of the team who will be working on this site.
“As a trusted partner for the project, we chose to appoint Hall Construction to carry out the earthworks in the mine.”
Working with the Saint-Gobain Formula team, Banner is currently improving the infrastructure in the gypsum processing area, ready for the delivery and installation of the new processing plant this month.
Jo Banner explains further: “New concrete bases have been poured in preparation for installing a new Hercules Trommell (screening equipment), which we have commissioned especially for the application. We have invested in a number of Tesab machines including their new 800i jaw crusher, a TS1860 20 ft x 6 ft scalping screen, a TS2430 screen, and a Trackstack radial conveyor, as well as a sizer from MMD.”
A revised restoration scheme was recently agreed by Nottinghamshire County Council following extensive consultation. Benefits from this scheme are already being seen, with the backfilling of 25 acres with overburden completed and covered with topsoil this year.