Reclaimer adds to recycled aggregate income

Investment in new equipment from Terex Finlay is helping UK-based WCL to generate revenue from waste materials

Making the most from all extracted material is a high priority for many quarries in Europe both from a financial and environmental point of view. For 4064 WCL's Cranebrook Quarry near Lichfield, UK this focus has led to investment in new equipment in a bid to use sand grades that were previously rejected.

Cranebrook carries out wood waste recycling, inert waste recycling, decorative aggregate sales and landfill - along with the traditional extraction of dry screened building sand. But the quarry took delivery of a new 668 Terex Finlay 883 Reclaimer from Finlay Central earlier this year to enable it to reprocess the waste sand.

The new 883 Reclaimer replaces a five year old 883, which was used to screen inert material into soils, oversized hardcore and middle grade at the site. The new 883 is continuing to be used as a multi-purpose machine, with WCL utilising it to process wood, as well as demolition rubble, which goes on to be used in building waste reclamation.

The 883 is working with an existing Terex Finlay 390 Hydrascreen portable screening machine, used to process dry screened building sand.

WCL managing director Simon Winner said, "The 390 is used to screen sand from the quarry face, with the fine sand then sold for building and the rejected sand stockpiled.

The new 883 Reclaimer reprocesses the rejected sand - making easy work of breaking down lumps of sandstone.

"It produces three grades for us. The reprocessed sand, which is passed through a 20mm slotted mesh, is being sold for use as utilities backfill rather than being wasted. The medium grade sand is passed back through the machine several times and the oversize is added to hard core." As well as the new Terex Finlay 883 Reclaimer and 390 Hydrascreen, the quarry also operates two Terex Finlay 683 three-way split machines, used to produce MOT Type 1 crushed concrete, and to recycle wood waste, as well as a Terex Finlay J-1175 jaw crusher. But the investment in the 883 marks a change in strategy for WCL as it is the first time WCL has brought new machinery. Previously, all machines supplied by Finlay Central have been purchased second hand by WCL.

Winner said, "This new 883 replaces our 2005 version and offers increased ground clearance, allowing higher stockpiling capacities and easier access to the screenbox for cleaning and maintenance. It was the right time to part exchange the older model, considering its resale value for our first new purchase from Finlay Central.

"I had no hesitation in replacing the 883 Reclaimer like-for-like, as it is an extremely efficient and versatile machine."