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With quarries being pushed to new depths to meet demand, pumps to manage groundwater are a vital part of a quarry's equipment inventory. Managing groundwater in the quarry is an essential task, which if not done effectively could put valuable construction equipment at risk from flooding. The importance of having reliable and durable pumps is increasing as quarry operators look to push their sites deeper in place of applying for new permissions. But like all quarrying equipment, there is an increased focus o

Linatex has launched its new G4 pump, claiming that the product delivers up to 43% power draw savings over conventional alternatives. The company also claims that following in-field testing, sand and gravel operations can achieve major savings in total life cycle costs with the new G4 rubber [lined] and hard metal pumps, which offer "superior abrasion resistance."

Call for higher performance is driving demand for both static and mobile screening plants. While the fundamental process of screening has remained unchanged for many years, tweaks in design have helped to deliver higher capacities and easier operation. Systems used to operate screens - both static and mobile - are increasingly being automated to improve function and give consistent productivity, while the move to mobile machines has added flexibility. Although sales of mobile screens have been growing rapid

Answering key customer questions more quickly is the prime aim of the upgraded Major Wire website. In addition to the previous phone and email contacts, users can now use the Q&A section to submit specific production-related questions to Major Wire screening experts and receive a quick response. A live chat option will also be added later this year.

From December this year the new Machinery Directive will come into effect in Europe but what will it mean for the quarrying industry? Claire Symes reports. Improving health and safety is a top priority for the quarrying industry and safe equipment design has an important role to play in this area. New legislation can help drive improvements and, from December this year, the updated version of the Machinery Directive will come into force. But what exactly will the latest directive mean for the design of new

Reducing energy use and lowering carbon emissions is the aim of a new web-based facility launched jointly by the UK’s Mineral Products Association (MPA) and the Carbon Trust.

As-Sweimeh is probably the lowest quarry on earth with its highest point at 150m below sea level. Claire Symes visited the quarry in Jordan to find out more. Although the quarry at As-Sweimeh has only been open for eight years, it is already the biggest quarry in Jordan and one of the biggest quarries in the Middle.

A modular mobile jaw crusher is being offered by a new manufacturer to the market. Based in Britain, Crushers UK has designed its track-mounted, single toggle jaw Hercules 1830 machine to be easy to transport and make ready for use. The machine features a crusher opening measuring 800x500mm and can produce stone sizes from 25-100mm, with a maximum throughput of 100tonnes/hour. The firm's director, Greg Shipley, explained that the electric drive concept is simpler, easier to maintain and more compact. Althou

Unigran is investing in new equipment to meet demand from its Ukrainian Malin granite quarry. Rapidly rising demand for aggregates in the Ukraine has helped double production at Unigran's Malin quarry over the last six years to reach 2million m3 per year. The company is expecting calls for material from the granite quarry to continue rising and is investing in both new equipment and its workforce to meet this.

Holcim Romania is reported to be planning to invest €28million in its Alesd cement factory over the next two years.

Aims to increase recycling rates in Europe are being supported by the European Recycled Aggregates Platform. Claire Symes reports on this initiative. Increasing rates of recycling across Europe is a key EU ambition but reaching the target of 70% may be a challenge for some member states. Supporting regulators, quarry producers and customers in achieving this goal is the main task of the European Recycled Aggregates Platform.

Market forces and aggregate pricing in the UK are to the subject of a new report by the Office of Fair Trading. Aggregate prices vary from country to country but most are influenced by the simple factors of supply and demand, as well as quality. Nonetheless, prices in the UK are to come under scrutiny by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) which launched a study into the UK's £4.8billion aggregates sector earlier this year.

The financial crisis has had a significant impact on Bulgaria's aggregates sector but a new association for the sector is giving it a renewed focus. Julie-Anne Ryan reports. It is a well-known fact that Switzerland does not have a wide range of raw material resources suitable for extraction. No lignite, gold or petroleum are mined or produced on Swiss territory. On the other hand, Switzerland is "rich in rocks," said André Renggli, who is president of the Association of the Swiss Aggregate and Concrete Indu

Holcim has celebrated 100 years of operation in the Netherlands and Belgium by announcing plans to ensure it is still working in the region 100 years from now.

High oil prices caused by the current unrest in the Middle East is likely to impact on asphalt and concrete prices this year, according to a number of UK-based producers.

Detailed reports on key archaeological finds at two marine aggregates sites have helped Tarmac to secure awards from the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA) in the UK.

Sustainable supply of aggregates and developments needed in the industry by 2030 is the main focus of an event being organised by the French aggregates association UNPG.

Cemex has announced the launch of a new high performance ready mixed concrete product that will be available worldwide.

Family-owned quarry operator Vezzola is proving that there is still profit to be made from quarrying despite the economic downturn. Claire Symes visited the company's Montichiari plant to find out more. Over 2000 plants have been used to landscape the Montichiari site. The investment at Montichiari has been valued at €10million. The Lake Garda region of Italy is home to much of the country's sand and gravel production but limited quarrying consents means many of these are small operations. Nonetheless, ther

Germany-based building materials supplier ProStein has announced a strategic acquisition, which it claims will enhance its distribution capabilities.