Meeting Middle Eastern demand

Although construction projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi demand large volumes of aggregates, many quarries in those regions are being closed by authorities. Much of the demand is being met by quarries in the Emirate of Fujairah which are fast becoming the regions' 'bread basket' for gabbro aggregates. Meeting this demand is a challenge for these quarries and contract drilling and blasting teams are proving essential, as is investment in productivity-enhancing technology. Fujairah-based Technical Drilling and
April 12, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Technical Drilling and Blasting now uses Sandvik top hammer rock tools across its whole drill rig fleet
RSS

Although construction projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi demand large volumes of aggregates, many quarries in those regions are being closed by authorities. Much of the demand is being met by quarries in the Emirate of Fujairah which are fast becoming the regions' 'bread basket' for gabbro aggregates.


Meeting this demand is a challenge for these quarries and contract drilling and blasting teams are proving essential, as is investment in productivity-enhancing technology. Fujairah-based Technical Drilling and Blasting Company is one of the contractors gaining from this demand and has just standardised its operations to improve its productivity.

Despite the economic slowdown, the contractor reports that demand for drilling and blasting services remains high and it is one of five organisations operating in Fujairah. The company attributes the demand to the quality of the gabbro in the region with a typical density of 3tonnes per m³ and a 61% silica content. The Technical Drilling and Blasting Company has said that there is currently an almost continuous stream of trucks carrying aggregates travelling over the Hajjar Mountains from Fujairah to other UAE regions.

To help meet this high demand, the company now uses 325 Sandvik top hammer rock tools across all of its operations, which includes contracts for around 24 quarries in Fujairah. Technical Drilling and Blasting Company technical manager Bill Armstrong said that the company has a fleet of 16 surface top hammer drills and two down the hole rigs, of which nine are Sandvik units. "These are proving ideal in development and difficult to access areas of the quarry," he said.RSS
Earthmoving & soil compaction

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Mason Brothers keeps on crushing with Sandvik in Wales
    December 20, 2018
    A mobile crushing, screening and scalping train from Sandvik is playing a key role in ensuring that Welsh quarry business Mason Brothers meets customers’ demands. Family business Mason Brothers Quarry Products has a long-standing relationship with Sandvik which goes back to the 1990s, said Alun Mason, managing director of Mason Brothers. The wide range of products produced at the quarry ranges from type 1 sub-base to ornamental and building stone. The company also supplies volumetric concrete, concret
    Read More
  • SANY Road Machinery is looking to increase export levels
    March 4, 2015
    SANY Road Machinery says that its machines offer customers a very good return on investment - Mike Woof writes. SANY Road Machinery looks set to boost its profile outside of China. The company has been focussed on the Chinese home market in recent years, due to the massive highway expansion programme in the country. However with 80% of the country’s highway construction programme now complete, SANY Road Machinery is looking to further develop its export business. Wang Zuochun is senior vice president at SAN
    Read More
  • Asphalt plant producers see major worldwide successes
    November 21, 2014
    Asphalt plant manufacturers report major supply deals for highway and construction projects - Pat Smith writes International asphalt plant manufacturers have been reporting major successes with their products, which are now working on highway and airport projects worldwide.
    Read More
  • Ibiza quarry relies on Cat
    July 30, 2012
    Forty years ago the father of Juan Cardona, the current owner of the quarry Cantera Can Orvay on the island of Ibiza, Spain, started extracting limestone. Today, with 20 employees and a daily output of 3,000tonnes, the company, Áridos y Prefabricados, has grown to become the biggest family owned quarry in the island. "When my father asked if I'd like to study or work, I said I'd like to work. And so I've been working here for 27 years. Since my father's retirement, I've been in charge of the quarry," Juan C
    Read More

Highlighted Content