Skip to main content

Washing system brings productivity improvements

A new washing system being used in a South African quarrying operation has brought major productivity and efficiency improvements. Natal Portland Cement (NPC) says these have been achieved at its Sterkspuit quarry, near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal on South Africa's east coast, following the introduction of a new washing plant from CDE Global. The loss of quality fines has been eliminated during sand processing due to the use of the CDE Evowash plant, which replaced a bucket wheel de-waterer at the site. NPC is
February 13, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
The new washing plant from CDE is proving valuable for wash water recycling and fine sands recovery
A new washing system being used in a South African quarrying operation has brought major productivity and efficiency improvements.

1288 Natal Portland Cement (NPC) says these have been achieved at its Sterkspuit quarry, near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal on South Africa's east coast, following the introduction of a new washing plant from CDE Global. The loss of quality fines has been eliminated during sand processing due to the use of the CDE Evowash plant, which replaced a bucket wheel de-waterer at the site.

NPC is also innovating with the use of an Aquacycle high rate thickener, which allows 90% of the water used to wash crushed material to be recycled. It is thought to be the first of its kind in a crushed rock or sand and gravel application in South Africa.

NPC operates 11 facilities in South Africa with total production of 1.7million tonnes/year and the sites include seven ready mix concrete plants, three aggregate production plants of which Sterkspuit is one, two grinding plants and one cement plant.

The CDE washing plant is processing Tillite from existing blasting and crushing operations and the washed material is sold for use in various asphalt mixes and as a replacement for river sand in the firm's own concrete plants.

From the crushing plant the minus 9.5mm material is sent to a CDE Prograde P2-75 double-deck rinsing screen fitted with modular Isenmann polyurethane panels on both decks. The Prograde produces a 6.7-9.5mm and a 5-6.7mm aggregate with the minus 5mm material being delivered to the sand washing phase. The Prograde is specifically designed for washing, which is a major advantage when compared to many other screens on offer according to CDE. The design and construction of the spray bar assembly as a fully independent structure is one of the key features of the ProGrade range.

According to CDE, the spray bar assembly is not rigidly connected to the screen box, which cuts vibration and reduces machine downtime. The new plant also cuts losses of both material and water during screening through the use of splash prevention over decks and specialist spray bar seals.

The new CDE washing plant features a proven Evowash 71 system and this unit has helped increase the efficiency of the Sterkspuit operation.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Sandvik partners with washing equipment specialist CDE for Brazilian market
    December 21, 2012
    CDE Global has established an alliance with Sandvik Construction Brasil which will see the promotion of the CDE washing equipment portfolio through the existing Sandvik sales network in Brazil. This follows the formation of CDE do Brasil Ltda earlier this year as the company seeks to expand operations in Brazil and the rest of Latin America. Stefan Hunger of CDE do Brasil said: “This new alliance provides CDE do Brasil with an opportunity to quickly identify opportunities that exist for the upgrading of the
  • CDE to unveil new Evowash sand washing plant
    February 12, 2013
    Following an extensive research and development programme CDE Global unveils its next generation EvoWash sand washing plant, a compact sand washing system integrating a dewatering screen, sump and hydrocyclone configuration which is customised to the specific requirements of the materials washing project on which it is specified. “Our 2013 EvoWash will include some significant design changes which will further enhance its position as the premium compact sand washing plant on the global market,” says Kevin
  • CDE Global improves its ProGrade screen design
    March 10, 2015
    Materials washing specialists CDE Global has announced the introduction of several screens in the ProGrade range which it says are lighter but stronger and so require less power to operate. The bolted screens also include no welds and are galvanised as standard, all of which serves to maximise plant life, maximise plant availability and minimise maintenance time. The patent pending CDE U-Span cross members are modular in design and have increased space between screen decks, allowing for quick and easy acces
  • Everything is AquaClear for Terex Washing Systems
    March 11, 2017
    Terex Washing Systems (TWS) has staged the global launch of Terex AquaClear Water Management Solutions at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017. Oliver Donnelly, TWS global business line director, said: ‘It really is an exciting time for TWS and we are delighted to be able to offer an end-to-end solution for washing and water management from TWS, a single supplier. We are launching a full range of water management products to include clarifying tanks, flocculent dosing systems, filter presses and all associated equipment