Modern Quarrying Q1 2023

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS The Gomes name has been associated with construction since 1936 when Gerardus Gomes started mining building sand, topsoil and river sand by hand. This fairly rudimentary business model eventually made way for the highly mechanised plant that has been operating since 2009 at its current quarry situated in Laezonia, where customers can collect sand and stone, or can order these. Modern Quarrying recently visited the 180 ha site and spoke to Mining Manager Gabriel Gomes and Pilot Crushtec’s Charl Marais (Sales Manager) and Ben Armitage (Sales Engineer). This company has had a relationship with Gomes Sand for over 30 years and has supplied it with several pieces of equipment ranging from mobile screens, cone crushers, jaw crushers and vertical shaft impact crushers to washing plants.

CRUSHING AND SCREENING

“W e produce all sand products here - building, plaster and river sand in addition to aggregates,” says Gomes. “We only deliver in a 50 km radius to keep the price competitive.” Gomes Sand operates and owns a fleet of 35 trucks. “Owning our own fleet means that there is efficiency in delivery as we can control every aspect right until the product is delivered to the client,” says Gomes. The quarry consists of four crushing plants and has the capacity to produce 150 000 tons of product a month. “In 2022 Gomes Sand produced an average of between 120 000 and 130 000 tons a month,” says Gomes. “We work from 7:00 to 17:00 weekdays and seldom work overtime as we try to get the maintenance and production done in normal working hours.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The fact that Gomes Sand owns its own fleet means that there is efficiency in delivery as every aspect, right until when the product is delivered to the client, can be controlled.

The plant is all aimed at achieving reduction ratios right up until the final product that is required. If there is a demand for aggregates, it can produce aggregates.

The GP330 offers installed power up to 315 kW, with a cavity feed opening of 238 mm which is able to accommodate feed sizes produced by the primary crusher.

All the sand produced by Gomes Sand – including the river sand – is a manufactured sand. It produces a wide range of products to cater for required specifications ranging from G1, 19 mm and 13 mm stone and river sand.

MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 1 | 2023 18