Modern Quarrying Q4 2018

DRILLING: • Sandvik DX 800 drill rig

LOADING: • 1 x 40-t Hitachi ZX400-3 hydraulic excavator • 2 x 20-t Doosan 225 LCV excavators • 1 x Liebherr L550 front-end loader • 2 x Komatsu WA250 front-end loaders • 1 x Volvo L150G front-end loader

AT THE QUARRY FACE

EQUIPMENT ON SITE

ON PHOTO: ROODEPOORT CRUSHER Commenced operations in November 2015

PRODUCT QUALITY PAYS DIVIDENDS

In three years of operation, a newly- established quarry in Polokwane has grown its production capacity tenfold. Pivotal to Roodepoort Crusher’s early market share gains is its sheer focus on quality of product, writes Munesu Shoko. N ewly-established Roodepoort Crusher operates a granite quarry located on the outskirts of Polokwane, the largest town in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. Its first blast went off in November 2015, and crushing started in January 2016. Part of the Alpha Sand Group and a member of Aspasa, Roodepoort Crusher specialises in aggregates production, while its sister company, Alpha Sand, concentrates on sales and distribution. For over 30 years, Alpha Sand has specialised in buying and selling of aggregates from several quarry operators in the Polokwane area. In 2015, management took a decision to operate its own quarry, and two years later, the operation is already a force to be reckoned with in the Polokwane aggregates market. This is despite fierce competition in the area, with two other well-established quarries located in a radius of about 5km jostling for a share of the market. An uncompromising focus on product quality has been a key driver of Roodepoort’s early success. A massive jump in sales from 2 000 t to 20 000 t per month in just two years is testimony to the early market share gains.

“Over the years, we have gained a lot of experience in the aggregates industry through our sales and distribution business, Alpha Sand. Having previously purchased aggregates from different quarries, we identified the opportunity to extend our business by establishing our own operation. This has also allowed us to have better control of all the processes, from drilling and blasting, to crushing

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 4 - 2018