Sykes Pumps plays key role at Tarmac's Borras Quarry

Hire specialist Sykes Pumps has supplied two Super Wispaset pumps to ensure the smooth operation of the plant at Tarmac’s Borras Quarry. The quarry, situated near Wrexham, north Wales, is a key supplier of building sand and gravel to the construction industry, and Sykes Pumps is on hand to ensure that the water used in the washing of sand and gravel is moved around the lagoons on site.

The two 8-inch diesel Super Wispaset pumps have been supplied to pump water from one lagoon to the clean water lagoon supplying the washing process plant. One pump is used continuously while the plant is in operation, with the second used intermittently in 11-13 hour shifts to move more water when required. The lead pump is supplied by a large, external diesel tank, while the second runs off its own integral belly tank.

The sand and gravel from Borras Quarry needs to be washed, firstly to separate the sands from the gravel, then to divide the sand into various grades. The water washes sand away from the gravel and the sand is taken to a series of classifier tanks to grade them out. The gravel is also washed through screens to separate out the unwanted lignites. Water is then recycled around a series of lagoons to start the process again.

“The pumps have proved reliable and they’ve been working really well for us,” says Tarmac’s quarry manager Paul Watson. The hire package includes a service every 14 days from Sykes and Tarmac is safe in the knowledge that Sykes’ engineers are available on call-out at all times.

Associated Businesses

  • Wolverhampton, WV1 3JE