Static Batch Plant Upgrade for Hoddam Contracting

First published in the December 2016 issue of Quarry Management as Positive Experience

Hoddam Contracting select Rapid International for static batch plant upgrade

Rapid International Ltd, based in Co. Armagh, have recently supplied Scottish firm Hoddam Contracting Co. Ltd with a newly updated Rapid 90B static concrete batching plant, capable of producing outputs up to 70m3/h continuously. The static plant is located at Hoddam’s Ecclefechan site and is employed in the production of ready-mixed concrete and concrete for block making. 

Established in 1958, privately owned Hoddam Contracting are the largest concrete block manufacturers in south-west Scotland. The company operates two sand and gravel quarries in southern Scotland and a third site at Ecclefechan, where its concrete production and head office facilities are based. Hoddam produce a wide range of aggregate and concrete products, including washed sand and gravels, sub-bases, ready-mixed concrete, concrete blocks, and concrete paving and kerbs. The company began manufacturing concrete blocks in the 1960s and now supplies them throughout Scotland and the north of England. In the early days, Hoddam manufactured the blocks using a mobile plant but have since progressed to the use of a modern static facility.

However, with the plant having reached the stage where it was requiring regular maintenance, a decision was made to upgrade to a more modern, cost-effective solution. Rapid International, who three years earlier had supplied Hoddam Contracting with two new cement silos, were selected for the static plant update.

With the exception of the recently supplied silos, Rapid updated virtually every aspect of the original static plant – including bins, weigh belts, mixer platform, an R3000 Rapid pan mixer, CWH water weigher and PIL control system – to deliver what is an almost entirely new replacement plant. Rapid worked closely with Hoddam Contracting at each stage of the process, troubleshooting any issues, to ensure that the plant was installed and running to their entire satisfaction. 

Rapid’s static batch plant range is specifically designed for ready-mixed concrete and precast producers. Each plant is supplied pre-wired and in modular sections, minimizing site installation. Erection and commissioning of the plant can occur in as little as three days. Fitted with a Rapid R3000 pan mixer, providing an output of 3m3 per batch, the Rapidmix 90B offers the potential for ready-mixed concrete, block or precast production from a single plant. The plant is capable of achieving outputs of up to 70m3 per hour in continuous production.

Commenting on their purchase, Hoddam Contracting’s operations manager, Peter Murray, said: ‘Having previously dealt with Rapid on a couple of smaller projects and been very happy with the service and quality they delivered, it was difficult to go past them when we were considering the new plant. The guys are very efficient and easy to deal with, and our new plant is far quicker and more advanced than what we had previously.’

Jarlath Gilmore, Rapid International’s sales and marketing director, remarked: ‘We were delighted to work with Hoddam again and appreciate that, based on their previous experience, they chose Rapid for the new project. We focus on manufacturing plants that will deliver performance in line with customers’ requests and are proud of the customer support we provide to back this up, making our customers come back again and again. We wish Peter and his team well with the new plant as the Hoddam business continues to grow and expand.’ 

For more information visit: www.rapidinternational.com

• Subscribe to Quarry Management, the monthly journal for the mineral products industry, to read articles before they appear on Agg-Net.com