Swerock AB

One of the greatest concerns that Swerock wished to address was the amount of quarry waste that the firm was producing. 

Quarry waste can be a challenge for operators across Scandinavia and wider Europe as it can lead to surplus stockpiles, which can block access to reserves and take up valuable space, as well as being costly to store or dump. 

Swerock sought to overcome this challenge by consulting wet processing experts CDE to design and install a plant that could process large amounts of overburden, also known as moraine, a by-product of quarry operations. This is not only to reduce costs and stockpile storage, but also to produce material which can be repurposed into the industry to help reduce waste and maximise resources. 

The ability to recycle is particularly important at present with the material shortage in Sweden, so therefore the new investment contributes to both Swerock’s sustainability and self-reliance goals. 

The investment in technology to respond to this specific problem solidifies Swerock’s commitment to producing in-spec concrete to be used in-house in its concrete division. It is also allowing the firm better adapt production to customers’ needs.

CDE introduced the ability to further remove some of the 0.250mm material after the CFCU which can be either discharged away from the 0-2mm washed sand or proportionally reintroduced to it to nurture the 0-2mm grading according to the requirement. 

The CFCU will continue to smooth out the variability of the incoming material to ensure a much more consistent output sand whilst also removing the lightweight organic material. 

The use of a unique corrective solution eliminated any concerns around removing too much sand at the bottom end of the sand curve, giving more control over the gradation of the final sand product, and allowing for adjustment to ensure the required specification is met while providing flexibility to produce other specifications if desired.

To deal with the concerns of lignite and organics throughout the feed material, CDE has incorporated an AggMax to the solution. The AggMax has an integrated trash screen which allows for the effective removal of organics and other lightweight contaminants, ensuring the production of the highest quality final aggregates.

Finally, the static screen on the recycled water circuit also suits the overburden feed material as it catches a lot of the lightweight, floatable materials that the cyclones carry to the AquaCycle. Over time these materials can saturate and become suspended in the water which can lead to blocked spray nozzles. The static screen reduces the potential of this happening. 

CDE’s Head of Business Development for Europe, Eunan Kelly, comments that it’s plants like these that are the ones of the future.

“It’s been a pleasure to work once again with Swerock. Over the years we’ve nurtured and developed a fruitful relationship, and we’re delighted that they chose to partner with us on this pioneering project. The remit was a challenging one and one that both Swerock and CDE worked long and hard on together. It is always satisfying to see the sand fall off the end of the belt on complex projects like this one.

“Through our long-standing relationship with Swerock, we have continued to act upon the learnings and feedback from previous projects to ensure we were always one step closer to the perfect solution. 

“The longitude and evolution of our work with Swerock is a real-life embodiment of our ethos to put our customers first. We’re committed to creating a sustainable future for all, and designing and installing a plant like this cements our dedication to building our best world, a ton at a time.”