Event
Webinar
26th March
Fife Silica Sands Virtual Tour
Fresh upgrades maximise productivity for one of world’s largest sand washing plants
CDE solution continues to deliver 70 million tonnes later
Almost 20 years ago, we secured a landmark contract to design and engineer one of the world’s largest sand washing plants – a 1,200 tonnes per hour solution for Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC).
Fast forward two decades and the original CAPEX investment by QPMC continues to lead the way for total capacity in the region with a remarkable 70 million tonnes of sand washed and fresh upgrades afoot to ensure the plant delivers maximum productivity for the business for years to come.
Comprising four lines of operation, each processing up to 300 tonnes per hour each, the monumental plant utilises an elevated platform that enables a continuous flow of in-bound trucks to feed the hopper directly.
Running in unison, each line consists of a series of 7x2m coarse rinsing screens, our patented EvoWashTM sand washing system, a network of stockpile conveyors, and industry-leading water management systems, including our AquaCycleTM thickener and a high-capacity filter press.
Together they process up to 12,000 tonnes per hour, and up produce up to 24,000 tonnes of washed and graded sand per day, presenting a unique challenge for the aftersales team, said Mr Sena Biswas, CDE CustomCare manager.
“A plant of this sheer scale requires an always-on approach to maintenance. It’s a bit like the analogy of painting the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a continuous process. QPMC is also one of the three biggest local suppliers of construction materials in what is a fast-developing region, so proactive, preventative, and responsive on-the-ground support is paramount.”
Customer for Life
Once a project is commissioned, every customer is introduced to our CustomCare team, which offers 24/7 service and aftersales support.
“Every customer of ours is a customer for life. That’s our philosophy and its deeply embedded in everything we do. Our strong commitment to aftersales means we’re fully invested in our customer’s success and ensuring they maximise their return on investment,” Mr Biswas said.
CustomCare is delivered by our in-house team of service engineers who are knowledgeable of the full CDE equipment range and familiar with the objectives and operation of the customer’s plant. This proactive and preventative approach guarantees customers get the maximum performance from their equipment, ensuring the long-term value of their investment.
The service includes regular preventative maintenance inspections and site visits, management of wearable and consumable plant parts and components, including stocking replacement parts locally for rapid dispatch, and more.
A real feat
Soon-to-be-commissioned upgrades to the plant, including new rinsing screens for two of the four lines, and updating the dewatering screen to the latest technology, are the first additions to the plant in over 15 years of operation, which has been described as ‘a real feat’ by Mr Hamad Ali, sand operation manager at QPMC.
“We shouldn’t underestimate the magnitude of the task at hand when it comes to servicing and maintaining a plant processing these volumes. It’s a critical part of the supply chain and ensures a well-managed supply of primary materials are readily available to help the nation achieve its construction goals. It’s a real feat what the CDE team has achieved in this time to maintain such a productive and highly optimised plant.”
QPMC plays a vital role in supporting Qatar’s construction sector by providing essential materials and logistics services. From Mesaieed Port (GBT), QPMC offers stevedoring facilities for both aggregate and non-aggregate importers, along with storage solutions.
As a key supplier of primary construction materials, QPMC provides washed sand, dune sand, gabbro, and limestone to meet the industry’s demands. In line with its commitment to sustainability, QPMC also processes construction, demolition, and excavation waste, producing high-quality recycled aggregates. These recycled materials serve as environmentally friendly alternatives to natural primary resources, contributing to environmental protection and sustainable development in Qatar’s construction sector.
To ensure an uninterrupted supply of materials flow from the plant, we deliver a tailored service plan which includes bi-monthly preventative maintenance inspections, quarterly site visits by QPMC’s dedicated CustomCare manager, proactive management of equipment and stock to ensure parts are available in the local market before they’re needed, and even plant telematics to help boost efficiency, productivity, and enhance overall asset management.
“This ground support is directly linked to strengthening the quality of the product suite, which in turn is helping drive business growth for QPMC,” Mr Biswas said.
Return on Investment
Mr Ali said that achieving strong return on investment shortly after commissioning was completed is in large part down to servicing and maintenance.
Bassem Idriss, Head of Operations, Middle East & Africa, added that this is made possible by our commitment to investing in local support.
“We’re continuing strengthen our dedicated team in the region and recently made several strategic appointments, including a dedicated commissioning engineer and a regional service engineer, to ensure we maintain close proximity with our customers to help them really maximise the potential of their operations. Our relationship with QPMC has strengthened with two decades of collaboration and were excited to see where the future takes us to pioneer new projects in Qatar.”
QPMC is at the heart of Qatar’s thriving construction industry, playing a pivotal role in shaping the nation's landscape while actively supporting sustainability through responsible construction material supply chain, recycling initiatives, and eco-friendly practices. By prioritizing long-term resource efficiency, QPMC contributes to both the industry's growth and sustainable development in the country.
Concluding, Mr Ali said the CDE plant is a key part of QPMC’s contribution to the Qatar National Vision 2030.
“The efficiency of the plant in terms of its energy saving capabilities and being able to maximise the availability of our natural reserves without waste is closely aligned with the environmental development goals of the national vision and has strengthened our own sustainability commitments.”
