Weighloader upgrade for Dorset quarry

"RMC’s Longham Quarry in Dorset has recently taken delivery of the first new Weighloader system in the UK, launched by Prolec Ltd at this year’s SED exhibition."

"The Longham Reservoir project is a partnership between Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water plc, Warings Contractors Ltd and RMC Aggregates Southern Ltd. The completed scheme will provide a reserve water supply of around 308 million gallons for the Bournemouth area to supplement the regular water supply during times of extreme demand. Approximately 1.8 million tonnes of gravel will be extracted over 10 years to provide the space required to construct three separate reservoirs."

"The Weighloader system is fitted to a JCB 456 wheel loader which is responsible for the rehandling of aggregates, stockpiling and lorry loading. In the course of one year, the 456 loads in excess of 80,000 tonnes of mixed aggregates on to various-sized lorries. With such a high through-put, accurate loading of each vehicle is vital."

"Steve Smith, quarry manager, explained: ‘With the new system productivity has certainly been enhanced. When a lorry has been loaded, the driver can go on to the weighbridge confident in the knowledge that his load is within the limit for his vehicle. This greatly reduces the need for lorries to return to the loading area to off-load material before returning to be weighed again, and in doing so safety is increased as we now have far less vehicle movement within the quarry.’"

"Martin Bryant, the JCB operator, added: ‘I have been impressed with the all-round capabilities of the new system and have found it to be extremely user-friendly. From an operator’s point of view, the clarity of the LCD screen is very good, especially in bright sunlight, and the ease with which adjustments can be made from within the cab makes this system one of the best I have used.’"