World’s largest tube press installation opens at Rocks

THE largest clay tube press and dryer of its kind in the world was officially opened at Imerys’ Rocks site, near Bugle, last week. The new £20 million facility is at the heart of the reorganization of the china clay business in Cornwall and will provide Imerys with important energy savings.

The creation of the new state-of-the-art clay drying facility and associated heat, power and effluent-treatment plants is Imerys’ largest construction project for many years and represents the company’s commitment to invest in the future of its operations in Cornwall.

Imerys say the new dryers, which form a major part of the company’s £35 million UK investment plan, will allow them to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of their mining operations in Cornwall, and to remain competitive in the world marketplace for kaolin.

Handling Imerys’ UK output for the paper industry, which represents almost 50% of the company’s china clay production in Cornwall, the new Rocks presses and dryers replace smaller ageing plants at Bugle and Burngullow, and will operate 24h a day, seven days a week.

The bulk of the clay product will be moved by rail to the company’s port facility at Fowey for export shipment.

Dr Richard Bown, former chief technology officer for Imerys until his retirement in 2007, was responsible for progressing the new facility through the design and prototype stages.

Speaking at the official opening ceremony, he said: ‘Imerys are a world leader within the china clay industry for their development of cutting-edge technology and processes, and I am confident that this significant investment will not only deliver an important boost to their operations in Cornwall, but will help them maintain their position as an industry leader.'