Transforming Material Recovery
First published in the December 2025 issue of Quarry Management
Bruce Materials Processing Solutions – in partnership with their southern England dealer Wren Ltd – have commissioned a new state-of-the-art waste-recycling plant for Aggreg8, marking a major milestone in their customer’s sustainability journey and commitment to innovation and best practice in aggregate supply
Working with their partners Wren Ltd (southern dealer) and Tecnoidea Impianti Srl (wastewater and sludge treatment plant specialists), Bruce Materials Processing Solutions held a highly successful customer open day at Aggreg8’s Wilbraham Quarry in Cambridgeshire on 18 September 2025.
The event attracted guests from across the UK and Europe, including representatives from the quarrying, recycling, and materials processing sectors, who were able to see first-hand the latest intelligent washing and classifying technologies developed by Bruce/Tecnoidea – designed to deliver greater efficiency, sustainability, and product quality.
‘It was fantastic to welcome customers – both old and new – and industry partners to our open day and showcase the full capability of our materials solutions in a live working environment because nothing beats seeing the equipment in action,’ emphasized Paul Rooney, marketing and dealer development executive for Bruce.
‘Events like this provide a terrific opportunity for people to experience first-hand the quality, efficiency, and versatility of our range, and to speak directly with our technical experts about how our solutions can be tailored to specific operational needs.’
Indeed, throughout the event, attendees had the chance to meet with Bruce/Tecnoidea engineers, discuss plant performance and design innovations, and explore how the company’s tailored approach continues to set new standards in washing and water-management technologies.
A key highlight of the day was showcasing Bruce’s latest bespoke installation – the BWR-TL construction and demolition (C&D) recycling plant – designed specifically to meet Aggreg8’s operational needs. With growing environmental awareness among businesses and consumers, there is increasing pressure on the construction and extractive industries to source materials more sustainably – and recycled aggregates form a crucial part of this transition.
For environmentally conscious SMEs, such as Aggreg8, there is a growing impetus for climate-responsible construction. The value chain places a strong emphasis on the role of electrification, automation, renewable energy, and decarbonization technologies in reducing emissions while enhancing economic efficiency and energy security.
‘Equally important is the increasing adoption of recycled aggregates, which is helping the industry conserve natural resources, cut waste, and lower its overall carbon footprint – key steps on the path toward a more sustainable and circular construction economy,’ said Ryan Copperthwaite, director at Wren.
‘Reducing Aggreg8’s environmental footprint was a key driver behind the decision to invest in the brand-new Bruce waste-recycling plant. As the waste industry shifts from a linear model to a truly circular economy, our customers’ priority is no longer simply disposing of waste to landfill, but recovering, repurposing, and adding value to every tonne of material they handle.’
Driving circular progress
Equipment solutions from Bruce and Tecnoidea have been demonstrated to deliver increased processing efficiency and advanced water-management capabilities in the construction, aggregates, and recycling sectors. The open day event at Aggreg8’s Wilbraham site showcased this precisely, highlighting Bruce’s ability to engineer flexible, high-performance solutions that optimize material recovery and reduce environmental impact.
‘The feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive,’ commented Sacha Morey, operations director at Wren. ‘It was great to see so many people take time out to see what Bruce have to offer. They watched live demonstrations, inspected the washing system and processing technology up close, and gained a deeper understanding of the plant’s performance and benefits.
‘The open day was a real breakthrough for us and we’re proud to be part of a team taking a leading role in raising sustainability standards for recycled construction materials across the south of England.’
The new Bruce C&D waste-recycling plant at Wilbraham Quarry has been specially constructed as a stationary installation, aimed at ensuring long-term reliability and high production efficiency. Despite its fixed design, the BWR-TL system provides remarkable operational flexibility thanks to its modularity, which combines a carefully selected mix of proven, high-performance products from the Bruce range.
The 100 tonnes/h modular wash plant combines a pre-screen, twin-shaft log-washer, triple-deck washing screen, and trash/filter screen – all mounted together on a robust skid frame. Compact yet powerful, the unit has been engineered to provide a complete washing solution with a minimal footprint – ideal for both quarrying and recycling operations where space and efficiency are at a premium. The system is complemented by the BWS-120 fines recovery unit, a dual cyclone and pump sand washing plant.
Driven by high-frequency motors, the BWR-TL system’s washing screens deliver precise separation and consistent product quality. Hardox Wearparts are fitted as standard throughout critical areas to ensure durability and extended wear life, while an automated control system provides straightforward operation and process control.
Coupled with a fully automated wastewater treatment system from partners Tecnoidea, the plant operates as a closed-loop system that maximizes water recovery. Process wastewater is continuously recycled through a sequence of flocculant dosing, settlement tanks, and a filter press, ensuring efficient solids removal and the recirculation of high-quality water within the washing process.
As the material is forced through the press, solids accumulate within the chambers and gradually form a compact filter cake. This process effectively separates the water from the solids, allowing the recovered water to be recycled directly back into the washing circuit while producing a by-product with practical reuse potential.
‘The Tecnoidea filter press allows quarry and recycling operators to recover up to 90% of process water for immediate reuse, significantly reducing the demand for fresh water and cutting waste-disposal costs,’ remarked Paul Rooney. ‘This is particularly important given the changing aggregates market landscape. The resulting filter cake can be repurposed for applications such as pipe bedding or landfill capping, supporting both operational efficiency and environmental responsibility.’
By removing the need for traditional settling ponds – often labour-intensive and costly to maintain – the Tecnoidea water-treatment system provides a cleaner, more sustainable solution for water management within modern washing operations. The Bruce waste-washing plant produces a range of final products, including 0-2mm soft sand, 0–4mm coarse sand, and three aggregates (4–10mm, 10–20mm, and 40mm).
‘Since commissioning the new Cambridgeshire plant, Aggreg8’s recycled materials have been very well received in the marketplace, with consistently positive feedback on their quality,’ said Ryan Copperthwaite.
‘Our client is achieving some of the highest recycling rates in the region, and the cutting-edge Bruce wash plant is helping them take that even further. It is diverting more than 90% of material that would previously have gone to landfill – a significant step forward in Aggreg8’s drive towards greater sustainability and resource efficiency.’
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