Strategic Alliance Awareness SessionEnhancing Durability

Increasing the performance of granular materials- Producing higher standard materials

Robert Vos – reporting for the Quarry Industry

Feedback from the Quarry Industry

Rocks into civil engineering materialsEconomy of operation requires balancing production to demandRange of markets for quarry products• Concrete / road base

surfacing aggregate (coated) asphalt (dust, sand, aggregates)ballast

• Seasonal variation in demandstorage limitations / costs of stock holding

Supply capacity• Commercial operations / Long lead times for

establishment and expansion / Environmental constraints• Long term equipment pay-off periods 15 to 30 years /

Low assured volumes / Investment risk• Predictability of demand / boom bust climate related freak events /

base demand low

Changing expectations• Change in product types (new specifications & expectations)• Specification material properties not matched to alternates

available / Flexibility & appropriate specifications

Consequences• With draw from the market / Closing of quarries • Cost increases / Scarcity • Market mechanism requires assured demand in

sufficient quantity• Restrictions of program execution / Inability to deliver

/ Much more finely tuned programing

Demand & supply balance

Communication• Understand local industry supply capacity and availability

– asphalt / seal / aggregates / concrete• communicate risk and investment requirements for changes in demand• Accept responsibility for base load demand and natural cycles in weather &

maintenance• Gain understanding of market changes in supply

Program development• Closer matching and balancing product demand to availability• Sealing program: balance double seals (7 & 14mm) with single seals (10mm) • Microsurfacing: (4.75mm & dust) for rut filling

Opportunities 1

Improving performance• Quality control• Identification of quality ranges / variability in quarry – PAFV, better than

minimum• Process to “quarantine & stockpile” high value materials• Changing production for higher standard outcomes – impacts on outputs &

balance / investments

Way forward• Long term programs reflecting demand across product range (4 years plus)

– for investments• Two yearly program with quarterly demand profile linked or matched to

supply points • Three monthly review - operational

Opportunities 2