Through ongoing investments in the quality of sand that it produces, Kilo Sand in Tshwane is a first choice for suppliers and contractors servicing the northern suburbs of Johannesburg and the lower reaches of Tshwane.
In this heavily traded area, where numerous quarries are similarly positioned to service two of the fastest growing areas in Africa, Kilo Sand’s quality differentiator is key to its success. Driven through an ongoing investment in modern machinery and purpose-built equipment, the company is able to supply the best possible quality of materials at cost-effective prices.
Its latest acquisition of the Terex FM120 pushes the quality boundaries still further with its ability to produce more sand of a higher quality while simultaneously minimising water usage. For its many customers, it means the company can produce an even better-quality river sand with the right balance of course and fine material for more useable product per load.
Old for new
The new machine, procured from ELB Equipment, the sole distributor of Terex washing systems in Southern Africa, has also boosted production of washed river sand on site by over 35% which is assisting the company to keep up with ever-growing demand.
Kilo Sand owner, Josef Lewis continues, “It replaces our 10-year-old Powerscreen FM120 which had become tired and in need of refurbishing. Rather than taking it out of production for the time needed to refurbish it, we decided to go the route of purchasing the best, most suitable new machine to get the job done more efficiently.
“Having put in a lot of research of other types of machines available, we decided rather to go with the upgraded and updated version of the trusty FM120 as it is still the only wash plant that is able to meet all our requirements. It remains the one that is best suited to our dry screening mode of operation. It also has a true 120-ton per hour throughput with better handling of slime (fines) and a resultant higher quality end product. It actually strikes the perfect balance between efficiency, low running cost and improved production,” Josef says.
Less water
After several months of operation, he adds that the Terex FM120 has also positively boosted production by at least 35%. It has even resulted in the company’s loading cycle needing optimisation to keep up with the new washing plant’s increased capacity.
There are also positive spin-offs for the environment due to its efficient operation. The extended efficiency of the plant’s hydro-cyclones is better able to capture fines rather than simply expelling it to the settling ponds located on the property. This ensures better recirculation of water on site and prolongs intervals between excavating or relocation of the ponds.
Considering that the entire operation is located on Josef’s generations old family farm, which still produces crops and livestock, environmentally friendlier operation is an important consideration. With everything in its place and the lands well looked after, the Kilo Sand operation is responsibly managed in order to cohabit with the thriving and beautiful family farm.
Old-fashioned values
“In many ways we uphold most of the traditional values of bygone generations on the farm and still value honest, sincere relationships. Just as it is important to us not to pollute our neighbours’ drinking water, it is similarly important that we do business with reputable and reliable suppliers.
“ELB Equipment has been one of the most important part of our business from the early 1980s when we needed more water and decided to excavate our farm dams, to the realisation that the sand excavated was of a saleable quality and valuable in its own right. The company’s experts have given us the right technical advice and financial assistance procure the right equipment needed to turn the operation into a fully-fledged quarry with multiple streams of high quality saleable products.
“Since those early days, we have gone on to buy more than 30 pieces of equipment from them ranging from crushers and washing plants, to wheel loaders, excavators and everything else we need to run a slick operation. The fact that the relationship has lasted over three decades is in many ways testament to the quality of the equipment provided by ELB Equipment and the quality of service they provide to their customers. Trust is important to us and they have earned ours,” Josef concludes.
ELB Equipment, Heath Dickson, Tel: (011) 306 0700, Email: heathd@elbquip.co.za, Web: www.elbequipment.co.za