Quarry restoration solution
Bardon Hill Quarry near Leicester in Leicestershire is one of the United Kingdom’s oldest continuously operated quarries. Aggregate Industries UK Ltd has recently developed a new quarry extension at this strategically important site. In order to sustain quarrying activities, a separate material handling system is required to extract, process and transport overburden for emplacement within the existing quarry as part of its restoration.
Doppelmayr Transport Technology has worked closely with Aggregate Industries UK Ltd to develop a unique solution that will dramatically reduce CO2 emissions and environmental impact compared with road haulage or the footprint associated with a conventional surface conveyor system.
The proven RopeCon® system is a combination of ropeway technology and conventional conveying technology. Track ropes will span 850 m across the entire pit upon which the belt which transports the overburden will travel. The RopeCon system includes a reversable second belt that will enable simultaneous conveying and emplacement activities. During the life of the operation, the RopeCon track ropes will be periodically retensioned to allow the system to be lifted above the placed material. This ability to control the drop height will minimise the impact from noise and dust during operation of the system.
Currently under construction, this will be one of the first such installations in the UK and will transport up to 1000 t of overburden per operating hour.
