Pit & Quarry, June 2012

OPERATIONS was added and served as the main limestone source until closing in 2004 The pit closed because it was mined to the point where it had become too expensive to harvest the remaining limestone The 19 acre pit is 450 ft deep and water had to be pumped out continuously to keep it operable Now the water is 350 ft deep in the abandoned pit and 7000 gallons are pumped out per minute mainly for wash plant use The slurry is pumped back into the pit The pit water is also used for general plant maintenance and dust suppression With the big pit closed the company needed to begin tapping the quarrys limestone reserves Time to upgrade By 2006 Anna Quarries was still using crushing screening and washing equipment and conveyor systems that dated back to when the pit opened in 1969 The company decided to replace all that equipment around 2006 in part because it was situated directly on top of the main limestone reserve Anna Quarries needed to start working The property totals about 200 acres so there is ample limestone for many many more years of operation says William E Pyatt Anna Quarries president Anna Quarries Inc has operated under various names since 1855 and under current ownership since 1969 It is located in Anna Ill The new plant at Anna Quarries is a very complex setup It allows the company to easily change its end products several times a week and general manager We had a good idea of what we wanted to accomplish with the new system In 2006 Anna Quarries began working with a consultant Gary Smyth of Plant Optimization LLC to get a basic design Anna Quarries wanted equipment that made the operation more flexible and gave it better product utilization It also wanted to make better use of its manpower capabilities Ultimately Anna Quarries needed to maximize and economize to reduce the cost per ton for all products We didnt want to contract with a big manufacturing company Pyatt says These companies basically build a system using only their brand of equipment crushing screening washing We wanted to utilize what we felt was the best equipment choice at a given location and that involves using different manufacturers equipment at various points A big manufacturer doesnt necessarily have the best equipment for the whole system Anna Quarries also wanted to work with a smaller company to engineer and construct the system and to help it determine all the types and makes of equipment for its particular needs Were a relatively small familyowned company so we know the benefits of working with someone structured like we are Pyatt says Plus we value the confidence and comfort levels of working directly with the main contractors top people With these different considerations in mind Plant Optimization LLC recommended Grasan A sure thing Grasan was not the lowest bidder Pyatt says but Anna Quarries felt Grasans bid in 2008 was reasonable and offered it the best value One thing Grasan did well throughout that process HIGHER THROUGHPUT LESS COST MORE PRODUCTION www flexmat com 36 PIT QUARRY June 2012 www pitandquarry com