Modern Quarrying January-February 2017

SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT

of payment plans so that the company could grow at a reasonable pace without depleting cash flow and potentially jeopardising its progress. All the while, I and other key personnel at ELB worked with Johan to find solutions to extract the weath- ered granite rock in the most reliable and econom- ical way possible. “And so Johan, who had been joined by his son Johan Jnr at that point, began building up a formi- dable fleet of Sumitomo SH300 and SH350 excava- tors, Kawasaki 60ZIV and 85ZIV front end loaders to feed production to a Powerscreen jaw crusher and SR1000 cone crusher and screen for different product sizes. From there, the process continues to an ELB-supplied M1700 washing plant and Fines Master washing systems from Terex, that delivers the tonnages required. Finally, the quarry uses an ELB 600 stacker for stockpiles – ready for loading,” Van Heerden says. Like his father, the younger Meintjes cites the easy-to-deal-with attitude of ELB Equipment as the main enabler for its lasting relationship with the company.“From the workers to the service manager and CEO, everybody is available to talk to us and are genuinely interested in our business; whether it is a Sunday night or a public holiday, if we need exper- tise, spares or backup, they are there for us. “Likewise in terms of availability, the big yellow machines are in a different league to all the other makes that we have tried through the years,” he says. “I guess that is where ELB Equipment has a big advantage over OEMs who must sell their own brand even if certain types or models are not very good. Similarly, the processing and stockpiling equipment is reliable and gives us advanced func- tionality to process a wider range of products. “In the 15 years that I have been involved with the company, there is not another company that values service like ELB Equipment does; they have not let us down. I don’t think we could have suc- ceeded without an equipment partner like ELB. “We stand together and we work together and they have the backup and expertise to take our business forward,”Meintjes Jnr says. www.elbequipment.com

A Kawasaki Z85 workhorse operating in the quarry.

ELB Equipment’s Des van Heerden with Lion Park Quarry’s father and son team Johan Meintjes (Snr) and Johan Meintjes (Jnr).

Supporting development Lion Park Quarries supplies everything from road aggregates to river sand and aggregates for large-scale housing developments in the area. Its Grand Old Lady Furukawa FL230 machine is still in full production. The oldest Kawasaki machines have over 40 000 hours and show no signs of fatigue. The Sumitomo excavators uphold unparalleled production rates and are classed as ‘ultra reliable’. Terex crushers, screens and washers provide customers with high-quality aggregates and Lion Park Quarries’ aggregates are sought after throughout the western region of Gauteng. Stockpiles are generally sufficient for 48 hours as demand is of such a nature the developers order the aggregates as fast as they can produce. The quarry has reserves for 15-20 years.

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MODERN QUARRYING

January - February 2017