In January the main concreting plant in Birmingham, “Aston”, had a new Erie Strayer tilting mixer installed at a cost of approximately £800,000. CEMEX is investing to improve other areas at the site as well – one being to introduce a loading shovel.

“Due to its location and the road network the site was struggling at times to get the materials required for the day’s production,” explains Jim Wainwright, Ops Manager West Midlands. “Sometimes work would cancel and we would have to cancel at short notice which then had a knock-on effect to the haulier, and trucks that couldn’t be cancelled were waiting for up to two hours to tip. We have now installed a new bay where we can store sand and gravel to give us extra storage space and be more flexible on site. This has also had a massive benefit to the hauliers and has helped them run a more cost effective business.

As an addition, the loading shovel has a quick release bucket and came with a set of forks which has enabled us to off load fibres, admix etc. The site is more cost effective to run and has improved its capability for day to day running.  This is a win, win, for both CEMEX and R. Adams and Sons (haulier).

All the team below have had a massive impact on further improving the site and the loading shovel:

• Josh Markhew, Plant Manager
• Joe Elles, Relief Manager
• Nigel Street, Senior Relief Manager
• Howard Reid, Company fitter

I would like to thank Christian Vale for his help and support for making this possible.”