Worcester aggregates laboratory .
Afrimat ’ s technical centre is located in Killarney Gardens , Cape Town . It conducts research on how to reduce water in product mixes on an ongoing basis , in line with the company ’ s innovation drive . Some of these products have already been successfully introduced to the market .
Sand shortages still a problem
In terms of sourcing , Afrimat receives the majority of its aggregate supply from its own quarries . Kliprug , Palmiet and Brewelskloof quarries supply the Cape Town operations with coarser aggregates .
“ Our aggregate is generally sourced inhouse unless we are working in remote areas where we don ’ t have a quarry . In the Western Cape , 95 % of our aggregates
are sourced locally ,” says Paton . Good quality sand is a challenge in the Western Cape — a problem that remains prevalent across the country , says Paton . “ The problem goes hand in hand with reducing water . If you have a good quality fine aggregate , you can produce concrete with very low water requirements . Unfortunately , the good quality sand has been exhausted at a rapid pace over the last couple of years .”
Quarry managers are very much aware of the problem and are constantly looking at manufacturing sand . “ Crusher sand is not quite the same as natural sand ; even though it gives you the same grading , it does not behave the same way in the concrete . Natural sand is also cheaper . The industry is moving towards the blending of
Afrimat has worked on a number of projects in the renewable energy sector through its mobile operations , including a job on a wind farm near De Aar .
26 _ QUARRY SA | March 2017