CDE experts, together with a host of guests and industry figures, facilitated in October a series of dynamic, educational and informative presentations and panel discussions covering multiple sectors. 

 

It included sand and aggregates, construction and demolition waste recycling, industrial sands, mining, and wastewater.

 

SAND WASHING CHALLENGES

CDE Regional Manager Ruchin Garg was joined by Ali Ahmed Al Theeb, General Manager at Sandco, to discuss how CDE hydrocyclone technology can overcome sand washing challenges.

 

“Older technologies have limitations when it comes to the loss of sand due to overflow,” Garg explained.

 

“You lose a good quantity of particles into the sludge. It requires a larger footprint, higher maintenance and availability of these machines in terms of downtime is much higher.”

 

“Typically, we see anywhere from 10-30% of material lost in sludge pits using a combination screw/classifier or bucket wheel,” he said, adding that CDE provides a solution with filter press and thickeners.

 

Ali Ahmed Al Theeb from CDE Kuwait said: “In Kuwait, sand has a high amount of silt and fine content, almost 15-20%. It is a huge challenge to try and reduce this amount of silt.”

 

The high amount of silt content in the natural sand means it is unsuitable for construction and means sand washing is necessary.

 

“Until 2008,” he said, “we were using traditional technologies for sand washing, which depended on gravity for the separation process.”

 

“Traditional methods were so limited in terms of productivity,” he said. Adding that fine content still existed after washing, how waste of raw material was high and the high cost of water loss in stockpiles and sludge.

 

In 2005, the needs of the market changed. Many construction projects came up that required high strength concrete requiring high quality components, including washed sand.

 

“We started exploring alternative technologies for sand processing” to improve the quality of SandCo’s washed sands, he explained. After researching options, SandCo opted for CDE hydrocyclone and dewatering technology. "This technology was totally new to the Kuwait market,” he added.

 

Today, SandCo produces high quality sand to industry specifications with increased productivity and efficiency.

 

“Fine content now is under control…moisture content in the product is low,” Al Theeb explained.

 

SandCo is now a certified supplier for many projects, producing premium washed sand and supplying the greatest market share of construction sand in Kuwait.

 

SUSTAINABLE CITIES

Garg was joined by Eunan Kelly, Head of C&D Waste Recycling at CDE, and Ahmed Taher, General Manager at Al Dhafra Recycling Industries LLC, to discuss the role of construction, demolition and excavation waste material in the sustainable city agenda. 

 

At the outset of the discussion, Kelly asked: “What do we need to do next in order to get the innovative processes which we have a lot of confidence…to hit sustainable development goals number 11 and 12?”

 

Taher said: “Mandating usage of recycled products supports the vision of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

 

“One of the key features that’s making us successful in Abu Dhabi and UAE is that it’s by law a minimum of 40% on each and every infrastructure project must use recycled products.”

 

Garg agreed: “Legislation will make the business idea more feasible.”

 

Referencing landfills in Dubai, Kelly said there is a need for legislation but also behavioural changes.

 

“Legislation will drive usage, but a behaviour change is needed…we need to have a logical approach to how we use the material.”

 

Taher agreed: “You change the mindset, teach people how to recycle and reuse instead of using the virgin quarried material.”

 

Garg highlighted three key strands: legislation, technology and keenness.

 

“We have shown keenness, definitely. There is an appreciation of technology also…legislation is moving. There is a green bill in discussion.”

 

SHARING KNOWLEDGE

The packed two-day programme featured almost 90 sessions involving over 100 speakers. Garg says: “In these unique and challenging times there are many restrictions that have prevented CDE, our customers, and others in materials processing from coming together at industry events to discuss the prevalent issues of the day and the latest technological advances.

 

“Utilising our global network, we decided to programme the major two-day Engineering Insights symposium which proved to be a huge success with almost 1,500 industry professionals from around the world registering.

 

“We firmly believe this shared approach to knowledge and expertise is a better way to aid the progression of the industry.”

 

He says it is important to ensure these discussions can continue even though the industry is unable to come together in the same space.

 

“The challenges facing our industry – sand depletion, water management, sustainable mining and much more – have not gone away. As an industry leader in these fields we felt a responsibility to convene the very best in the business to facilitate these important conversations.” -- Tradearabia News Service