CDE develops the first all-in-one wet processing plant

CDE has launched the Combo: a new plant the company claims will revolutionize the wet processing industry.

The Combo — the world’s first all-in-one wet processing plant – was unveiled at bauma earlier this year.

The Combo encompasses five processes; feeding, sizing, sand washing, stockpiling and complete integrated water management, which is a first for the industry and an important innovation to address a challenge faced by all customers of wet processing systems.

“The Combo is no ordinary machine, but rather a technological response to the challenges faced by materials producers,” said Sean Kerr, chief operating officer. “It has been designed with a focus on transferring greater reliability and efficiency benefits to customers. Offering a turnkey solution that delivers unrivalled control of in-spec washed products from a wide range of feed materials the Combo can be used in the construction, C&D waste, recycling, industrial sands, mining and environmental sectors.”

Rapid setup from CDE

The Combo offers rapid onsite set-up, reduced start-up costs, the ability to process a wide range of feed materials (both natural sand and crushed rock), lower power consumption, a smaller footprint and easy accessibility for maintenance.

Pre-tested and pre-wired before dispatch, the Combo arrives on-site in a single unit ready to plug and play either as a standalone plant or as part of a larger turnkey solution.

The plant is built for rapid assembly and set up and can start processing material within days of arrival onsite.

A minimal footprint

Also, as it sits on its own chassis, the Combo requires minimal civils and pipework, so operators can now easily relocate their plant across sites or to remote locations. Its smaller footprint also makes it ideal for tight quarries in urban settings.

With all essential processes being housed on a single chassis, the Combo system operates as one interconnected and pre-assembled unit, which incorporates an integrated control panel with one single point of operation.

The Combo production range

The Combo wet processing system can produce up to two in-spec products from natural sand or crushed rock turning what is often considered a waste by-product into a product that adds value to the business.

In addition, the CDE new technology allows customers almost total independence of water supply with up to 90 per cent of process water recycled for immediate re-use in the system — ideal for jurisdictions with limited resources or those with existing environmental or impending environmental legislation.

Furthermore, the Combo has been designed for single-operator use and ease-of-access for routine maintenance with its swivel access to the pump leading to maximum production and prolonged life.

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Lower power consumption compared to existing technology available on the market means customers can process a higher volume of materials with reduced operating costs generating exceptional return on investment.

Kevin Vallelly, director of engineering at CDE, explained sand accounts for about 35 per cent of concrete which is used in the building construction industry.

“At CDE we are unlocking a new world of resource and driving alternatives for sand production. Global demand for construction sand is more than 15 billion tonnes per year,” Vallelly said. “Our sustainable technology producing washed and graded manufactured sand is helping supplement natural sand which is a finite resource and increasing in cost.”

Closer concrete from CDE

According to CDE, the Combo requires a small supply of fresh water compared with traditional systems which typically consume 10 to 15 times more water allowing its deployment in quarries and urban areas not previously known for sand production.

“By utilizing normally low-value crusher fines for sand production we can extend the life of natural resources and add huge commercial value to our customers’ enterprises,” Vallelly said. “In addition, sand can be produced closer to where concrete is required, resulting in significant cost savings in the transport of aggregates.”