Doppelmayr quarry restoration solution for Bardon Hill

Bardon Hill Quarry, near Leicester, is one of the UK’s oldest continuously operated quarries. Owners Aggregate Industries UK Ltd have recently developed a new quarry extension at this strategically important site. In order to sustain quarrying activities, a separate material handling system is required to extract, process, and transport overburden for emplacement within the existing quarry as part of its restoration.

Hillhead exhibitors Doppelmayr Transport Technology have worked closely with Aggregate Industries to develop a unique solution that dramatically reduces CO2 emissions and environmental impact compared with road haulage or the footprint associated with a conventional surface conveyor system.

The proven RopeCon system is a combination of ropeway technology and conventional conveying technology. At Bardon Hill, it spans across the entire pit. During the life of the operation, the RopeCon track ropes are periodically re-tensioned to allow the system to be lifted above the placed material. This ability to control the drop height minimizes the impact from noise and dust during operation of the system.

This is the first such installation in the UK and transports up to 1,000 tonnes of overburden per hour.