From little things, big things grow
Scott Meyers (left) receives a plaque of appreciation on behalf of Macon quarry volunteers from School Superintendent Jim LeBrun at the Board of Education meeting late last year.
A little volunteering can go a long way.
When Gary Appling, pit supervisor at Rinker Materials’ Macon quarry, volunteered his time and expertise at local school Mattie Wells Elementary, to build new benches and do a little landscaping, he never guessed that he was setting something bigger in motion.
But thanks to this small effort, there is now a Macon quarry volunteer working with every school in Jones County, Georgia, US.
“We had a meeting about this and we couldn’t see ourselves just helping one school,” says Scott Meyers, quarry manager.
“The management team members brainstormed during a staff meeting and chose to take on all the schools and involve everyone on the team,” says Travis Burke, supervisor at the Macon quarry. “The volunteers picked the schools they wanted to help, and a partnership began with the students at its heart.”
The quarry team organised a feedback session, luncheon and site tour for the principals from eight schools. These discussions confirmed how best to help each school.
The team is now working on a vast array of projects with the schools, including donating or helping raise money for school projects, reading to third-graders on a weekly basis, organising fund raiser events like golf days, helping in the kitchen for school events and inviting students along for quarry tours.
“We want to educate the community about what we do and show that we are a part of Jones County. We are having fun with it.
It’s nice to make a difference,” says Scott. “Our guys have gone one step beyond what is asked of them and put a personal touch to it. One person could not take on all the projects, and it takes a team effort to make it happen.”
Monster (concrete) trucks
There are trucks, and then there are monster trucks. So the team at Readymix found out when they decided to convert an underground haulage truck into a concrete mixer.
The truck is needed to supply shotcrete for the decline at Argyle Diamond Mine’s $1 billion underground development in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Due for completion in December 2010, the Readymix team is currently supplying around 3,000 cubic metres (4,000 cubic yards) each month.
“We originally intended to purchase a new mixer but the working conditions underground – combined with Argyle’s production requirements – necessitated a customised solution,” says Readymix business development manager Ric Howe.
“We’ve been delivering concrete underground for quite a number of years and would normally use conventional trucks and agitators, but the ground conditions at Argyle - which can be quite steep and slippery - demand a new generation unit to work in these conditions.”
The purpose-built agitator is one of the largest of its kind in Australia. It has a re-engineered front and rear chassis and a “fail-safe” emergency braking system - seen by some as the best available on today’s market – which allows the unit to be parked safely underground.
“Everyone has been amazed at its physical size,” says Ric. “Most mining people have seen an AD40 truck before, but when you extend the front and rear and then put a 10 cubic metre (355 cubic feet) bowl on the back, it makes for a very big unit.”
The truck has already proven to be a cleaner option and has improved operator comfort with its superior ergonomics.
The refurbished Caterpillar haul truck-turned-concrete mixer offers heightened safety, including fail-safe brakes and reduced vehicle emissions.
