Kelston Sparkes

STEART COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:30:00 +0100

This contract was started last year and here are some current pictures of the site.

Given a drier time we are pushing to complete the works by the last quarter of this year!!!

Kelston Sparkes Team

HINCKEY GETS THE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE GOVERNMENT

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:30:00 +0000

The new Nuclear Power Station project at Hinckley Point, Nr. Bridgwater was given planning approval on 12/03/13

Our company has been associated with the project works for nearly three years and have over the last 18 months just completed some Earthworks and Civil works there. BBC/ITV covered the event with film of our machines working on site.

The value to build the new reactor is some 14 billion pounds!!!!!!

KS Truck at Hinckley

Kelston Sparkes Team

KELSTON SPARKES GO LARGE WITH NEW VOLVO EC700C

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Below is an article that "The Aggregates & Recycling Information Network" has written about us on their website.

17 January 2013 - 16:14

Company takes delivery of flagship excavator for major primary extraction contract at Torr Quarry

NORMALLY associated with Volvo articulated haulers, loading shovels and medium-sized excavators, Kelston Sparkes Group have taken delivery of Volvo CE’s flagship excavator, the EC700C, for the first time for work on primary extraction on one of the company’s prestigious contracts in the Mendips.

‘To be honest, we tended to look elsewhere for our large prime mover requirements, but with our existing 65-tonne excavator approaching 15,000h and some significant track repair work required, we took an objective look at the market,’ said managing director Alan Sparkes.

‘We evaluated five different models and it was a difficult call to make with nothing to compare in terms of the deal on the table and machine availability, so it all came down to the preference of our workshop personnel. With the long-standing relationship with Volvo’s product support people, and their outstanding back-up and co-operation, it was an easy decision for Steve Marsh, our workshop manager and his team.’

The new EC700C takes over as prime mover, joining a Volvo EC480D and four Volvo 40-tonne articulated haulers purchased late in 2011 on a long-standing contract for Aggregate Industries at Torr Quarry, near Shepton Mallet. Both machines are loading the trucks with blasted limestone which is then hauled a short distance to the site’s giant O&K mobile crusher.

‘The areas for blasting and processing over the current phase of operations called for approximately 1.5 million tonnes of rock to be hauled to the crusher,’ said George Stanley, Keslton Sparkes’ foreman in charge of the primary extraction team. ‘We are shifting upwards of 15,000 tonnes of material a day on a 7am to 5.30pm shift between the two excavators and four trucks.’

Equipped in mass-excavation configuration, as delivered to Kelston Sparkes Group, the EC700C offers a maximum reach of 11.2m, a digging depth of 7.25m and a lifting capacity across carriage at full reach of 12.4 tonnes. The machine has been fitted with a bespoke 4.4 cubic metre rock bucket supplied by MST Ltd.

Complying with quarry regulations, the 70-tonne machine has also been equipped with full safety features including safety rails around the machine superstructure, red and white chevrons on the counterweight and a full cab windscreen guard.

With 25 years under his belt working for Kelston Sparkes, machine operator Clive Bodeley is suitably impressed with his new charge. ‘When you’re working in the machine all day long, you need to feel comfortable and refreshed, and so far I’ve been delighted with the Volvo 70 tonner,’ he said.

Supplying equipment to feed the primary crusher at Torr is just one of several contracts Kelston Sparkes are currently engaged in at Torr Quarry, which includes the relocation of the quarry’s waste tip and crushing specific pockets of the quarry for Type I material.

‘We’ve been very fortunate to secure mid- to long-term contracts within the extractive industry in the south-west of the country and in particular here at Torr Quarry,’ said Alan Sparkes. ‘As a major contractor to several established companies, we are committed to work as a team with our clients in delivering a quality service with experienced personnel and first-class products.

‘In turn, we rely on known and trusted suppliers such as Volvo to help support our activities and this has played a significant role in our decision to purchase the EC700C.’

You can also find the article on The Aggregates & REcycling Informatioin Network website

Kelston Sparkes Team

MR KELSTON SPARKES AT A.I TORR QUARRY WITH HIS TEAM

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

It’s great to see Alan taking his father Kelston to visit some of our sites. This picture is just some of our guys and behind a selection of New Volvo Equipment we have working in the Quarry.

Kelston Sparkes Team

NEW VOLVO EC700C EXCAVATOR

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:00:00 +0000

The picture below is the delivery by our Heavy Lowloader Transportation of a New VOLVO EC700CL Tracked Excavator.

The machine weighs 75 tons and will be put to work loading our VOLVO A40F Dumptrucks at Aggregate Industries Torr Works Quarry.

The EC700CL joins the large fleet of giant Excavators operated by us.

Kelston Sparkes Team

KELSTON SPARKES RUNNERS UP IN NATIONAL SAFETY AWARD

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000

The Mineral Products Association's prestigious Health & Safety conference and awards 2012 took place on the 13th November at BAFTA in London.

There were 142 entries from 32 different companies, Kelston Sparkes Group was one of those entries as part of the Tarmac Safety Partnership Group, this is where Tarmac have worked with their top ten contractors over the last 16 months to recognise and share best practise, resulting in improved safety standards, our entry was runner up.

Terry O'callaghan won an award for Exceptional Personal Contribution to Health & Safety.

COMPANY TRANSPORT FLEET UPDATED

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0100

Please see some pictures of the ‘new look’ Ford vans we have just purchased. They are the new shape, low emission, fuel efficient Ford Fiesta 70 vans.

They will be used to transport our machine operator’s, equipped with their machine’s daily maintenance requirements to our hire customers sites and our quarrying and earthworks contracts around the country.

Kelston Sparkes Team

NEW GENERATION HAMM H20i ROLLERS

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:00:00 +0100

New Generation Hamm H20i Rollers working on the Coastal management Project, Steart Peninsula, Nr. Bridgwater, Somerset.

The Kelston Sparkes Group, have always operated a large fleet of 12 – 18 ton self propelled rollers, that can have pad-foot shells fitted to the drums for superior compaction. We have operated the Hamm roller brand for over 20 years and find the rollers to be well built, operator friendly, reliable and at the forefront of introducing new technology and emission reduction to the compaction problems.

Please contact our Plant Department for any rates or advice.

Kelston Sparkes Team

LOW LOADERS

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:30:00 +0100

At Kelston Sparkes we have a fleet of low loaders that are available to move all types of cargo and plant. We can also move abnormal loads and can do all the necessary paperwork to notify all the relevant authorities.

Please contact Tony on the hire desk if you would have any loads that need moving.

Kelston Sparkes Team

Terex Finlay 984 Makes Its Debut With The Kelston Sparkes Group Installed by Finlay Plant SW

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 16:00:00 +0100

The awesome, next-generation Terex Finlay 984 has made its debut in England, where it is doing the work of three machines - transforming the screening of limestone in the West Country.

Representatives from the Kelston Sparkes Group visited France to see one of the machines in action before specifying it for their screening operation in Frome, Somerset, where the company is contracted by Tarmac to handle dry stone production at Halecombe Quarry.

Supplied by Finlay Plant SW, the machine is currently operating at a rate of 300 tonnes per hour, although Terry O’Callaghan, General Manager of Kelston Sparkes Group, says the machine could run up to 320 tonnes per hour if required.

The economic benefits are compelling – as well as removing the need for two screens and their associated running costs, the machine is also producing 50 tonnes per hour more than was previously achieved on the site.

To aid productivity, Kelston Sparkes Group worked with Gareth Johnson, Managing Director of Finlay Plant SW, to develop a larger hopper to shovel-load 75 mm aggregate in.

Terry O’Callaghan said: “The 984 was the only type of machine on the market that could do what we needed."

“It does the tonnage and has accomplished what we set out to achieve".

“The need for two screeners has also been taken out, which were previously used to take out the dust on 4mm decks, as this new machine takes out the dust sufficiently well.”

Representing the latest in high volume screening technology, the Terex Finlay 984 is a horizontal, three deck screener that is easy to set up, versatile and ideal for handling large volumes of material in quarrying, mining and recycling applications.

It incorporates the 6100mm x 1930mm Terex Cedarapids 6203 triple shaft screen, enabling the screening of four sizes of products for maximum output.

Despite its power, the machine is easy to move between sites, with the four on-board product conveyors - which provide generous stockpiling capacity - able to fold hydraulically into one of the smallest transport envelopes for this class of machine.

Other features include an oval-throw action, which makes the horizontal screen virtually non-plugging, and the ability to fine tune stroke angle, amplitude and the speed of the screenbox, to allow throughput of materials up to 800 tonnes per hour.

Over the years, Finlay Plant SW has worked with Kelston Sparkes Plant Hire to deliver nine machines into the business, which has been established for 60 years.

Terry added: “Finlay Plant SW has always given us good service".“We do our own maintenance and back-up support and advice is always available".

“Access to spare parts is also reliable and the machines we’ve had over the years have all been good.”

Tarmac’s Halecombe Unit manager, Garry Wason, said: “We’re really pleased to have a machine on site that so greatly improves our productivity, and we are happy to be working with Kelston Sparkes to achieve maximum efficiency and maintain a high quality output."

“The extra tonnage per hour makes our production targets more achievable while keeping in line with our company's cost reduction plan.

“Sustainability is an important consideration for Tarmac, and the 984 has had a big impact on this by allowing us to dispense with two other machines, improving our specific energy consumption and reducing our carbon footprint.”

Gareth Johnson, Managing Director of Finlay Plant SW, which is part of the Finlay Group of companies, said: “The introduction of the 984 has transformed the volume of aggregate produced at Halecombe."

The plant can work with other Terex Finlay machinery at the site, and offers maximum performance.

“This is the first installation of the 984 in England and Wales and we are sure its unique qualities will soon see it become increasingly valued across the quarrying, mining and recycling sectors.”

Please click on the link below to view the video of the 984 in action:

Kelston Sparkes Video

Kelston Sparkes Team

Kelston Sparkes Group Team

MORE TRIMBLE MACHINE CONTROL GPS SYSTEMS FROM KOREC

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:00:00 +0100

Article from Down to Earth monthly magazine

Please, see below a new CAT D6T LGP DOZER.

Kelston Sparkes Group Team

NEW FLEET ADDITION CAT D6T LGP PAT BLADE ACCUGRADE READY

Tue, 29 May 2012 16:00:00 +0100

New Fleet addition CAT D6T LGP PAT Blade Accugrade ready. Delivered to our yard on 28^th May 2012 to have another TRIMBLE GPS system fitted.

Have an enjoyable Bank Holiday Weekend.

Kelston Sparkes Team

WALLACE & GROMIT'S CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION GOLF DAY LETTER

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:30:00 +0100

Here is the letter that Wallace & Gromit's Children's Foundation have sent to us.

We also want to say thank you to them and all the people involved for a great charity day. Our team didn't win but we had a 'cracking' time!

Enjoy the sunshine this weekend!

Kelston Sparkes Team

KELSTON SPARKES AT WALLACE AND GROMIT GOLF DAY

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:30:00 +0100

We are pleased to support the Wallace & Gromit Children’s Foundation, by entering a team on the Golf Day at Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort on Friday 11^th May 2012.

We all hope our team performs to the best of their abilities and the foundation is well supported by a tremendous event organised by the Constellation Media Team.

Have a good Bank Holiday weekend.

Kelston Sparkes Team

DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NEW PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:00:00 +0100

To continue updating our Website we have decided to make a promotional video about us and what we do. Last week the Constellation Media film crew came to one of our sites, Torr Works Quarry, owned by Aggregate Industries to take some footage of our site operations. The completed edited version will be available to watch very soon. Please keep in touch!!!!

Take a look at the photos below of the production process in action.

Sam filming VOLVO A40E.

Kelston Sparkes on site management meeting!!

Another load of scalpings delivered

Have an enjoyable week,

Kelston Spakes Team

100 TONS ON OUR LOW LOADERS

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0100

Did you know we can move loads in excess of 100 tons on our low loaders?

Contact Tony our Plant Manager if you have any requirements.

Kelston Spakes Team

AT LEAST WE REACH A MILLION TONNES

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

After suffering a seriously wet few months which caused numerous problems on site. Ray and his crew have now moved the first million tonnes at Torr Works.

The initial contract started last October when we were asked to move three and a half million tonnes across to the other side of the Quarry to uncover limestone reserves. Hopefully with some better weather now coming our way we should be able to increase the production levels and get a bit closer to the dead line we were set.

Have a look at some pictures!

Have a nice week!!

Kelston Sparkes Team

Premier package for Kelston Sparkes Group

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Marking the 40^th anniversary since purchasing their first Volvo 860T articulated hauler, the Kelston Sparkes Group has made a significant investment in continuing with the Volvo brand with the purchase of new articulated haulers, excavators and loading shovels.

In all a total of six new A40F articulated haulers, two EC480D excavators and two L110G loading shovels have been purchased for several prestige contracts currently being undertaken by Kelston Sparkes in the close proximity to the company’s headquarters. Says Managing Director Alan Sparkes; “We’ve been very fortunate to secure mid to long term contracts within the extractive industry in the south west of the country and in particular the Mendips. As a major contractor to several established companies we are committed to work as a team with our clients in delivering a quality service with experienced personnel and first class products. In turn we rely on known and trusted suppliers such as Volvo to help support our endeavours as we recover, as an industry as a whole, from the recent unprecedented recession.”

The six new 40 tonne trucks have been deployed on a major contract within one of the largest quarries in the Mendips and join an existing mixed fleet of twelve of Sparkes’ A30E’s and A40E’s. The 42 week contract entails the re-siting of approximately 4M tonnes of scalpings from the quarry’s old tip to a worked out area of the site which involves a 2.5 kilometre round trip in order to expose a fresh reserve or urgently required stone. Elsewhere in an adjacent part of the quarry Kelston Sparkes is engaged in loading and hauling blasted limestone from the face to the quarry’s mobile crusher which involves hauling 1.4 million tonnes of rock on a rolling five year contract.

Equipped with full tailgates, oil bath air cleaners and conforming to the current quarry regulations with regards to safety features, the A40F trucks meet the requirements of Stage IIIB emissions legislation. An electronically controlled, six cylinder turbo charged Volvo V-ACT diesel engine developing 347 nett hp features high torque at low engine speeds, resulting in good fuel efficiency, high performance, quicker engine response and less wear, i.e. long service life. Purpose built by Volvo, the V-ACT engine is designed to exactly match the Volvo drive train, ensuring the best use of power and torque, even in tough working conditions. The engine in the drivetrain is matched to a torque converter with built in lock-up function and fitted with a fully automatic fast adaptive transmission. Its shafts, planetary gears and bearings are all reinforced to cope with the higher torque produced by the increased capacity engine.

Two new Volvo EC480D excavators have also been acquired by Kelston Sparkes Group and similar to the new trucks, these have been deployed on local extractive contracts within the Mendips. Complying with quarry regulations the 49 tonne machines have been equipped with full safety features including safety rails around the machine superstructure, red and white chevrons on the counterweight and full cab windscreen guard. Again equipped with Stage IIIB V-Act 13 litre engines, the EC480D develops 348 nett hp and is ideally matched to its automatic sensing mode hydraulic system. Heavy duty rock handling buckets with reinforced wear edges have been fitted to cope with the rigours of the application loading blasted rock into mobile crushers.

Completing the line-up are two new Volvo L110G loading shovels which replace existing Volvo L120E and F models on a couple of long standing waste rehandling contracts within the Avonmouth area.

“Historically we’ve built up our reputation for high quality contracting from numerous nationwide contracts,” continued Alan Sparkes. “Having weathered the turmoil of the last couple of years however we’ve thought long and hard about the Group’s future and concluded that providing a sound, solid service concentrating on the extractive industry in the south west of the country with reliable kit and product support is the way forward. And we’re pleased that in doing so we continue our long standing partner relationship with the team from Volvo CE.”

The Kelston Sparkes Group is based at Stanton Drew near Bristol and provides a first class contracting service including earthmoving, extraction, crushing and screening as well as general plant hire.

Volvo Construction Equipment Division markets wheeled loaders, articulated haulers, hydraulic excavators, graders, Volvo utility equipment and Volvo road equipment products in the U.K. There are eight strategically placed customer support centres and a network of utility equipment dealers to ensure high quality customer support is maintained throughout the country.

Kelston Sparkes Team

NEW EXCAVATOR !!!

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:30:00 +0000

This month we had delivered another NEW VOLVO EXCAVATOR EC300Dl.

This is an addition to our extensive excavator fleet.

Have a look!

Have a nice week!!

Kelston Sparkes Team

Two Loadmaster on-board

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Our friends at RDS Technology wrote an article about us in January.

KELSTON SPARKES TAKE DELIVERY OF ANOTHER TWO LOADMASTER ON-BOARD WEIGHING SYSTEMS

Kelston Sparkes, the long established plant hire and sales group founded by company Chairman Mr Kelston Sparkes back in 1952, have taken delivery of two Loadmaster 8000iX systems fitted onto Volvo L110G.

The company, based in Stanton Drew near Bristol has seen a remarkable family-led rise from a single man operation to now employing 150 people. The business in engaged in a broad spectrum of contracts including individual and national plant hire companies, major quarrying groups, public sector bodies and national government organisations with expertise ranging from demolition to remediation, crushing and screening to recycling and training to surveying.

Alan Sparkes with a Loadmaster 8000iX

Kelston Sparkes are a long-term customer of RDS South West and hold a significant place in its history as recalled by Roger Hawker, Managing Director, “we supplied our very first Loadmaster 5000 system to Kelston back in 1994 and his company has remained a premier customer ever since”

Loadmaster has benefitted from more than 17 years of continual development at RDS Technology headquarters in Stroud, Gloucestershire and the latest recently launched 8000iX model benefits from additional standard features including temperature compensation enhancing system performance particularly on loaders with a wide variation in operating temperature and angle compensation providing an additional level of precision beneficial on most sites and not only those with obvious slopes.

Also, the Loadmaster iX range offers effective management of weighing data. The Loadmaster 8000iX has an integral SD card port for the fast and efficient transfer of data between loader and weighbridge or office PC and enables pre-registered customer reference data to be uploaded directly to the instrument.

The L110’s will join a fleet of 20 loaders and be put to work within the crushing and screening division deployed on a wide variety of sites including one of the company’s specialist areas, serving the South West quarrying industry particularly in the Mendip Hills.

The Loadmaster system brings operational benefits and commenting on the systems effectiveness and service from RDS South West, Alan Sparkes, Managing Director said, “Loadmaster is an integral part of the ‘load out’ process. Trucks are accurately loaded at the face eliminating return trips from the weighbridge and therefore maximising productivity. I have a positive working relationship with Roger Hawker at RDS South West, he knows what we want and is always available on the end of the phone”.

RDS Technology Ltd.

You can also read the article here http://www.agg-net.com/news/kelston-sparkes-choose-rds-technology-again

Kelston Sparkes Team