��������

Resolve Aggregates is building a second wash plant in Fannin County, Texas, that will process quarried sand and aggregates for a range of construction materials that are needed to keep pace with population growth and continued investment in infrastructure.

The plant will use technology and a manufacturing process developed by CDE, whose North American headquarters are near Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW). The company has installed thousands of wash systems and is a leading provider of wet processing equipment for recycling, quarries and mines.

The facility will be built on a greenfield site three miles from Resolve’s existing CDE facility in Ravenna and process up to 330 tons per hour of quarried sand and aggregates for industry stakeholders.

Crews are gearing up to begin work at the site. The plan is to have the plant up and running in 2025.

“The project will commence imminently,” explains Ronan Duffy, business development manager at CDE. “The first step will be to create a road into the site. Thereafter, the plant area will be cleared, and concrete will be poured before the plant install commences.”

Resolve is one of the largest sand and gravel producers in the U.S. The company has been processing material since the mid-‘80s. The new facility will serve the company’s existing customer base, which is growing.

“The majority of the sand sold goes into the Dallas-Fort Worth market for sand in ready mix,” notes Duffy.

It typically takes four to six weeks to install the mechanics for such a plant, followed by two weeks of work by electrical teams to complete site wiring. After that, the plant will be commissioned. Material is normally produced in the first week after the plant is commissioned.

Before the plant is installed, CDE assesses the readiness of the site and works with the install team to ensure it’s ready to receive the equipment. Once the equipment lands, the mechanical installation begins.

“Naturally there’s other considerations and works happening alongside the plant build to ensure the operation is ready, too,” says Duffy.

The project is fabricated under one roof where it is assembled, pre-wired and tested before disassembling and dispatch. 

The number of workers varies on the project at any one time and workers are brought in as needed.

The wash plant will process raw feed – primarily natural sand and crushed aggregates – and incorporate CDE’s M4500 modular wash plant, EvoWash sand wash plant, a stockpile conveyor, transfer conveyor, an Aquacycle thickener primary stage water management with flocstation and an AquaStore water tank.

Duffy says CDE takes a customer-for-life approach. The firm works with its partner over the course of a project’s lifespan, and beyond.

“There’s always a challenge with large scale, complex solutions but CDE’s planning approach and dedicated team works to mitigate as much of this as is possible,” says Duffy.

Resolve first partnered with CDE in 2015 and has deployed the company’s technology and systems at one site, relocated another to grow and maximize opportunities, and expanded its wash plant.

“Our longstanding partnership with Resolve Aggregates is a real showcase of the capabilities of CDE washing technology,” says Duffy. “The original plant has proven itself to be robust, adaptable, portable and dependable. This is backed up by a responsive and proactive aftercare service that has ensured maximum throughput and output over almost a decade.” 

Texas is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation in terms of population growth, according to estimates from the United States Census Bureau. Six of the 10 fastest-growing counties in the country from 2022 to 2023 were in Texas, with Kaufman County east of Dallas topping the list with a 7.6-per-cent increase. Infrastructure investment is also healthy.

The medium-term outlook from the Associated General Contractors of America forecasts strong growth in data centers, manufacturing construction, power and infrastructure in Texas. Last year, three infrastructure funds totalling $7.5 billion were approved for energy, water and broadband projects.

Resolve is seeing continued demand in the greater DFW area. While residential and commercial slowed in the early part of 2024, there is ongoing investment in other areas such as infrastructure and roads.

Company officials are confident the new plant will solidify its position for years to come and create a reliable supply line of washed sand and aggregates that can maximize natural resources.

According to Duffy, CDE’s longstanding partnership with Resolve is a real showcase of the capabilities of CDE washing technology.

Keith Newell, president of Resolve, says CDE has been an essential partner in helping the company achieve some important milestones.

“Its wash plant has proven time and again its reliability and efficiency. That has paid dividends and contributed greatly to our continued growth and rank as one of the top 100 sand and gravel producers in the U.S.

“This is why we’re trusting CDE once more as we expand our operations. The investment in our second wash plant will bring a further welcomed boost to the volume and quality of our product suite.”