Quality Stone & Ready Mix’s approach to drilling & blasting

While most aggregate producers these days outsource their drilling and blasting responsibilities, Quality Stone & Ready Mix is in a position where it can manage these parts internally.

The company, which employs 45 people between its aggregate operation and ready-mix business, employs one key person, Jimmy Shipley, who manages Quality Stone’s drilling and blasting.

“He’s a licensed blaster,” says Kevin Holloway, Quality Stone vice president. “So he’ll drill a shot and somebody will help him load it.”

Having a driller who’s also a licensed blaster gives Quality Stone more control over its production.

“If we know it’s going to storm tomorrow, we can go ahead and shoot instead of having to schedule a blast,” says Jesse Holloway, Quality Stone superintendent. “We can adapt our schedules more easily than if you have to schedule with somebody who has other obligations.”

In Kevin’s experience, most drilling and blasting contractors keep fairly busy. Shipley keeps busy, too, generally drilling for a day to a day and a half before loading a shot, blasting and then continuing with his drill.

“Jimmy is a key part of our team,” Kevin says. “He can do about anything. When he retires, I think we will consider contracting it out.”

Quality Stone currently utilizes a Junjin America JD-1400E rock drill, getting quality service from Larmee Equipment & Supply based in nearby Louisville, Kentucky. The investment in the JD-1400E was a good one for the price, according to Jesse.

“It has American-made components,” he says. “It probably doesn’t have all of the technology built in that the newest drills have, but it has an Ingersoll [Rand] hammer and a Cummins engine in it.”