Tri-Parish Sand & Gravel showcases its modular wash plant

Tri-Parish turned to the UltraWASH 6206 modular wash plant after McLanahan Corp. debuted it at ConExpo-Con/Agg. Photo: McLanahan Corp.

Tri-Parish Sand & Gravel is a dry mining operation located in Walker, Louisiana, producing C-33 concrete sand, pea gravel and #57 concrete gravel for use in Parish Ready Mix, its ready-mixed concrete operation.

The challenge

James Nolan, who owns Tri-Parish with his wife, Gail, has always been concerned about the cleanliness of the products used in their ready-mix facility. The Nolans strive to deliver quality products on the concrete side of their business, which starts with the material used to make those products.

To better control the quality of their concrete products as well as lower production costs so they could pass savings on to customers, the Nolans purchased land for dry mining their own sand and gravel. They looked at a few wash plants in different parts of the U.S. for processing the feed and separating it into the various products needed at their ready-mix facility.

The solution

The UltraWASH features an inclined vibratory screen for sizing up to three aggregate products, as well as a sump, two pumps, two hydrocyclones and a dewatering screen. Photo: McLanahan Corp.

Last year, Tri-Parish purchased the McLanahan UltraWASH 6206 modular wash plant that debuted at ConExpo-Con/Agg.

Availability was a key factor in the purchasing decision. Tri-Parish needed a wash plant quickly, and the UltraWASH offered an entire wet processing plant in one compact, modular unit that was ready to run.

“We bought the plant, and we’re very, very pleased with it,” James says. “It definitely does way more than they said it would do.”

The UltraWASH features an inclined vibratory screen for sizing up to three aggregate products (the oversize, the pea gravel and the #57 gravel in Tri-Parish’s operation). It also features a sump, two pumps, two hydrocyclones and a dewatering screen for washing, classifying and drying the sand product.

Tri-Parish’s particular UltraWASH model is a double-wash system, processing the sand twice before discharge for a cleaner end product.

The UltraWASH arrived at Tri-Parish in several partially pre-assembled and pre-wired pieces.

“It went together very easily,” says Danny Graham, operations manager. “You could almost do it by pictures alone.”

Graham adds that the modularity of the UltraWASH is beneficial if Tri-Parish needs to move the plant closer to an area where mining takes place in the future.

“It could be somewhat portable,” Graham says. “You can take it and move it in a matter of a day or two.”

The results

Tri-Parish’s particular UltraWASH model is a double-wash system, processing the sand twice before discharge for a cleaner end product. Photo: McLanahan Corp.

Besides availability, one of the aspects that attracted the Nolans to the UltraWASH was the rated tonnage of the machine. But this exceeded their expectations in the field.

“It’s delivering way more than we’ve ever dreamed, so I’m really happy with it,” James says.

Adds Graham: “We’re actually outrunning our guys who are stockpiling raw material. Production-wise, it’s better than expected. We’re keeping up very easily with this product; it hasn’t been a problem.”

Since the plant started operating, James says the biggest benefit is how quiet the UltraWASH is. The Tri-Parish property borders a housing development, and neighbors cannot hear the plant while it’s running.

Additionally, Graham likes that the UltraWASH is easy to operate.

“I really like that it’s one central unit,” he says. “Everything’s maintained in one electrical panel. It’s easy to work with; the PLC and everything make it very user-friendly. It’s automated stop/start, so there’s no guesswork and there’s no manually starting different components. You start it, it runs; you stop it, it stops. You can’t beat that.”

In addition to the performance, James is pleased with the cleanliness of the product coming off.

“I guess I’m bragging on it, but it needs to be bragged on,” James says. “It turns out a real good material. It’s clean. I’m proud of it. Even the guys at the plant realize the change in the material because we have started running out of here now, and it’s a whole lot different.

“We don’t have to be looking for mud balls, sticks and stuff like that because we send out a good product,” he adds. “We’re not going to send it out dirty, but this plant definitely helps us with a lot.”

The UltraWASH allows Tri-Parish to supply the concrete side of its business with a clean, high-quality product.

“Our goal and business is quality, and we’ve achieved it at this point,” James says.

The Tri-Parish team was pleased with the support received, as well.

“They were all great in helping us facilitate getting the plant off the ground,” Gail says. “They never left us behind. Any time we called them, they were always there and giving us an answer in a timely manner.”

Information for this article courtesy of McLanahan Corp.