NEWS
Electrostatic separation technology has enabled ScotAsh to build its reputation as a manufacturer of high quality, sustainable cementitious products – but finding a suitable application for the high-carbon fraction has been a challenge.
Now the high-carbon ash is being used successfully as an alternative filler to limestone dust in Stone Mastic Asphalt. It is also being used by Linear Quarry Products Ltd in Durafoam – foamed bitumen Macadam made from 95% recycled materials.
Product Development Manager Bill Armstrong said: “The blacktop application is a major breakthrough. The SMA product has performed extremely well at a quarry, where large numbers of 40-tonne trucks are battering over it daily, yet it is unmarked.
“We are very excited about the potential this offers to increase useful recycling and will publish the results of flexural strength tests later in the year.” ● SMA being laid at Tayside Contracts’ Collace Quarry
ScotAsh has achieved another year of solid financial performance.
Sales for the year, at marginally under
£10 million, were up by 44% on last year, while the volume of products sold –
545,000 tonnes – was eight per cent ahead of budget.
Finance Manager Mike
Southworth said that this year’s results had been boosted by a number of significant fill contracts, along with an upsurge in demand for stabilisation products, such as the environmental binder
EnvirOceM.
Sales of cementitious products, he said, were marginally short of plan.
Managing Director Peter
Quinn said: “It has been another good year for
ScotAsh.
“We started 2005/06 by winning a Queen’s Award in the Innovation category and we have continued to make
● ScotAsh MD Peter Quinn has thanked staff and customers for making 05/06 a successful year solid progress throughout the year, thanks to the efforts of our staff and the continued support of our customers.”
Peter said the year had brought a range of opportunities for the business, from large-scale infrastructure projects, to new opportunities for specialist products such as superfine strengthener
Superpozz SV80 and waste stabilisation materials.
ScotAsh ended the year by being one of just 12 UK companies shortlisted in the biennial European Business
Awards for the Environment
2006, out of a field of 132, and completed a third full trading year without a Lost
Time Accident.
In addition, a toll blending agreement was signed with
Sika to manufacture several products on their behalf.
Meanwhile, ScottishPower announced the decision to invest £170 million in Flue
Gas Desulphurisation at
Longannet Power Station.
This will secure the future of the station – and a supply of PFA for ScotAsh – until at least 2020. It will also reduce emissions of SO up to 90%.
2 by
During the year ScotAsh saved around 600,000 tonnes of primary aggregates, 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and avoided the need to landfill over half a million tonnes of ash.
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ScotAsh NEWS

The company has invested in a new automated additive system that will help boost production of specialist products. Until now, additives have been introduced manually to the blending process.
But with an increase in the number and volume of specialist products manufactured, additions to product mixtures are projected to increase up to six fold on present levels, making manual additions impractical.
The new additive system, currently being installed, enables the loading of
IBCs, from a dispenser containing pre-blended power packs of additive, by forklift truck, virtually eliminating manual handling.
Control of the additive system will be linked to the blending control system and recipe index, reducing the potential for human error.
As well as health and safety and efficiency gains, the new system will create environmental benefits by eliminating the use of bagged products.
Initial savings will be 15,000 paper sacks per year, potentially rising to more than 25,000.
Grouting and waste stabilisation contracts boosted ScotAsh’s sales for
2005/06, reports Sales
Manager Chris Bennett.
More than 170,000 tonnes of PFA for grouts were supplied during the year for projects ranging from a housing development in
Prestonpans, to retail developments at
Cambuslang and Port
Glasgow and the relining of a 2km, 70-year-old tunnel at Drumjohn Power
Station, Galloway (right).
Pre-blended grouts were also supplied for projects at Waverly Station,
Edinburgh, Hyde Farm landfill site in London and
Northwich Salt Mines in
Cheshire. A consignment of 150 tonnes of specialist grout was exported to the
Middle East to be used in the linings of oil wells.
Sales of stabilisation products rose during the year. ScotAsh is currently supplying 750 tonnes of
EnvirOceM C25 to Digit, to stabilise dredgings from the Forth and Clyde Canal at Spiers Wharf, Glasgow, as part of a major regeneration project.
Contracts to supply Farr and Paul’s Hill windfarms with Trojan T27 RM
Congratulations to the winners of the Improvement Scheme for
2005/06. Ideas from Allan Harding, Ray Bellamy and Ross MacNicol all resulted in health, safety, environmental or cost/efficiency benefits.
Allan (below) suggested installing an alternative ash feed supply to the carbon separator that has increased product throughput by 29%, reduced energy use by approximately 75kW per hour and reduced downtime and maintenance.
Meanwhile, Ray helped to overhaul the testing regime for the lone worker alarm system, aligning it to fire alarm tests. Ross reviewed the maintenance and repair contract for the Avery Berkel weighbridge, concluding that paying occasional call-out fees was more cost effective than purchasing additional out-of-hours cover. Well done guys!
cement are complete, while the supply of materials for the Stirling to
Alloa rail link continues.
Sales of Superpozz SV80 are also picking up. The superfine product, used as a part replacement for microsilica, has been used in high strength concrete for a bridge in Fife – and to manufacture stronger, lighter roof tiles.
● Ray Bellamy
● Ross MacNicol
ScotAsh will be running a seminar on stabilisation on
Thursday, 2nd November.
The seminar will explore the environmental and cost benefits of in-situ remediation versus the conventional approach of
“dig and dump”.
To register an interest in the one-day event, please call Sandra Stewart on
01259 730110 or email:
Sandra.Stewart@scottishpower.com
Further information on the date, venue and agenda will be despatched soon.
ScotAsh has been successful in maintaining
ISO 14001 accreditation for its Environmental
Management System.
Well done to Rose Hynd,
Quality Manager, and thanks to all who assisted during the assessment process.
ScotAsh MD Peter Quinn is a panelist at the
Sustainable Development
Business Summit on 16th
May. The Business Council for Sustainable Development event takes place at the
SECC, Glasgow.
CONTACT US:
ScotAsh Limited
Longannet Power Station
Kincardine-on-Forth
FK10 4AA
T
W
01259 730110 www.scotash.com
ScotAsh NEWS