Tough pumps up to tough task in Whangarei quarry.

Family-owned Dicksons Transport and Quarries in Whangarei are something of a Northland institution. Since 1963, they’ve been providing the metal that helps form the region’s roads, stock races and tracks, and the aggregate and hard fill for home building, subdivisions and driveways.

Their hardworking quarry yields between 100,000 and 120,000 cubic metres a year – a substantial operation in anyone’s books.

Founder John Dickson first met the Prime Pump team at Quarrying NZ and, he says, the relationship built from there. “They’re really helpful and nothing is a problem. They‘re here when you need them, and they always get the job done.”

Currently deployed at the Dicksons Quarry are an electric Dragflow EL354 and a Grindex Major pump, both from Prime Pump. John is more than satisfied with how they’re going. “They’re great. They’re working very well and they meet our needs.”

Dragflow’s heavy duty submersible agitator pumps are designed for handling slurries with high abrasive solids. A serious bit of kit, they are increasingly popular in quarries around the country according to Prime Pump’s Civil and Mining Sales Engineer John Jones. At the Dicksons quarry, the Dragflow has the vital job of pumping slurry 600 metres to settling ponds. From there, the clear water can be reused or released to the stream. The pump runs 4-8 hours, once every two weeks.

The solution makes financial sense for Dicksons. “This way it’s one man and a pump,” John says. “Otherwise you’d have up to three people and an excavator and trucks to remove the sediment. It’d take days.”

John says, over time, sediment builds up in quarries, reducing impacting their ability to extract aggregate. “The Dragflow is an ideal solution. It also helps ensure that consents are met.”

Able to handle up to 70% per weight material density the Dragflow has high abrasion resistance and a low rotation speed – for decreased wear.

Used at Dicksons quarry for dewatering, the Swedish-made Grindex Major pump is one of the industry’s most widespread. And there’s a reason for that. The Grindex has the lowest cost per cubic metre pumped and is known for reliability, durability and dependability. Thanks to built-in SMART motor protection the pumps can also run unsupervised for longer periods, and even run dry for a protracted period of time
without damage.