How Quarry Services Support Key UK Sectors

Some of the quarry products and by-products we provide include:

●    Rock

●    Gravel

●    Sand

●    Riprap

●    Crusher run (hardcore)

●    Drainage stone

●    Armour stone

●    Gabion stone

●    Whindust

●    Concrete sand

●    Recycled aggregates (concrete, asphalt, etc.)

As you can see, some of the products are created from the aggregates themselves. Quarrying provides access to many types of aggregates and their by-products, making them suitable for versatile applications within the UK’s sectors.

Which sectors can quarry services support?

Quarry services benefit a variety of sectors, thanks to the raw materials they supply. Here are just a few of the main sectors we work with as a quarrying company, and a general summary of how quarrying products are used within the industry:

●    Construction and infrastructure: To enable commercial, residential, and public builds.

●    Civil engineering: To build and support the construction of roads, bridges, and more.

●    Landscaping: To provide materials needed for aesthetic and texture-filled outdoor spaces.

●    Groundworks: To aid erosion control and foundation structures.

●    Environmental: To act as a flood defence, shoreline protection, and land stabilisation solution.

●    Transportation: To construct and maintain roads, railways, and tramlines.

●    Utilities: To assist with the water, gas, electricity, and renewable energy installations.

How do these sectors use aggregate supplies?

Now that we know how these sectors use aggregates, let’s take a closer look at how these quarrying products are applied and what they can create as a result.

Construction and infrastructure

Quarry products are essentially the building blocks of every modern structure, big or small. Aggregates like crushed stone, gravel, and sand are used to create concrete, mortar, and asphalt — which act as the foundations of everything from supermarkets and houses to hospitals and libraries.

They are used because of their impressive strength, stability, and durability. They can be used as base layers, to add strength and bond to other materials, and to enable drainage.

Civil engineering

Civil engineering focuses on designing, planning, and overseeing construction projects, making quarrying products vital for this sector’s operations. Aggregates can be used to build bridges, tunnels, retaining walls, and more, and usually require products like sub-base and riprap to meet regulations and design specifications.

This is all down to the longevity, reliability, and load-bearing capacity of quarrying products, as they can help create safe and secure structures designed for high-traffic use.

Landscaping

While aggregates play a practical and functional role in infrastructure sectors, especially where health and safety are concerned, they can also be used for aesthetics. This is especially true in the landscaping sector.

Whether it’s a rockery, water feature, or a boundary wall, decorative gravel, stone, and rocks can add texture and structure to all outdoor spaces while providing excellent drainage capabilities.

Groundworks

Every construction requires a stable foundation, and that’s where aggregates come in. Crushed stone and sub-base can be used for levelling, compacting, and reinforcing to provide a stable and solid foundation for future builds.

This is especially useful for trench backfilling, slope stabilisation, and drainage.

Environmental

Protecting our island borders is essential, and aggregates actually play a huge role in this responsibility. Riprap, rock armour, and gabion stone can be used to prevent coastline, river, and embankment erosion, and they can also be used as a part of flood defence and storm management systems.

Recycled aggregates also provide sectors with the opportunity to make their operations and material usage more sustainable by reducing landfill waste. In this way, quarry products are essential for the safety of communities as well as the UK’s ecosystem.

Transportation

Aggregates are a key part of the UK’s transportation infrastructure, with road bases, ballasts, and asphalt aggregates being used for our roads, pavements, tramlines, railway lines, and more.

Their durability and lifespan are cost-effective for large-scale projects, and these materials can easily withstand consistent, everyday use and harsh weather.

Utilities

Without water pipes, gas lines, electricity cables, and renewable energy sources, the UK would (quite literally!) be left in the dark with little means of communication. Aggregates support the foundations of these essential utilities and can be used in both the installation and maintenance phases.

Why trust in W M Thompson & Sons for quarry products and services?

Since 1945, we have provided our customers with a reliable and high-quality quarrying service while keeping our traditional values ever-present. We’re proud to be leaders in green construction and development, and aim to source quarry products with the most sustainable and eco-friendly methods.

We can supply primary and secondary aggregates for all project types. If you’re unsure whether we can deliver the quarry product you need, just ask, and we will do everything we can to source it for you.

We are fully accredited and proud to be winners of The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise Innovation in 2019.

Get in touch today for quarry services in Glasgow and Lanarkshire.