CDE Ireland Limited, based in Northern Ireland, has launched in the Gulf region a new sand and aggregate processing system specifically set up to tackle the problems associated with a shortage of water that is required to feed traditional washing plants.

The Sirocco system uses air classification technology, which removes the requirement for water to feed the classification system.
The company hosted demonstrations for the new system in Qatar last month (December) and according to Iain Walker, area sales manager for CDE, “the event was a success”.
“We hosted 10 demonstrations on potential customers’ material over the three-day event and the technology has been proven to provide an efficient and accurate means of removing unwanted fines from a feed stream,” he says.
Over the period, the demonstration unit completed tests on a variety of materials including gabbro stone, limestone and granite.
“There are specific requirements for this system to be applied, such as moisture content below 2.5 per cent, which makes the Middle East market particularly suitable for the Sirocco system,” explains Niall Drennan, CDE’s sales manager for the UAE.
“The Sirocco system is perfectly geared up to meet the processing requirements in the Gulf region and it loves the low moisture in the sand feed,” he adds.
Following the success in Qatar, CDE will be hosting a similar demonstration event in Dubai this month.
“A number of high-profile operators have already expressed an interest in the system,” says Drennan. “The demonstrations we are running in January will provide confirmation to anyone who comes along that this unit can be a major part of the solution in relation to tackling material supply problems.”
CDE has also confirmed that it will be using the upcoming Intercem Doha event this month – which focuses on the cement and construction industry – to further promote this technology as well as its other water-efficient sand washing systems. At its stand at the Intercem event, the company will discuss the potential for its sand and aggregate processing systems with major players in the region.
The Sirocco dry wash system is the latest addition to CDE's product portfolio, which includes the full range of washing technologies.
In the last four years, CDE has delivered a number of water efficient washing systems to several customers in the Middle East.
“Our systems have been successful in the region for a number of reasons,” explains Tony Convery, chairman of CDE. “We offer full turnkey plants that are customised to the individual requirements of each project. This ensures that our customers achieve the maximum levels of production and quality possible.”
In cases where the Sirocco unit is not applicable, CDE washing systems have enjoyed considerable success as a result of their focus on minimising the amount of water required to feed the system.
“Our washing plants are set up to recycle 90 per cent of the water used,” explains Walker. “This ensures that the requirement for fresh water is reduced to top-up only and is in stark contrast to other washing systems available, which require huge volumes of water to ensure their effective operation.”
CDE Ireland has been operating in the Middle East for four years. It currently has two offices in the Gulf region – one in Doha and another in Dubai.