Tall, Green, and Handsome: Aldershot Exposed

The Marketing team is back with another blog, this time paying a visit to our Aldershot asphalt plant for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look.

Welcome to Aldershot, a compact powerhouse of an asphalt plant that stands tall and proud in Hollybush Lane, Hampshire, serving a vast mix of clients in the South.

Join us as we take you on a virtual tour to learn what makes this small but formidable team tick and discover exactly where the magic happens within this tall, green and handsome plant.
 
On arrival at Aldershot, we were met with the soaring height of the five-storey Conway Green structure, where each level of the plant has an important job to do.
 
It’s a rollercoaster of a ride for the aggregates as they are transported from the hoppers, along a conveyor belt and into the rotary dryer. From there, aggregate is dried and heated, then elevated up to the top of the tower and back down again, passing through a series of screens to separate into different sizes. The selected aggregate sizes are then dropped into the mixer box, where our bitumen is added alongside other constituents, its final stop-off point is at the hot bin storage, ready for customer collections starting at six in the morning each weekday.
 
 
However, the plant is not the only place where the magic happens. The weighbridge cabin is a hub of activity, managed by a highly skilled team of operatives and led by Plant Manager, Kevin Blake.
 
Familiarly known as ‘Kev’ by customers and staff, we got to know his management style and his secret to maintaining a successful plant.
 
“We are a small team so it’s important that everyone can muck in and share the load. We are all first aiders, and each team member is trained to work on the core areas of the plant operations. 
 
“Everyone rotates between Weighbridge Operative, Plant Mixer, and Loader Shovel Driver.
 
“Interlacing these three core skills helps the smooth running of the plant. It’s a tag team operation that works really well for us and our customers.”
 
Having begun his asphalt career as a Shovel Driver, Kev encourages on-the-job training and ensures his staff are NPORS certified to drive the all-important shovel loader.
 
During his two-decade period working in the industry, Kevin also worked at sister plant Theale, continues to work regimentally to implement health and safety measures, and was involved in key development projects, such as switching from a generator-operated plant to mains gas and electricity.
 
‘Metalhead’ Kev is mad about American heavy metal band Metallica and has a love for motorcycles to match, being the proud owner of a black Harley-Davidson. Kev also shared with us how he’s been riding motorbikes since the tender age of 17 and was known at the time as the youngest owner and rider of a Harley-Davidson in the UK!
 
Thanks to Kev and the rest of the team for giving us a warm welcome into plant life.
 
You can size up the whole Aldershot team in action in this short Instagram reel here.
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