Updating equipment in trying economic times requires careful planning. So when two goals can be accomplished with a single product, it’s a win-win situation.
Ernest Joly & Sons, a single location aggregate producer, had been dealing with a large fundamental problem with its aggregate plant: the structural support system was no longer secured and was in need of refurbishing and updating. The plant’s triple deck screen and screw washer were more than 30 years old.
“In the process of updating and modernizing our operation we also had the goal in mind of creating a cleaner material and increasing our overall volume,” said Rand Joly, president. “In short, we needed and wanted to make an investment in our company’s expansion for the future.”
Ernest Joly & Sons is a third-generation company that was started in 1947 as a construction company and expanded into aggregate production in the early 1960s. The company’s customer base is made up largely of local contractors, municipalities and area concrete producers. The bulk of its sand and gravel customers are located in Windsor County, Conn. The company also operates a landscape material company called Jolyscapes, which offers paving, landscaping, and retaining wall supplies for local contractors.
“The overall growth potential for our company in this area is limited,” Joly said. “We are located in an area of Connecticut that is rural and isolated and that does not experience periods of sustained growth. The area has a large number of small contractors, mostly owner/operators. However, our largest customers are quickcrete producers who demand a good quality, clean product.
“We have had a new plant in our plan for some time, but before that could be tackled we needed to firm up the structure that the plant is tied to. Up to this point we had never done any business with EESSCO. We put the work that we had in mind out to a few companies. We had done some research on who we felt could supply us with what we needed to get this job done and those were the companies that we sent the invitation to bid to. We received back four different quotes and, by far, EESSCO was the least expensive. What was interesting to us was that in spite of the fact that they presented the lowest cost bid, their bid was the best prepared. It included an excellent layout, sketches, and opinions as to how we should best set about our project.”
Two areas where EESSCO’s prices were coming in much lower were the cost of their Trio Screw and the cost of their Trio Screen.
“They quoted us on a Trio 6 x 20 triple deck wet screener and a Trio single 44-inch screw, along with a new tower and supportive structure that would be manufactured by Kemper Equipment in Pennsylvania, sister company to EESSCO. The price savings from the EESSCO bid was a great savings.
“After some reassurances from EESSCO that the Trio equipment would fit our needs and operate over the long run we awarded the project to EESSCO. The project went exactly as planned. Everything was shipped on time. The assembly was handled by our own staff with oversight from Dick Vining, vice president and general manager at EESSCO. We found Dick to be extremely knowledgeable and true to his word in every aspect of the project. We started in April and were completed in 45 days. This particular phase marked the half-way point in our overall project. We are still looking to make updates on our primary crusher and that project will also be handled by EESSCO,” Joly said.
Clean product is critical to meeting spec for Joly’s customers who are concrete producers. Meeting spec also is critical when producing aggregate for the DOT, along with any stone that goes into asphalt production. With the new Trio wash plant all products are now meeting specification.
“Now that we are making a much cleaner product and our production levels have increased we are ready to move ahead with the balance of our project,” Joly added.
Joly also was particularly impressed with the performance of EESSCO’s employee, Brian Buscetto, who is their sales representative.
“With the project only partially completed a key employee had to leave the project. Without us asking and without any contractual obligation Brian showed up to fill in for our missing employee. He worked as a laborer alongside our people without ever having been asked. This went a long way to impress us. We had never had that type of experience with another vendor and it truly convinced us that EESSCO was looking out for our best interest.”
Since the plant has been in operation Joly has been very pleased with the support from EESSCO.
“EESSCO has been great to work with on warranty problems. We even had a case where an item could have been called a wear item and EESSCO replaced it at no cost to us.”
About EESSCO
Formed in 2001 by experts in the aggregate industry, EESSCO provides New England producers with equipment, parts and consulting. EESSCO represents major manufacturers of aggregate equipment and stocks more than $1 million worth of parts in its 30,000 sq.-ft. facility in Hanson, Mass.
For more information, call 781/963-9900 or visit www.EESSCO.com.
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