CDE Commissions High-Efficiency 400tph Sand Washing Plant in Portsmouth
In a strategic move to enhance its marine dredged materials processing, Brett Aggregates has teamed up once again with CDE to launch a compact yet powerful 400tph sand washing plant at its new site in Portsmouth. The collaboration, fuelled by trust built over years of successful projects, marks another milestone in sustainable and space-efficient aggregates processing.
Founded over 115 years ago, Brett is no stranger to innovation in the construction materials sector. With seven companies under its umbrella, the group supplies aggregates, concrete and paving solutions to both domestic and commercial clients across the South East of England. The Portsmouth facility is the latest addition to Brett Aggregates’ growing footprint of over 60 locations, where they collectively deliver an impressive six million tonnes of aggregate annually.
Engineering Around Tight Constraints
Squeezed between logistical constraints and planning permissions, the Portsmouth site posed a unique challenge. The plant needed to be low-profile, efficient, and extremely compact due to its proximity to a Royal Navy base. But CDE delivered.
William Melanophy, Head of Business Development UK & Ireland at CDE, explained the synergy: “We have been working with Brett Aggregates since 2018 having worked together on other sites. With this pre-existing relationship, we’ve been able to showcase our innovation, and the team at Brett Aggregates has seen our technologies in action, so they knew we could deliver the right solution.”
Ben Johnson, Production Manager at Brett Aggregates, shared his first-hand experience of the installation: “This is my first time seeing a CDE plant be installed from the ground up. The install was well organised and completed in good time. The compact size and the efficiency of the plant really adds value to our operation, allowing us to maximise storage on site.”
What Makes the Portsmouth Plant Tick?
To meet both the spatial and operational demands, CDE tailored a solution featuring:
- An M-Series modular wash plant with integrated hopper
- A triple-deck Infinity™ inclined screen
- An EvoWash™ sand washing system
- AquaCycle™ thickener
- AquaStore water tank
Together, this configuration allows for high-volume processing while keeping the footprint to a minimum. The AquaCycle and AquaStore systems, in particular, are critical to conserving water on-site. The AquaCycle recycles up to 90% of water used, sending it to the AquaStore for immediate reuse. This eliminates the need for settling ponds – a key win in a land-constrained environment.
Sustainability and Smart Water Use
Water efficiency has long been a sticking point in aggregate processing. Here, however, Brett Aggregates has hit the sweet spot. The Portsmouth plant manages to cut back significantly on fresh water use while maintaining output levels, thanks to the circular loop of the AquaCycle and AquaStore setup.
The sludge re-blend system is another nifty feature. Since marine dredged materials contain less than 3% silt, this technology allows Brett to reintegrate the silt content into the sand, optimising both product quality and resource use. This fine-tuned approach not only reduces waste but also supports the production of premium sand outputs right on site.
One Chassis, Multiple Functions
The CDE M4500 wash plant acts as the beating heart of the installation. With a single chassis integrating feeding, screening, washing and stockpiling, it streamlines the entire operation. The VibroSync drive system ensures even material distribution across the dewatering screen, maximising drying efficiency and throughput.
Adding to the mix is the EvoWash system. Compact and modular, it handles high-frequency dewatering and integrates cyclonic separation to control silt cut points. This means less loss of valuable fines and more consistency in the final sand and gravel products.
OptiMax: Smart Data, Smart Decisions
To keep everything humming along at peak performance, CDE installed its OptiMax technology. This system continuously monitors live data across the plant to provide real-time insights and allow for on-the-fly adjustments.
This not only boosts productivity but ensures consistent quality control across product lines. It’s a far cry from the guesswork of older systems and a step toward autonomous operation and predictive maintenance.
Product Outputs and Local Benefits
The Portsmouth facility now churns out two high-grade sand products (0–2mm and 0–4mm) alongside two aggregate grades (4–10mm and 10–20mm), all suitable for concrete production.
This operational boost doesn’t just benefit Brett. It’s a win for the wider construction market in the region, increasing supply reliability and offering environmentally considerate alternatives. The local economy, too, gets a lift with more jobs and improved infrastructure.
Ben Johnson is clearly pleased: “It’s been great working with CDE on this project. The maintenance of the plant is straightforward and the aftercare support has been good. The processing, maintenance and running of the plant have been consistent since commissioning in early 2024. The team at CDE have been really engaged with us from the start of the process, updating us on the designs, deliveries and installation milestones, right through to today to ensure the plant is still running as efficiently as possible.”
Future-Proofing Aggregates Processing
For CDE, the Portsmouth project was more than just another installation. It was a test of how modularity, sustainability and digital intelligence could converge in a challenging environment.
William Melanophy summed it up: “Both our teams were determined to find a solution that met and exceeded operational requirements. It was exciting to support Brett Aggregates at their new site in Portsmouth. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Brett Aggregates and seeing the progress of this plant in the months and years ahead.”
Built to Last, Ready for Tomorrow
This 400tph wash plant isn’t just about meeting today’s needs. It represents a blueprint for how to tackle future challenges in space-constrained, high-demand environments. Combining clever water management, integrated digital tech and a modular approach, Brett Aggregates and CDE have crafted a solution that hits all the right notes – environmentally, operationally and commercially.
In short, Portsmouth’s new sand washing plant is a shining example of what can happen when innovation, experience, and tight collaboration come together in the right way.
