Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/85652
By installing variable speed drives on the pumps to move water between its wash plant and fresh water supply, TXI was able to realize immediate energy savings. EFFICIENTEnergy I t's no secret that commodity prices in the aggregates markets are sensitive to ever fluc- tuating economic conditions. While produc- ers may have little control of external market variations, many are taking steps to lower operat- ing costs to get a leg up on the competition. Reducing transportation, personnel, and other overhead costs are often targets for cuts. But one company has identified another way to reduce op- erating costs and, at the same time, improve plant reliability. In 2008, TXI Operations, L.P. (TXI), a lead- ing supplier of aggregate, cement, and consumer product building materials, began a company-wide initiative to enhance efficiency and reduce overall operating costs. As part of the initiative, TXI took a hard look at its Mill Creek, Okla., crushed stone operation. Opened in 2002, the facility supplies crushed stone to the Dallas/Fort Worth and Beau- mont markets, primarily by rail. The Mill Creek operation boasts a very large stone reserve — with annual production capacity of 5 million tons and a 100-year lifecycle. Targeting improvements Increasing energy prices and energy supply concerns have placed pressure on TXI and other companies to reduce energy consumption. On a national scale, the industrial sector consumes one- third of the energy in the United States, making it a prime target for energy consumption reduction. TXI's Mill Creek, Okla., plant targets energy savings through variable frequency drives on its motors. ENERGY 21