Small Operation, Big Expectations

Reinesch, Sr. considers the plant’s trommel to be the most important piece of equipment they have. “It allows us to mine the high clay-content material,” he says. “It’s made by Fisher Industries and is a remarkable piece of equipment. This entire plant is built by Fisher Industries. We tell them what we want, and they make it for us.”

In addition to providing aggregate for contractors in the asphalt and construction industries, the Queen Creek plant hosts three ready-mix producers on site. “We give the ready-mix companies limited space,” Reinesch, Sr. says. “We try not to allow bigger areas because it consumes too much surface, which obviously takes up pit area. Our job is to produce their aggregate, sell it to them, and deliver it to their site efficiently.”

The company uses bottom-dump trucks, which dump the aggregate through a bridge directly over the ready-mix plants’ stockpiles. “This is a very cost-effective way of delivery which is passed on to our in-house customers,” Reinesch, Sr. says. “It’s just that simple.”

Dealing with regulations

Like all aggregates operations, Southwest Rock Products deals with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Reinesch, Jr., who handles all company dealings with MSHA, says that things have changed with MSHA the last couple of years. The standards of enforcement are becoming stricter and each inspector sees things a bit differently, making it difficult to stay ahead of the curve.

“However, we have an exemplary record when it comes to,” he adds. “We take pride in what we do here, and the last thing we want is for these guys to come in here and find something we missed. We’re doing what we absolutely need to do to make sure we provide a safe work environment.”

The company works with its neighbors and other agencies to meet all required standards. “We, as an industry, need to be better stewards about longevity and how people respect us,” Reinesch, Sr. says.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards are extremely strict in Maricopa County, where another of the company’s plants is located. So, the company has adopted the stricter EPA standards and tries to implement them in all of its plants, knowing that those standards will soon encompass the entire state.

As for noise, almost everything is below ground level at Queen Creek, so most of the noise goes up instead of out. “The nearby homeowners love us,” Reinesch, Sr. says. “They understand industry, they understand they need us, they understand we’re going to dig holes, but they also understand we are a company that cares. They can drive by and see that we take care of our plants.”

“They had the opportunity to see the people who had the property before we had it,” Hood adds. “We cleaned it up. It’s amazing how the property changed.”

Southwest Rock Products even has a plan for leftover concrete from the ready-mix companies. “These retaining walls are made from leftover concrete,” Reinesch, Sr. says. “It’s an unbelievable way to go, and it doesn’t really cost anything. The ready-mix companies buy the forms and the molds. Then all we do is set them up and tear them down.”

When leftover concrete can’t be used for the retaining wall or comes in late in the day, it is simply run back through the crusher.

Doing things the right way

Reinesch, Sr., boils the success of his company down to one thing . . . doing things the right way. “If you ask your people to follow and support your culture, you can expect to enjoy a very successful business,” he says. “It will give you good maintenance, quality production, cleanliness of the plant, and ultimately, an impeccable safety record. That’s the best success story.”

Queen Creek Equipment List