Visitors were given a fully interactive overview of how Wales' biggest quarry operates, seeing the entire operation at Cornelly, from mineral extraction, processing through to quality control and delivery to customers.  The visit included a tour of the asphalt plant facility which produces the full range of coated materials used in highway applications.  The plant is currently involved in supplying all of the blacktop requirements onto the M4 Widening Contract in Cardiff as well as producing and supplying metallurgical quality aggregates to the Corus steel plant at Port Talbot.   

The Cornelly drystone operation is capable of producing in excess of 1.2 million tonnes per annum.Up to 1000 tonnes per hour of material is transported from the face to the primary crusher.   

Some of the party examined one of the giant dump trucks.

The Cornelly laboratory ensures that the highest quality standards are maintained for both grading and chemistry.The Testing Team also supports and develops new products such as washed limestone sand into concrete, blast furnace slag aggregate as a concrete aggregate and use of steel slag in asphalt mixes. 

Visitors saw a blast being put down, following which they were kindly invited by Tarmac to the Grove Golf Club for light refreshments.