North American Aggregates

North American Aggregates mines sand from the Ambrose Federal Navigation Channel, a naturally replenishing source in the lower New York Bay. Their process begins with a trailing suction hopper dredge, Eleanor, mining and sizing virgin source aggregates. The Ambrose Channel’s clean sands have a long history of successful use in the tri-state area.

Their environmentally friendly process avoids the erosion and destruction of habitat caused by traditional sand mining, while ensuring that the Ambrose Channel remains navigable without relying on government funding for maintenance. The company is permitted by both, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and United States Army Corps of Engineers, to mine two million cubic yards annually from the Ambrose Channel. Some of the harshest conditions for any metal is being submerged in or near water whether fresh water or sea water.

Steel and zinc are no exceptions. However, hot-dip galvanized steel has been successfully used in both fresh and sea water exposure for decades on dams, docks, piers, and even the harsh conditions of water treatment facilities. Mellott Company worked directly with the galvanizer to hot-dip galvanize 500 tons of structural steel for the sand mining equipment, conveyors and processing.

The utilization of the AGA Design Seminar during the design process helped to set up both the manufacturer and the galvanizer for success.