Gerharz Clay Excavation Company expands the “Mehl” clay pit

At the end of a four-year planning and licensing period, Hubert Gerharz GmbH in Ransbach-Baumbach has successfully expanded their “Mehl” clay pit in Nentershausen for the second time.

The raw materials obtained from the “Mehl” quarry are used primarily in the production of roof tiles, facing bricks and vertically perforated bricks. Chiefly comprising various grades of red-firing shale clay, the products contain up to 25% Al₂O₃ and as much as 11% Fe₂O₃. They improve the drying and degassing behaviour of production body and are highly stable under fire, depending on the body composition.

After its recommissioning in 2005 and its first expansion soon thereafter in 2006, the pit‘s second expansion, by approx. 5.5 hectares, was approved this year. Since the extension area is located almost wholly in a mixed forest belonging to the local municipality, managing partner Jürgen Simon was looking for a solution that would embrace the needs of everyone involved (the community, the forestry administration and the nature conservation authorities). After numerous constructive rounds of negotiation, an agreement was reached, and the responsible mining authority gave its approval this year. Jürgen Simon‘s thanks goes out to his employees for so energetically supporting the project – one that amounts to a major step forward in securing the future of the company and its raw materials. The pit‘s expansion also means a lot more certitude for the Gerharz Company‘s satisfied customers with regard to future supplies of raw material.