#StoneExports - A Belfast Harbour based firm Conexpo that operates stone quarries has won a Dutch order as part of its exports to surface Europe’s busiest roads.

The company won the export order to supply 55,000 tonnes to reconstruct 26km of the road network near Limburg, the southernmost province of the Netherlands. The contract follows a 200,000 tonne order for the newly constructed A15 extension which serves the Port of Rotterdam and which is Europe’s busiest motorway.

Conexpo sources one million tonnes of high quality gritstone annually from its County Down quarries. The stone is processed and exported from its £5m quayside plant located on a seven-hectare site in Belfast Harbour Estate.

Opened in 2015 it’s the only facility in Europe which can simultaneously produce aggregates to UK and European standards. The County Down stone is highly sought after for its ability to improve skid resistance and reduce road noise by up to six decibels.

Jonathan McCluskey, Conexpo’s Managing Director, said: “In partnership with Belfast Harbour we’ve been able to develop a bespoke shipping terminal and processing plant which provides some of the world’s highest quality stone.

“County Down quarry gritstone is increasingly in high demand and has been used in road projects from Hong Kong to Rotterdam, not just for initial construction, but also long-term re-surfacing requirements. Our Belfast Harbour facility has the potential to produce 6,000 tonnes every day, crushing and screening precision-sized stone for the complex honeycomb structures used in modern road surfaces.”

Joe O’Neill, Belfast Harbour’s Commercial Director, added: “Stone exports by Conexpo are one of the most significant commodities handled at Belfast Harbour, representing our fastest growing commodity sector over the last five years.

“Belfast Harbour has worked with Conexpo since it was established 25-years ago, developing facilities to support its ambitious growth plans. Northern Ireland’s quarry sector provides significant economic and employment opportunities and the Harbour will continue to support Conexpo as it continues to develop new export markets.”

Established over 25 years ago, Conexpo employs 45 people directly and supports a further 50 jobs, mainly in the haulage sector. Family owned, the company operates two quarries in County Down and also procures 100,000’s of tonnes of stone from neighbouring County Down quarries.