Just 30 miles from the Louisiana state line, in San Augustine, TX, Attoyac Rock has become a cornerstone of the East Texas quarrying industry. Producing around 2 million tons of high-quality materials that support local infrastructure projects from their two Powerscreen Chieftain inclined screeners, supplied by Powerscreen Texas. 

Partnership Built on Trust

Although Attoyac Rock was founded in 2006 by Robert Birdwell, the relationship between Attoyac Rock and Powerscreen Texas dates back to the 1990s, long before Robert took over the San Augustine quarry. Robert Birdwell first connected with Jake Cernoch of Powerscreen Texas while operating another quarry in East Texas. This initial connection laid the groundwork for a partnership that has continued for decades. “The reputation of Powerscreen Texas gave me the confidence to purchase the Powerscreen Chieftain 1700 and 1400,” Birdwell explains. “These guys are knowledgeable in what they do. I have a long-standing friendship with Jake, and I know I can trust his expertise.”

The trust that Birdwell places in Powerscreen Texas is justified by the performance of the equipment they’ve purchased. Attoyac Rock currently operates two key pieces of machinery from the Powerscreen Texas team, the Chieftain 1700 and the Chieftain 1400, inclined screeners. The Chieftain 1400, acquired four years ago, was the first major step in improving their production capabilities. More recently, they added the Chieftain 1700 to their fleet, which has been in operation for less than a year.

Production Transformation

Before purchasing the Chieftain machines, Attoyac Rock struggled to meet the growing demands of their customers with the growth in demand for fine aggregates produced at high volume. Charles Stacker Jr, Head Mechanic at Attoyac Rock, recalls the challenges they faced, “Prior to purchasing the Chieftains, we were not able to meet the demands of our customers, particularly for the smaller product sizes. Now we can successfully produce more products than we originally planned on selling.”

With the increased efficiency provided by the Chieftain 1400 and 1700, Attoyac Rock has seen their annual throughput soar to around 2 million tons a year. The wide array of filtered rocks they now produce includes ½ inch, 1 inch, 2 inch, 2 by 4, 3 by 5, 5 by 8, rip rap, as well as road base, all of which are crucial for local roads and driveways in East Texas.

The Powerscreen Chieftain 1700 and Chieftain 1400 are integral to Attoyac Rock’s success in producing their diverse range of aggregates. The Chieftain 1700, known for its high capacity, features a double-deck screen box with a screening area of 16’ x 5’ that allows it to deliver precise separation when separating material by size, all at high throughput. The Chieftain 1400 features a slightly smaller screen box at 11’ x 5’, but thanks to an aggressive shaker box, it is able to produce higher volumes than you would expect, all with the same high levels of precision. Together, these two machines maximize screening efficiency, handling a variety of materials and sizes to meet production demands. The robust design of the Powerscreen Chieftain line of inclined screeners ensures minimal downtime while achieving consistent results for Attoyac.

Unmatched Customer Service

One of the standout aspects of Attoyac Rock’s relationship with Powerscreen Texas is the exceptional customer service they receive. “I know I can rely on the Powerscreen Texas parts team,” says Charles Stacker. “There have been plenty of times where I call them for parts, and they show up the next day.” This level of service ensures that Attoyac Rock can maintain their equipment at peak performance.

The reliability of the equipment and the support from Powerscreen Texas have allowed Attoyac Rock to exceed their production demands. “With the use of the two Powerscreen Chieftains, we are able to hit our production demands, so much so that we can stand down the machines for a couple of days and still have enough product to meet the needs of our customers but also give us time to complete maintenance work safely and effectively.”

Committed to Quality and Excellence

The quarry, which spans 300 acres, is composed of multiple layers of sand, 60/40, and shell rock. To ensure the highest quality product, their operators grind the mountain face instead of blasting it, which allows for better control and consistency in the final product, as well as adhering to strict planning permission in place for the complex labyrinth of abandoned mine structures left underground from industries now gone by. A significant benefit of this grinding process is that it ensures proper mixing of the different layers of sand and rock, resulting in a superior blend that meets the high standards of their customers.

The quarry’s operations are meticulously managed to balance productivity with environmental stewardship. The lowest point in the quarry is currently just one level above natural ground, showcasing their precision in extraction. This careful management of resources has enabled Attoyac Rock to supply a wide range of materials to both residential and commercial clients within a 100-mile radius of San Augustine, Texas.