Materials

Lehigh Technologies, which produces micronized rubber powders, has joined forces with additive specialist Rheopave to come up with a system which will improve the performance of asphalt, while reducing the cost compared to standard polymer modified asphalts. Rheopave had developed its X10 additive, a blend of reactive polymers and other elements, to work with Lehigh’s MicroDyne micronized rubber powder. It overcomes two problems currently experienced with rubber-modified asphalt, according to Lehigh’s direc

Nynas and the University of Antwerp opened a joint asphalt laboratory in April, in the University’s faculty of Applied Industrial Engineering. The collaboration will bring benefits to both parties, according to Tine Tanghe, lab manager for Nynas’ Continental.

A fleet of wheeled loaders is playing an important role at a site producing concrete in China. Located at Lintong in Shaanxi Province, in China, the site is producing concrete using gravel from river plains. Lintong lies 35km to the east of Xi’An in western China, the site of the famous Terracotta Army. This new army of SDLG wheeled loaders meanwhile is being used to load gravel from the nearby river plains for Jinsheng Concrete, which sits on the 800km Wei River.

Political and economic changes around the world are impacting on the way bitumen is supplied and used - Kristina Smith reports on the Argus Europe Bitumen conference in Rome, and highlights some of the new technologies being launched to address these changes Attendees at the Argus Europe Bitumen Conference, held in Rome on 11th and 12th June heard how the global bitumen market is changing. More refineries are expected to close in Europe; the US, with its shale oil, is dominating bitumen supply to some re

In Africa, one of the world’s fastest-growing cities is using the latest asphalt plant technology to boost its road maintenance work; while leading firms are finding their innovative solutions in demand in Europe and the Americas. Guy Woodford reports A new up to 180tonnes/hour Marini UltiMAP 2000 plant is helping Lagos State Public Works in Lagos, Nigeria implement a five-year strategic road map aiming to ensure high standards of road maintenance and improve infrastructural development across the city of m

Biorefiner Arizona Chemical has spent three years developing a new asphalt additive which it says will revolutionise the use of RAP in road pavements. Sylvaroad RP1000 will allow much higher proportions of RAP to be used and produce a better-performing pavement, according to the manufacturer. “What it essentially does is mobilise the chemical matrix of these aged binders,”

The Wirtgen Group has acquired a 70% stake in the asphalt plant manufacturer Benninghoven, located in Mülheim, Germany. Benninghoven is a successful manufacturer of asphalt plants with a strong reputation for its technology and product quality, as well as its customer support.

Ma-estro’s new prototype Q-Automation system is said to include a better movement sensor for more efficient quarry production and aggregates recycling plants.

Big orders for and progress in plant and concrete mixing technology has been continuing at a rapid pace over recent months, as Guy Woodford reports Shantui recently completed an eye-catching US$3.2 million deal with a customer in the United Arab Emirates for 50 concrete mixer trucks. The deal is said to be an important breakthrough for the Chinese company’s concrete machinery in the Middle East market, raising brand awareness and laying a solid foundation for building market share. Over the past y

The 2014 edition of Hillhead, the three-day biennial flagship show for the quarrying, recycling and heavy construction industries, is set to welcome thousands of visitors, keen to see the latest leading equipment models alongside innovative machine and site management control technology. Guy Woodford reports on what a variety of major companies will be showcasing during this month’s show at Lafarge Tarmac’s Hillhead Quarry near Buxton in Derbyshire With around 450 UK and international suppliers of plant, eq