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New innovations in concrete plant development

In Europe, MCT, Parker Plant, Rapid International and Simem have recently introduced new models to widen their respective ranges of offerings. Meanwhile in the US, CEI Enterprises is now offering an innovative new design of plant. CEI says that it has built the first of its Fusion ready-mix plants and installed it at the company’s manufacturing facility in Albuquerque. The firm is demonstrating the plant, which is said to benefit from hybrid process blending technology. The firm says it has utilised precisi
January 25, 2017 Read time: 4 mins
CEI is now demonstrating its novel concrete plant which features proven technology from asphalt plants
Several new developments in concrete plants are now coming to market

In Europe, MCT, 739 Parker Plant, 316 Rapid International and 2595 Simem have recently introduced new models to widen their respective ranges of offerings. Meanwhile in the US, 179 CEI Enterprises is now offering an innovative new design of plant. CEI says that it has built the first of its Fusion ready-mix plants and installed it at the company’s manufacturing facility in Albuquerque. The firm is demonstrating the plant, which is said to benefit from hybrid process blending technology. The firm says it has utilised precision aggregate blending technology from the asphalt industry and combined this with established methods for measuring cement and water. The firm’s new process is said to deliver better aggregate blending with fewer voids as a result. The reduction in voids allows the production of high-quality concrete, using less cement than older methods.

The core of the Fusion plant is the aggregate blending unit. A series of in-line bins hold multiple sizes of aggregates, as well as sand. Each bin releases to its own feed conveyor that is fitted with its own belt scale. This provides accurate measurement of each aggregate. The feed conveyors for each bin discharge onto a collecting conveyor below and the aggregates are blended in layers, and fed directly into the mixer.

According to MCT, its MCR plant is the most portable of all of its units as it can be towed to site on a trailer. Able to produce 40m3/hour, the machine features a 1m3 planetary mixer and has storage for up to 40m3 of aggregates in four compartments. The firm has built the plant with integrated software in the control room that has been developed in-house and which can be controlled remotely by a tablet. The mixer is integrated into the plant and as part of the onsite commission, the customer adds a cement silo and a screw conveyor. Commissioning onsite is said to take just one working day as all the equipment is pre-tested in the factory before being supplied to the customer.

739 Parker Plant is offering a number of new models for its concrete plant range, including the SiteMix and the self-erecting SE60 silo. The SiteMix line is said to deliver high throughput and productivity and depending on specification, can produce from 160-400tonnes/hour. The SiteMix units are modular in design, making them easier to transport than other plants according to the firm. Key features include multiple, high capacity aggregate storage bins with pneumatically operated radial batching doors and include low friction surface linings and vibrators when required, an aggregate weighing conveyor, vertical and horizontal cement storage silo options with bulk filling systems and protection and modular high speed, high efficiency pan mixers with twin discharge load-out points if required.

Meanwhile, a wide range of options are available including: high capacity, twin shaft continuous mixer models; fresh and recycled water supply tanks and delivery systems; multi option additive storage and delivery systems.

The firm says that its SE60 silo has been developed to meet the needs of US customers primarily and features a capacity of 55tonnes. This unit is said to be fast to transport and install onsite, offering a high degree of versatility.

Rapid International has developed a new continuous mixer that is said to be highly versatile and mobile. The firm claims that this is the first track-mounted concrete plant on the market, requiring minimum set up times and offering a remote control option. Compact in design, the 26.5tonne Trackmix 250 continuous mixer can deliver 250tonnes/hour and features a 12m3 aggregates hopper and a twin shaft pugmill. The firm says that the paddles are designed to optimise efficiency by passing the material from the back to the front rather than the top to the bottom. A wide range of features is available and the firm can supply the unit with a silo and various weighing options for cement and aggregates on the conveyor belts and in the hopper.

The Simem Bison is a continuous production machine capable of delivering a range of materials including RCC type product. The plant is modular in design and customers can add additional components if required, while its containerised design allows ease of transport and commissioning. This plant can deliver up to 500tonnes/hour and features a service container equipped with a generator, water supply and the control systems. Meanwhile the low-level silos are trailer-mounted for quick transport and installation. The firm says that by keeping the silos separate, this allows for a greater storage capacity. As the units are modular, customers can order different silo types and configurations also.

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