Skip to main content

Astec develops innovative asphalt plant with additional recycling capability

Astec’s headline RAP plant can use up to 65% RAP content As it does for the 50% double barrel system aggregate dryer/drum mixer model, Astec is guaranteeing that its customers will get the increased percentage. The unit runs at 181-360tonnes/hour production (200-400UStons/hour). Astec, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, manufactures all of their state-of-the-art Hot Mix Asphalt plants in the US. They introduced the first double barrel plant in 1989, according to executive vice president Steven Claude, during
June 23, 2015 Read time: 3 mins
The new plant from Atsec offers increased use of RAP
RSSAstec’s headline RAP plant can use up to 65% RAP content

As it does for the 50% double barrel system aggregate dryer/drum mixer model, 1250 Astec is guaranteeing that its customers will get the increased percentage. The unit runs at 181-360tonnes/hour production (200-400UStons/hour).

Astec, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, manufactures all of their state-of-the-art Hot Mix Asphalt plants in the US. They introduced the first double barrel plant in 1989, according to executive vice president Steven Claude, during an interview at last month’s 242 Intermat construction equipment exposition in Paris.

 “We are now guaranteeing 65% on our new system,” he says, “however we will still continue to offer our traditional double barrel 50% model of which we have sold over 850 plants, and of which around 20% are outside the US.

“Customers will choose which plant best fits their needs depending on the amount of RAP available in their market. Every percent of RAP they use is sustainable and it also reduces cost, a win-win for the contractor and for the government that is funding the road project.”

The latest plant was introduced in the US in the third quarter and two have been sold. “We commissioned our first one in Daytona Beach, Florida, in March and we’re hitting our guarantees,” said Claude. “The second one in New York City was a retrofit and is being commissioned in May.”

Two primary changes to the plant design allow the increased use of RAP. “One, we’ve extended by six feet [1.8m] the internal drum where the drying takes place, so you get more drying time internally. Second, we add an external pugmill where the bitumen is injected for the actual mixing."

In addition, Astec has just introduced its patented ASTEC V-Pack Stack Temperature Control System which monitors the exhaust gas temperatures at the bag house inlet as the primary reference for control. As the exhaust gas temperature rises, the control system checks it against a set point.

When the temperature exceeds the set point, the control system speeds up the drum rotation, controlling temperature to the set point. The drum speed can be varied by the system from a minimum of about 7rpm to a maximum of about 12rpm; 8rpm is the normal speed for Astec drums without this system.

The combination of the new high rap design and the patented V-Pack enables Astec to meet the needs for higher RAP production and greater efficiencies that their customers have been asking for.  “Astec will continue to maintain its focus on improving and enhancing their design to meet the needs of both their customers and the “green” standards being established worldwide targeted to protect our environment.  Given the very positive reception we have received on our two most recent introductions of higher RAP capabilities and the V-Pack, we are convinced we are on the right track.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Caterpillar engine emissions solutions available
    January 9, 2015
    Various engine firms can now derate emissions control systems if required – Mike Woof reports With the next stage of the tough emissions regulations now coming into force in North America and Europe, this has had a major impact on the sales of secondhand machines. The fuel delivery systems for these ultra-low emission diesels can only cope with high quality fuels with very low sulphur content. And tests on the effects of low quality, high sulphur fuels on the low emissions engines have shown corrosion an
  • Caterpillar’s 313F excavator and M318 wheel loader shine in Spain
    May 19, 2015
    Caterpillar’s hallmark has been to stake its brand value on the ability to improve on products already considered very good. So it was with some pride that the global group unveiled its new 313F L GC tracked excavator during a dealer and media demonstration conference in Malaga, southern Spain in early March. The 313’s close cousin is the 312E, a high-use machine designed to put in long hours to maximise the owner’s productivity over the machine’s life cycle. The machine’s owner likely gets paid by the h
  • Power Curbers offers stringless control
    November 15, 2012
    Concrete slipformer manufacturer Power Curbers is now offering a stringless machine control option for its customers. Extensive tests have been carried out to ensure the system works efficiently and Power Curbers says that various customers are now using 5700-C machines that are equipped with networked digital controls on jobsites in the United States and Canada. According to the firm, the results have been good with contractors saving on set up time while achieving high accuracy when carrying kerb and gutt
  • Doosan announces the arrival its smallest 300-5 series wheel loader
    January 6, 2017
    INTERMAT sees the birth of Doosan’s latest arrival, the DL300-5 baby wheeled loader, the smallest machine in the South Korean firm’s DL-5 generation. Doosan’s launch of the 300-5 at Intermat comes only a few weeks after it unveiled the largest wheeled loader in the family, the DL550-5. This was also on display at the Paris exhibition. In between are the 350, 420 and 450, says Doosan’s wheeled loader product manager Sebastien Claude. The 300-5 series, which replaces the Stage IIIB DL-3 series launched