All New Asphalt Plant Equipment
BY AsphaltPro Staff
At the end of each calendar year, we take a look at the state of the asphalt industry. For this department, we look at equipment and services, specifically. During 2017, the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and consultants who focus on quarry, plant, and terminal products and services have kept environmental sustainability in the forefront while bringing new technology to market.
Consider the Portable Longneck Recycle System from CWMF Corporation, Waite Park, Minnesota. The team originally rolled the product out in 2009, but they’ve offered it with updates such as a custom, two-bin set-up since then. Why? Because asphalt producers incorporate recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) at a more frequent rate than ever before* and CWMF is one of the OEMs providing a means to do it right. The portable longneck recycle system directly feeds RAP into the recycle collar of the drum. It’s available in single-bin set-up or a tandem bin set-up. It consolidates the typical recycle bin and scale conveyor set-up into one cassis. In addition, CWMF is able to incorporate a hammer mill system that will grind the oversized product coming off the screen. You can get more information from Travis Mick at (320) 267-3805 or travis@cwmfcorp.com.
Of course producers add more than RAP to mixes, and they do it for more than environmental benefit. From recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) to warm-mix asphalt (WMA) additives, the industry seeks out new ways to be a responsible steward of resources.
Lennie Loesch, the CEO of Stansteel® Asphalt Plant Products, Louisville, Kentucky, shared that the hotmix asphalt industry can make a tremendous national impact, from both an environmental and sustainability standpoint, with the use of RAP and RAS. “But, in recent years, the significant initiative has been to use more RAP and RAS while making an even better quality product.”
Loesch pointed to the impressive statistics our industry can boast regarding recycling—we are No.1—and said, “What many innovative contractors have realized is that if achieving this great statistic wasn’t enough, we need to keep working to increase the use of RAP and RAS and, of course, improve mix material quality, pavement life and sustainability.” You can get more information from Loesch’s team at (800) 826-0223 or by visiting www.StansteelUsed.com.
OEMs also look at ways to make the process of improving quality easier on the producer. Mitch Duncklee is the lead software engineer for Systems Equipment Corporation, Waukon, Iowa, which launched in September the “big production” version of its ADP-100 asphalt drum mix blend computer to control up to 24 feeder channels for aggregates and additives.
“Many larger plants have determined there is a benefit to having a different feeder for each material used in their many mixes,” Duncklee said. “The time required to clean out and reload a bin can be saved with this large-scale blend system, and the old saying of ‘time is money’ makes having more aggregate bins very appealing.”
Even though a mix design formula won’t call for all feeders at one time, the Systems Equipment team recognized the computer’s need to connect and control all equipment. “That is why Systems has expanded and updated its I/O for the ADP-100 to include up to 24 ingredients.” In addition to the 24 feeders, the new I/O will handle 64 discrete inputs and outputs when required. The expanded system has room for another 20 analog inputs for metering other equipment—including pods and liquid skids on load cells—as weight depletion feeders. You can get more information from Duncklee at (563) 568-6387 or by visiting http://www.systemsequipment.com/.
The OEMs participating in this month’s product gallery offer the asphalt producer the tools to do exactly what Loesch referred to above: improve quality, pavement life and sustainability through new and upgraded technology and equipment. Take a look at the latest new and improved items for the asphalt production side of the industry. We’ll investigate offerings for the paving and pavement maintenance side of the industry next month.
Footnote: The NAPA/FHWA 2015 Construction Season Survey on Recycled Materials and WMA, released March 2017, indicated, “more than 77.2 million tons of recycled materials…was used in new asphalt pavement mixtures during the 2015 construction season. In addition, nearly a third (32.8 percent) of all asphalt pavement mixture was produced that year at reduced temperatures using warm-mix asphalt technologies.” Preliminary data from the 2016 Survey shows the continuing trend.
Ace Group LLC
Ace Group LLC, Willmar, Minnesota, updated its shaker decks for the market in 2016. The decks are offered in a wide range of sizes and designed to filter out oversized aggregate. They are custom-made with single or double deck; single decks are available from 3 by 5 feet up to 5 by 10 feet. They are made to use common size screen cloths. Check them out at www.asphaltace.com.
For more information, contact sales at (888) 878-0898 or sales.enquiries@asphaltace.com.
ADM
Asphalt Drum Mixers Inc., Huntertown, Indiana, released the latest version of the EX10248 asphalt plant in 2017. “We are constantly making improvements to all our plant lines, based on customer feedback as well as field testing,” a spokesperson stated. “The rugged 275 to 350 TPH EX10248 asphalt plant meets production capacity demands and strict environmental regulations. The plant’s single-drum counterflow system uses the latest in innovative technology.”
For more information, contact Jeff Dunne at (260) 637-5729 or sales@admasphaltplants.com.
CMI Roadbuilding
CMI Roadbuilding, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, introduced the Magnum 150 counterflow drum-mix with up to 30 percent RAP capability to the market in 2017. To enhance the portability and quick installation of the Magnum 150, a new one-piece cold feed unit with scalping screen/aggregate weigh conveyor, baghouse and SE60 self-erect hotmix storage system have been designed to allow rapid installation with minimum site preparation. The SE60 self-erect hotmix storage system can be erected in 30 minutes, with all remaining equipment, which is pre-wired, being able to be positioned and put to work within a matter of days, according to the manufacturer.
For more information, contact sales@cmi-roadbuilding.com.
D&H Equipment Ltd.
D&H Equipment Ltd., Blanco, Texas, updated its 60+ TPH asphalt rubber blending plant in April 2017. The features of the plant have been improved with options that include: increasing the size of the product pump from 4 inches to 6 inches, increasing the blended product piping from 4 inches to 6 inches, increasing the capacity of the integrated hot oil heating system from 3 million BTU to 4 million BTU, and increasing the size of the heat exchanger by approximately 50 percent. This has allowed customers to blend 18 percent crumb rubber at a top speed of over 60 TPH. Also at that production rate, they were seeing an increase of 50 degrees F in the virgin binder through the heating system, according to the manufacturer.
For more information, contact Jason Cox at (830) 833-5366 or Jason@dhequip.com.
E Instruments International LLC
E Instruments International LLC, Langhorne, Pennsylvania, introduced the E8500 Plus portable emissions analyzer for EPA compliance level emissions monitoring and testing to the market in September 2017. The product has been upgraded to measure up to 50 percent CO2 using an NDIR sensor and is designed for regulatory and maintenance use in boiler, burner, engine, turbine, furnace and other combustion applications. It includes up to nine gas sensors and upgraded software with automatic data-logging.
For more information, contact (215) 750-1212 or dkelly@E-Inst.com.
Emerson
Emerson of St. Louis, Missouri, introduced the Appleton® Baymaster™ LED High Bay luminaire featuring a patented quick-mount pendant system to the market in October 2017. It is designed to reduce installation and labor costs through timesaving quick-mounting. One electrician using standard tools is all that is required to pre-wire the mounting hood, line up the arrows, and lock the Baymaster into place, according to the manufacturer. Its six lumen output levels and 5,000K cool white or 3,000K CCT warm white color options allow greater mounting height versatility. Check it out at www.emerson.com.
For more information, contact Mary Krauss at (800) 621-1506 or mary.krauss@emerson.com.
Enviro Distribution LLC
Enviro Distribution LLC introduced the AireHaven 1000 to the market in October 2017. The product is a 4-ounce, personal, motorized air purification mask that features a built-in two-speed fan and three-stage filter to keep the user cool while protecting him or her from environmental risks. The AH1000 3-tier filtration system filters out pollutants and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), according to the manufacturer. It delivers eight hours of use on low speed, and five and a half hours of use on high speed after one hour of charging.
For more information, visit here.
Gencor Industries
Gencor Industries, Orlando, introduced the UltraRAP® drum mix technology to the market. The UltraRAP allows processing 60 percent recycled asphalt with less energy, and without superheating and oxidizing the process materials, according to the manufacturer. The UltraRAP concept uses a staged convective heat transfer design to preheat and advance the release of internal moisture in the recycled pavement. The unique patented combustion zone allows the release of moisture at much lower temperatures, thus creating a more even and staged release of water vapor in the drying process without oxidation, according to the manufacturer.
For more information, contact Dennis Hunt at (407) 290-6000 or dhunt@gencor.com.
Great Plains Industries
Great Plains Industries® (GPI), Wichita, Kansas, introduced the FLOMEC QSI Interface Board to the market October 2017 to provide fully-featured communication protocols and process output signals for FLOMEC meters and other flowmeter brands. The I/O Board ships with a customized operating system. Programming can be done using the FLOMEC app vie Bluetooth® wireless interface. Check it out here.
For more information, contact Mark Bieberle at (316) 927-3126 or mbieberle@gplains.com.
Herman Grant Company Inc.
Herman Grant Company Inc., Chattanooga, Tennessee, updated its pugmill with Dodge TXT shaft mount reducers, which drops the coater’s mixing time from 35 to 20 seconds, according to the manufacturer. Operating between 300 and 400 TPH, the 12-foot active mixing zone coats aggregates while keeping RAP and liquid AC out of the gas stream. Designed with NI-hard tips and liners, the twin-shaft coater has minimal maintenance to save the asphalt producer money and wear on equipment.
For more information, contact Jodie Martin at (423) 266-6138 or jodiem@hermangrant.com.
Hotmix Parts & Service
Hotmix Parts & Service, Louisville, Kentucky, introduced the Accu-Radar™ Asphalt Silo Level Indicator in October 2017 to prevent over-fill and help producers assess the correct level of finished product. The equipment, through the use of radar, detects the level of finished asphalt in a silo despite an uneven distribution of product throughout the silo. As an option: the silo level monitor can be incorporated into the user’s current PLC or be a stand-alone control. With the new remote monitoring system, any computer, phone or tablet on the same network as the Accu-Radar can be assigned roles and monitor levels anywhere in the plant, according to the manufacturer.
For more information, contact Tom Snell at (800) 826-0223 or tsnell@hotmixparts.com.
KPI-JCI
KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens, Yankton, South Dakota, announced the drop-in carbides are now available for all models of vertical shaft impactors (VSI) from Kolberg-Pioneer Inc. (KPI) in October 2017. The new industry-standard drop-in carbide wear parts are designed to decrease downtime required for service and maintenance and can be retrofitted into existing VSI crushers from KPI.
For more information, contact Tim Harms at timharms@kolbergpioneer.com.
Larson Electronics
Larson Electronics, Kemp, Texas, introduced its LM-12-4.5-5S-FM-2X24ET-LV telescoping 5-stage light mast to the market in October 2017. The mast is designed to allow quick and safe deployment of 125 pounds of equipment up to 12 feet high, and then be collapsed to 4.5 feet. The tower is built with steel square tubing coated with a corrosion-resistant finish. The 360-degee telescoping mast is elevated by pressing a button. It comes with two of Larson’s LEDLB-24ET LEDs, which produce a total of 8,640 lumens with a 144-watt draw to light up an area of your plant or yard. The IP68-rated LEDs can withstand rapid temperature changes of -40 degrees C to 85 degrees C, according to the manufacturer.
For more information, contact sales@larsonelectronics.com.
Lewis-Goetz
Lewis-Goetz, Pittsburgh, was named a Platinum Distributor of OPW Engineered Systems loading arm products. In addition, the Lewis-Goetz service center in Houston was recognized as an OPW factory-authorized repair facility. OPW Engineered Systems is a manufacturer of top- and bottom-loading arm products for refineries, chemical plants and petrochemical facilities, as well as tank truck and railcar terminals.For more information, visit www.lewis-goetz.com.No Image LIBRA SYSTEMSLibra Systems Inc., Harleysville, Pennsylvania, introduced the Automatic AC Tank Switching product to the market in August 2017. Automatic AC Tank Switching provides new functionality to the Libra PlantWise Drum Mix Control System. The system controls all fill, return and supply valves, as well as the AC pump and truck unloading. Tank levels are also monitored, including critical limits. Dynamic, color-coded graphics provide at-a-glance status pertaining to valve changes, material flow, tank levels, temperatures, interlocks and any alarm conditions. Manual control of heaters, agitators, etc. can be turned on and off through the software. AC Tank Switching is fully integrated with the PlantWise automatic blending process, including material usage totals and the capability to control the entire plant without manual buttons. Check it out at www.librasystems.com.
For more information, contact Greg Fleisch at (215) 256-1700 x123 or gfleisch@librasystems.com.
Measure
Measure, based in Washington, D.C., expanded its drone-powered solutions for the architecture, engineering and construction industries in October 2017. The new solutions are designed to enhance visibility into site conditions, construction progress and material availability through drone-based data imaging and reporting services, including:
- Pre-construction surveys
- Project documentation
- Volumetrics
Check out the services for the AEC sector here.
For more information, contact Elizabeth Ritter at (847) 904-2806.
NAPA
The National Asphalt Pavement Association, Lanham, Maryland, introduced the Emerald Eco-Label EPD Tool to the market in 2017. The Emerald Eco-Label allows asphalt mix production facilities to produce third-party verified environmental product declarations, which project owners can use to earn credits in green construction ratings systems. EPDs can also be helpful in optimizing the efficiency of a plant or mixture in terms of environmental impacts. Check it out at www.AsphaltPavement.org/EPD.
For more information, contact Kelly Kanaras at (301) 731-4748 or kkanaras@asphaltpavement.org.
Process Heating Company
Process Heating Company (PHCo), Seattle, Washington, fully released the Lo-Density® CLHR Inline Electric Fuel Oil Preheaters to the market in 2017. Inline Electric Fuel Oil Preheaters automatically provide precise temperature and viscosity control of heavy oils for efficient and steady delivery from the pump to the burner. Viscosity is the primary concern for producers who burn heavy or used fuel oil in their plants, as these oils become virtually impossible to pump at low ambient temperatures. Correct viscosity also provides proper atomization at the burner nozzle and clean burning of the oil. There are two methods available to adjust viscosity in heavy fuel oil. One is to cut or blend the oil with #2 heating oil or diesel fuel—raising operational costs with higher fuel costs. The preferred method is to preheat the fuel, allowing heavier oils to move smoothly to the burner. PHCo inline heaters are fully automatic, easy to control, and—due to their removable drywell tubes—easy to clean, according to the manufacturer. You can check them out here.
For more information, contact Rick Jay at (866) 682-1582 or Rick@processheating.com.
Reliable Asphalt Products Inc.
Reliable Asphalt Products Inc., Shelbyville, Kentucky, updated its Burke asphalt storage tanks for this season. Heated by either hot oil or electric, hot oil heaters and immersion electric units are available. The tanks are fully insulated and skinned; piping and layout per customer specifications. Sizes available from 10,000 to 35,000 gallons. Pressure transmission and site gauge options for liquid level reading. Installation and piping services available; agitation, portability available. Check out the tanks here.
For more information, contact David Childers at (502) 647-1782 or d.childers@reliableasphalt.com.
RoadScience
Road Science, a Division of ArrMaz, Tulsa, Oklahoma, released NovaGrip™ 1016 to the market July 2017. NovaGrip 1016 is a next-generation liquid anti-stripping additive designed to extend roadway life by protecting from destructive pavement distresses such as potholes, rutting and raveling. Its chemistry is designed to pose no health risks to workers, and is both non-hazardous and non-regulated for transport. Paving crew and plant personnel comfort is also improved since it has no irritating odor and does not emit smoke in hot asphalt, according to the manufacturer. Check it out here.
For more information, contact C. Ivann Harnish at (863) 669-8765 or iharnish@roadscience.net.
Rotochopper
Rotochopper, St. Martin, Minnesota, introduced the RotoLink 2nd generation remote monitoring system during its 2017 Demo Day. The monitoring system has a live connection to the grinder controller and Rotochopper customer service to allow work in real-time with Rotochopper customer support to view machine settings and troubleshoot issues. When granted access, factory service techs have a direct connection to the display, and with permission can change machine settings.
For more information, contact Andy Brick at atbrick@rotochopper.com.
Systems Equipment
Systems Equipment, Waukon, Iowa, announced a “big production” version of its ADP-100 Asphalt Drum Mix Blend Computer for the market in September 2017. The expanded version of Systems’ blend computer controls up to 24 feeder channels for aggregates and additives, including fines, liquids and other materials used to produce drum mix asphalt. The base ADP-100 system on which this large-scale version is built was developed nearly 30 years ago. It was designed to proportion aggregates and additives according to prescribed mix design formulas, and also measure and control the liquid mass flow rate so blends accurately interlock to the measured aggregate flow. The ADP-100 also has a new packaging, developed for easier connection to the equipment’s wiring. A new layout and cabinet design are suited to the large capacity of the system.
For more information, contact Mitch Duncklee at (563) 568-6387.
Volvo Construction Equipment
Volvo Construction Equipment, introduced the EC750E crawler excavator to the market in 2017. It features a Volvo D16J 16-liter Tier 4 Final engine with a rated output of 1,800 rpm and 516 horsepower and breakout force of 71,720 to 86,110 foot-pounds. The bucket capacity is 4 to 7 cubic yards. The maximum digging reach is 37 feet, 8 inches; maximum digging depth is 23 feet, 8 inches, based on certain configurations. Check it out at www.volvoce.com.
For more information, contact tiffany.cheng@volvo.com or visit www.volvogroup.com.