From sizing the aggregate to adding the liquid asphalt cement (AC), asphalt producers are looking for the best products and services on the market to make their jobs easier, faster and greener. This month’s production-related product gallery takes a different, more robust approach to presenting some of the products, services and ideas available as we head into the end-of-season rush.
Starting with TEC Container Solutions, headquartered in West Sussex, United Kingdom, we have an article about the use of specialized tanks for multiple projects. This month, we also look at the crushing and screening marketplace, as shared by Persistence Market Research, before diving into a handful of new items that could affect your bottom line.
This image shows the discharging operation of the MEST Bitutainer from TEC Container Solutions.
Storage for Specialty Bitumen Operations
TEC Container Solutions is highlighting the growing role of flexible, modular and fit-for-purpose storage solutions in supporting the evolving demands of the speciality bitumen market. From polymer modified bitumen (PMB) to crumb rubber and bond coat emulsions, the industry is increasingly recognising the need for equipment tailored to each product’s unique handling requirements.
In recent deployments across the United Kingdom and Australia, TEC’s MEST Bitutainer™ has demonstrated how a dedicated, modular tank solution can provide both flexibility and control.
While advancements in product formulation continue to accelerate, driven by performance demands, environmental targets and temperature resilience, the same cannot always be said for storage infrastructure.
Frequently operators adapt existing tanks for new and more sensitive products, leading to poor temperature retention, product degradation or inefficient site setups. Similarly, standard bitumen pumps operating at high RPMs can cause emulsions to shear or separate, particularly in systems that require recirculation.
“Across the industry, we’ve seen high-spec pumps deployed for specialist products, but tanks are often still an afterthought,” said TEC’s Jon Whittall. “As products become more advanced, so must the equipment used to store and deliver them.”
The auger modification in this container is designed to handle crumb rubber agitation.
Addressing Practical Challenges On-Site
In one recent project, TEC supplied a MEST Bitutainer to support on-site distribution of bond coat emulsion. The product required gentle heating and daily recirculation to maintain quality. The MEST’s automated heating system and programmable recirculation cycle eliminated the need for manual intervention to ensure product quality, while the fully self-bunded tank removed the need for additional containment infrastructure.
In another deployment, a contractor required reliable storage of crumb rubber-modified bitumen, which has unique agitation and temperature stability requirements. The MEST Bitutainer was configured to meet these specific handling requirements, providing a compact, customized and relocatable solution for regional asphalt projects.
Fit for Purpose, Built for Performance
The MEST Bitutainer is a self-contained, turn-key storage unit, featuring a sealed equipment compartment that can be tailored to each product’s operational profile. From high efficiency electric heating and automated agitation to custom transfer pipework configurations and safety interlocks, the system is designed to simplify on-site logistics while protecting the quality of high-performance materials.
Because the tank is double-walled, fully insulated and self-bunded, it removes the need for civil works or bund construction. It has a standard 40-foot footprint.
As the use of niche and modified bitumen continues to grow, alongside the pressure to reduce waste, improve operational efficiency and meet environmental standards, TEC is committed to providing infrastructure solutions that evolve with the market. From packaging-free storage alternatives for PMBs to precision handling of delicate emulsions, the MEST Bitutainer is enabling contractors to move away from reactive adaptations and toward purpose-built systems that prioritize efficiency, safety and performance.
For more information, visit TEC Container Solutions’ website.