Concrete batch plants are manufacturing facilities where cement is mixed with different types of ingredients. To make concrete, mix water, cement, stone and sand! The formula seems simple, but the reality of concrete manufacturing is far more complex. The development of mix designs for concrete requires advanced scientific skills. The quality of the cement and aggregates, the dosage and the proportions are just some of the variables that influence the properties of concrete.

Concrete Batch Plants Explained

Generally there are several types of batch plants used for mixing concrete. A stationary plant is located in a permanent location and secured with concrete tie down structures. Portable concrete batch plants generally have wheeled units available to enable the transport of the silos and main plant structure from one site to another with minimal dis-assembly required.

A mobile batch plant is the most easily movable type of ready mixed concrete plant. Mobile batch plants are typically supported on a single axle or dual axle chassis that can be attached to a semi and transported rapidly from site to site. All of the above plants can be adapted with a mixer, reversing drum mixer, twin shaft horizontal or compulsory mixer to enable wet mix concrete production for projects such as dams and bridges, airport runways, etc.

Inside Concrete Batch Plants

The center of any central mix concrete batching plant is the mixer. There are several types of mixers available on a ready mix plant: drum tilt mixer, reversing drum mixer, twin shaft horizontal mixer also known as a compulsory mixer and planetary mixer as well as pan and turbine mixers. Depending on the application required, concrete batch plant operations can be designed to produce ready mixed concrete, concrete blocks, architectural concrete products, precast concrete, prestressed concrete, structural bridge members, and even concrete light poles. Most batch plants store different stones, sand and cements for the types of concrete that each plant is capable of producing. They create unique mixes to deliver customized performance suitable for each construction need. Through extensive research, Ready Mix Producers utilize innovative mix designs to produce performance concretes.

Trends in Concrete Batch Plants

The other type of concrete batching plant which is rapidly gaining popularity and can be seen widely used in construction sites, is called the Mobile (or Portable) Batching Plant. The mobile batching units include the structure which carries the batchers, conveyors, scales, control equipment and small silos to be used at the construction site. They provide a lot of cost and time savings and increase efficiency at the building site.

With the advent of technology, most modern  batch plants use computer aided control to assist in the quick and accurate measurement of ingredients, as well as to coordinate the functioning of various parts and accessories for safe operation. Since the quality and performance of concrete is highly dependent on the water content, these sophisticated systems will use moisture probes to gauge the amount of water that is part of the aggregate (sand and rock) material during weighing. If there is a need for changing the water content, it can be programmed to automatically do so.

Concrete is the most used manmade material in the world, with nearly three tons used annually for each man, woman and child. Concrete has been around for centuries and is an integral part of every civilization. The ancient Romans first used primitive mixes of sand, gravel, lime and gypsum to create enduring concrete structures, such as the Pantheon, that are still standing today. Concrete technology in the modern age has dramatically improved. Ready Mix Producers manufacture concrete in state-of-the-art plants that utilize sophisticated computers to accurately batch the correct proportions of ingredients to create a consistent, high-quality product.

 

For More Information:

Concrete Batch Plant Equipment

Portable Batch Plants

Mobile Batch Plants