11/07: Astec Introduces New Facility for Global Market
Chattanooga, TN -- Astec, Inc. expands the popular Six Pack Series hot mix asphalt facilities with the addition of the new Six Pack Global Series facility. The Six Pack Global Series is a state-of-the-art alternative to the batch plant for producers in a range of markets outside of North America.
Like the award winning Astec Six Pack facility that has been proving its worth to producers in the United States for more than twenty years, the Six Pack Global Series facility features wear-resistant components mounted on easy-to-transport loads. The components can be easily erected or folded down for transport using hydraulics or manual jacks. All of the components are pre-wired and most ladders, stairs, platforms and handrails ship pre-installed.
The standard Six Pack® Global Series asphalt facility includes a two to four bin cold feed system, a portable six foot Double Barrel® drum mixer rated at 180 tonnes per hour, Baghouse, Self-Erecting Bin, and PMII-B Control System with the WM-2000 Truck Loadout System. An optional RAP system is also available.
The revolutionary Astec Double Barrel drum mixer offers superior mix quality and energy efficiency. It is also capable of producing mixes with up to 50% RAP content.
The Double Barrel Green system is an option that can be included with any new Astec Double Barrel® drum mixer/dryer or added as a retrofit . The system uses water to produce a foamed warm mix asphalt that is odorless, smokeless and longer lasting. The Double Barrel Green system is a major break through in warm mix asphalt technology because it does not require the addition of expensive commercial additives. Instead, water is injected into the mix along with the liquid asphalt cement. The injection of water causes the liquid asphalt to foam and expand in volume. The foaming action helps the liquid asphalt coat the aggregate at a lower temperature.
The benefits of the Astec Double Barrel Green system for producers are clear:
- There is no smoke and no smell because the light oils in liquid asphalt never reach the boiling point
- The Double Barrel Green system has the ability to run high percentages of recycle mix with a standard grade of asphalt
- Due to 50°F lower temperature approximately 14% less fuel is used corresponding to a 14% increase in production
After producing several batches of mix with the Double Barrel Green system, Reynold Amey notes that the workability of the mix is no different than traditional hot mix. However, one big difference could be observed with the first mix the Double Barrel Green System produced -- there was no smoke.
Even though the Double Barrel Green System was installed as a retrofit, it fit very well. Says Reynold Amey, "The hardest part of the job was changing the Double Barrel Green decal."
The Columbia Bitulithic Port Kells facility in Langley, British Columbia is rated at 400 tons (363 tonnes) per hour. Typically it runs at about 275 to 300 tons (250 to 272 tonnes) per hour. Four 300 ton (272 tonne) storage silos provide ample storage. And because operators wanted to go totally electronic, they opted to run the facility with the Astec TCII control system with a WM2000.
