ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED EXTRUDERS Presented as the first in a new line of electronically controlled hollow core extruders, the EM 350 produces a 14-in.
ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED EXTRUDERS
Presented as the first in a new line of electronically controlled hollow core extruders, the EM 350 produces a 14-in. prestressed slab while electronic sensors reduce the need for operator intervention. A touch-pad interface facilitates adjustment of extrusion speed and concrete compaction; and, displays track extruder performance over time and key wear indicators to enable optimization of maintenance schedules.
For lower operational costs and cost-effective parts replacement with minimum downtime, the manufacturer contends, the EM 350 features patented replaceable auger ends, reducing the changeover process to an average of 30 minutes. New electronic controls allow operators to vary machine speed to match concrete delivery without any production stop/start downtime. Mix hopper sensors automatically alert the extruder to slow down for replenishment and signal the machine to resume speed once the hopper is filled.
Finally, to simplify set up and reduce errors during changeovers, default settings can be stored in the electronic controls to suit all applications. Since the power module is common to all EM hollow core extruders, it can be swapped between systems; once the changeover is completed, selecting the appropriate setting automatically configures all correct operating parameters. The EM 350’s electronic control system will be available on the manufacturer’s other hollow core extruder models, ranging from 6 to 16 inches. Dynacore Equipment
www.dynaquip.ca
PATENT ISSUED FOR UNIVERSAL BLOCK MOLD
St. Paul, Minn.-based NessTech has been awarded a patent for an actuating mechanism said by the family-owned specialty machining business to provide greater versatility, improved production runs, and durability. The universal mold Û branded N-E Face Û eliminates the need to use a different mold for each size, shape or texture of concrete unit. Adjustable for new block configurations as it incorporates interchangeable face-plate liners, N-E Face is reportedly the only machine mold capable of stamping up to five surfaces.
The patent awarded for N-E Face’s dual-action, gear-driven actuating mechanism is one of five NessTech is seeking for its mold design. The technology adds strength and reduces stress on the mechanism, engineers contend, yielding cleaner production runs that reduce material waste and equipment maintenance.
NessTech President John Ness, one of six family members in the business, entered the concrete machine industry 15 years ago after being asked by Keystone Retaining Wall Systems to craft mold replacement parts. The manufactured concrete industry has been working on universal molds for a while, he explains. Ness-Tech has custom machining in its DNA, he adds, and its molds were developed by staff who for years were challenged to generate innovations in precision applications.
Ness hopes that as patents are acquired, N-E Face will be recognized for products aimed at civil infrastructure, home landscaping, architectural block and veneer. NessTech debuted at last year’s Manufactured Concrete Products Expo in Anaheim. At the 2007 MCPX in Orlando, NessTech will follow up with a wide range of N-E Face-molded artisan block.
Û www.ness-tech.com
MIXER SYSTEMS UNVEILS FIRST U.S.-MADE PLANETARY MODEL
The first planetary mixer designed and manufactured in the U.S. has been introduced by Mixer Systems, Inc., Pewaukee, Wis. Until now, company officials note, the only planetary mixers available were either built entirely overseas or assembled in the U.S. from foreign-made components.
Domestic design and manufacture offer a significant advantage, contends Mixer Systems President William Boles. We can shorten the delivery time to weeks instead of months.
The patent-pending planetary mixer’s electrical systems are built for the U.S. industrial environment and do not require re-wiring. If questions on the equipment arise, notes Mixer Systems Engineering Manager Roger Gladen, customers can simply call the factory and talk directly with the engineers and technicians who designed and built their mixer.
The new mixer’s planetary design makes it one of the fastest and most thorough units available, product developers note. The counter-current rotating action of the mixing arms can produce a homogeneous batch of concrete, aggregate, liquid and other materials in as little as 30 seconds. Offering the speed and consistency critical to customers, Bill Boles asserts, It’s the mixer that keeps you productive, whether you’re producing concrete block, pipe, paving stones or pre-stressed panels.
As reducing maintenance is an equally important factor in maintaining productivity, the new planetary model is designed to minimize downtime. The mixing paddles are constructed of cast Ni-hard material for abrasion resistance. Urethane guards protect the mixing arms to extend their service life. And, the planetary-style gearbox is sealed to prevent contamination. The planetary mixer is available in 0.5-, 1-, 1.5-, 2- and 4-yd. sizes. Û 800/756-4937, www.mixersystems.com
CORING MACHINE
New generation Core-Matic manhole-coring model features automated controls, expandability, and a safety enclosure around the coring process to enable adding or expanding a coring function in the plant. Press-Seal Gasket
www.press-seal.com