Concrete Equipment & Products: Part One | September 2008

16K FORK LIFT Manufacturer has expanded its S Series line with a 16,000-lb.-capacity model, the S160-4, featuring constant four-wheel drive; four equal

16K FORK LIFT

Manufacturer has expanded its S Series line with a 16,000-lb.-capacity model, the S160-4, featuring constant four-wheel drive; four equal sized wheels; and, two steering axles providing a tight, 150-in. turning radius. The S160-4 is powered by the Dieselmax 444 Turbocharged Tier III engine producing 114 hp, and is coupled to a fully automatic power-shift transmission for efficient operation.

Axles feature enclosed wet disc brakes for extended life, and limited slip differentials for maximum traction and maneuverability. Consistent with the S Series product line, the operator platform of the S160-4 is mounted to frame on isolators which dramatically reduce noise and vibration for the operator. Standard features include frame leveling, tilt steering column with full instrumentation, light package, and back-up alarm. Options include full cab, air conditioning, side shift and fork positioning carriages, and a variety of lift heights and fork lengths. Sellick Equipment Ltd.
www.sellick.com

VOLUMETRIC MIXER AUGER LATCH

Firmly securing the auger cage to the rear of the unit, the pneumatic auger latch stops the rattle, extends the life, and improves the safety of volumetric concrete mixers, the manufacturer affirms. The mere flip of a switch activates the pneumatic auger latch to provide a firm grip that prevents the rattle of a bouncing, unsecured cage, as well as excessive wear on mixer connections and the truck hauling it. Elkin Hi-Tech, Inc.

RETAIL UNIT EASES MIXING

The Reusable Concrete Mixing Bag thoroughly mixes a 40-, 60-, or 80-lb. bag of dry mix and water in less than one minute, the manufacturer affirms. Users are advised to simply open the top of a packaged mix and place the bag over it, before tipping the combined bags to empty the sack into the mixing bag. After removing the paper sack, an appropriate amount of water is added. To the end, a Helpful Hints chart is printed on the mixing bag to assist in determining the correct water ratio for any size bag of ready mixed. Once the mixing bag is closed using the provided hook and loop cinch strap, the mixture is rocked back and forth for 30 to 45 seconds before pouring where needed Û no bucket, no tools, no cleanup.

Because the Reusable Concrete Mixing Bag is tidy, small and lightweight, the manufacturer contends, it suits indoor jobs, remote projects, and do-it-yourself tasks. According to product developer Robert Dunlap, founder of Indianapolis, Ind.-based Cement Solution Co., Studies have shown that when the Reusable Concrete Mixing Bag is used, up to 70 percent less energy, effort and time are needed for completion of the mixing, pouring and cleanup steps on a typical concrete mixing project. Û www.cementsolution.com

KENWORTH T800 ADDS
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

New automatic transmission offerings for Kenworth’s T800 especially suit construction and shorthaul applications with high horsepower requirements. Operators can now order the T800 with Allison 4000 and 4500 series transmissions when spec’d with Cummins ISX engines, not to exceed 1,650 lb.-ft.

CTL GROUP REPRESENTS TONI TECHNIK LAB TESTING EQUIPMENT

The Allison 4000 and 4500 series transmissions are especially designed for what the manufacturer notes are rugged-duty or highway truck operators seeking productivity gains, durability advances, and lower cost of ownership over the truck’s service life. According to Allison, the transmissions feature torque converter technology that provides seamless full power shifts, enabling vehicles to work within the best duty-cycle speeds to save times on routes. Û www.kenworth.com

Berlin-based Toni Technik, a global manufacturer and supplier of automated systems for cement and concrete testing, has selected CTLGroup to be the authorized U.S. sales, service, training and support representative for its full product line. Accordingly, CTLGroup offers a complete array of Toni Tecknik laboratory equipment Û including universal and specialized compression and tension machines, automatic time of set, automatic Blaine, free lime analyzers, and mortar mixers Û that perform such diverse tests as ASTM C305, C109, C191, C204, C39, and C78. CTLGroup also can work with Toni Technik to upgrade and retrofit outdated test machines to latest standards. Û Charlie Walden, 847/972-3226; e-mail: [email protected]

SILT FENCING INSTALLATION

In view of an estimated annual loss of 80 billion tons of soil due to wind and water erosion, the manufacturer promotes its silt fencing installation equipment to enable effective management of construction site sediment by keeping it on site, while allowing water to flow, thereby preventing pollution of streams and rivers. The company’s recently introduced Enfencer Silt Fence Machine for installing wire-supported silt fencing reportedly is the only machine capable of placing both support wire and silt fence fabric into the ground simultaneously without trenching. The new technology meets the Federal Highway Administration FP-03, Silt Fence Specification.

The machine is equipped to prevent installation failure or blow-out underneath silt fences, the manufacturer notes. It can insert geotextile fabric and support wire up to 12 inches deep and establishes high pullout resistance by creating a 2-in. crimp in the hog wire that bites into the ground. The Enfencer also can insert rolled erosion controlled products.

The machine’s chisel point and slicing blade cut through small roots, eliminating the need for trenching prior to silt fence installation. Any width of fabric or hog wire is handled without changes to the device. Thus, operators will save considerable time, labor and expense, the company affirms, as only two are needed to install 100 feet of hog wire and fabric per minute. Erosion Control Implements
www.enfencer.com

Axim launches integral water-repelling system for block

Axim Italcementi Group, a component company of the Essroc Cement Corp. and Italcementi Group of Italy, has introduced the Intrapel line, an integral water-repelling system for concrete masonry. A two-component system Û Intrapel XS for block production and Intrapel MA for masonry mortar production Û the product works by making the concrete hydrophobic to prevent capillary absorption. The system also reduces water infiltration and efflorescence, while accelerating the drainage rate of the water out of the walls. It is suited for colored architectural masonry units with no post-applied finishes and for any units where infiltration must be controlled.

XS is a multi-component, water-repellent admixture that is added during block and paver production. MA, one of a two-part admixture system is specially formulated to do the same for masonry mortar but reducing water ingress in the wall system, thus minimizing the risk of soluble salts being dissolved and carried to the surface as efflorescence. Reduction of moisture in the masonry units lessens chance of mold and mildew growing in or on the piece. It also provides water protection throughout the mortar joint. MA is added on the job site in the masonry mortar and is supplied in cases of 12, 32-oz. bottles.

Both versions are said to meet or exceed all requirements of ASTM E 514 water penetration and leakage through masonry and ASTM C 642. Û Axim Concrete Technologies, 330/966-0444; www.aximconcrete.com

RESTRUCTURING CENTRALIZES MACK AND VOLVO SUPPORT, PRODUCTION

Mack Trucks will relocate its headquarters from Allentown, Pa., to the Greensboro, N.C., home office campus of parent Volvo Trucks North America under a $60 million restructuring plan announced last month. The restructuring, through which company officials aim to increase efficiency of North American truck operations, will also see production of both brands’ vehicles concentrated in one plant: Mack in Macungie, Pa., and Volvo in New River, Va. In addition, Volvo Trucks will a) build a $50 million engine block line at its Hagerstown, Md., plant with projected late-2010 start up; and, b) restructure its parts distribution network during a 2009-10 window with an eye toward improving competitiveness and dealer and customer service across North America.

Movement of Mack headquarters and support functions is projected over the course of 2009, with consolidation of product development and purchasing in Greensboro the following year. Mack becomes the second Allentown corporate pillar this year to leave town. Lehigh Cement Co. shifted its headquarters from the eastern Pennsylvania city to Irving, Texas, during the Heidelberg Cement-Hanson integration. Lehigh’s long-time headquarters, however, is now the home office of the Lehigh Hanson North Region, one of four units overseeing the merged companies’ U.S. and Canadian ready mixed, aggregate, asphalt and cement operations.

SICOMA
ANNOUNCES 10.5-YD. TWIN SHAFT MIXER

Manufacturer’s newest and largest twin shaft mixer Û MAO 12000 Û is capable of delivering 10.5 yd. of concrete in each batch and 500 yd. per hour. The MAO 12000 sports several advancements in mixing technology, including four 100-hp motors and associated reduction drives mounted on hinges, allowing each drive to be swung out and away from the bearings and shaft seals for ease of maintenance. Additionally, a small slow drive motor has been fitted to permit inching of the blades during hand washing or service. Further, the manufacturer’s triple-shaft seals have been surpassed by a new greaseless and maintenance-free design.

Besides the three patented innovations, MAO 12000 features an advanced alarm and diagnostic unit that monitors all important parameters and provides warning when maintenance is due, logging all alarms for later download to a computer. Û www.sicoma.biz

HawkeyePedershaab musters combined sales force

A recent HawkeyePedershaab sales seminar provided an opportunity for the newly combined sales team to cross train on multiple machine offerings now available to pipe and manhole producers worldwide. On hand were Jorn Hoffmann and Darrell Haar, who have been named vice president of sales, respectively, for Europe & the East and the Americas. Former Americas sales representatives for Hawkeye and CTI/Pedershaab have been newly appointed as regional sales managers and will assist Haar in providing precasters advanced production equipment and technology. Likewise, Hoffmann’s management of Europe and the East division will be facilitated by the continued support of the sales staff and associated agents of the former Pedershaab Concrete Technologies. Both brands will be offered by all sales representatives worldwide.

SYSTEM OFFERS MOBILE CUSTOM MIXING

Since batching by weight has long been established as the most accurate and efficient method of concrete production, the manufacturer notes, its new Flow Stone mobile batch weighing system is designed to duplicate the control and accuracy of static batching plants, serving all markets for concrete, screed and mortar. Taking dry ingredients and batching plant on site, it eliminates waste from over ordering, thus suiting, most especially, fencing contractors and small concrete product operators.

Affirms Norman Opie, director, Flow Stone at Neilson Hydraulics, It is a quick and accurate method of providing quality concrete of the right strength, available on demand, without any waste or mess. Company-cited features of the Flow Stone model include:

  • Fresh concrete is mixed on site and discharged as needed
  • Cement, water and aggregates are individually batch weighed to ensure correct strength
  • Batch computer stores 50 preprogrammed recipes
  • Variable mixing time allows a wide selection of automatic additive and color dosing
  • Batch sizes range from 200 to 800 liters
  • Twin belts can carry two ingredients, enabling flexibility when producing screed or mortar
  • Errors due to variations in cement bulk density are eliminated
  • A quarterly service is provided to check and calibrate weighing system
  • Software ensures batch will not complete in event of exhausted hopper/silo/tank, reducing operator error and waste
  • System complies with BSI and QSRMC requirements

Û Neilson Hydraulics, www.flow-stone.co.uk, Tel: +44 1709 821002; or, [email protected]

NCMA AFFIRMS INTEGRAL WATER REPELLENCY PERFORMANCE IN CMU

The National Concrete Masonry Association has published new guidelines on appropriate performance criteria for masonry units made with integral water repellents. New test methods are presented for evaluating water repellency characteristics of the units as are recommendations for including these guidelines into construction specifications.

NCMA’s newest technical bulletin, TEK 19-7 Characteristics for Concrete Masonry Units with Integral Water Repellent, notes that integral water repellent units are able to contribute significantly to a wall assembly’s ability to perform as an exterior building enclosure resistant to wind-driven rain penetration. TEK 19-7 recommendations are intended to ensure that units promoted as water repellent conform to minimum industry standards of repellency. The publication also addresses the fact that water repellent concrete masonry wall systems must also be designed and constructed properly using quality materials to perform as intended.

Design and specification strategies to achieve water resistance are addressed in various technical bulletins within the TEK series. TEK 19-7 can be viewed and downloaded through the e-TEK site via one of NCMA’s member sponsors, or can be accessed through NCMA’s website, www.ncma.org. Hard copies can be ordered from the NCMA publication department, 703/713-1900. Additional information on the recommendations can be obtained from NCMA Research Engineer Nick Lang ([email protected]) or Technical Publications Director Dennis Graber ([email protected]).