Ready-mixed concrete and its uses

Aggregates are delivered and unloaded by a semi-trailer into the receiving hopper. This hopper is generally covered by a cladding that limits noise and dust emissions during unloading. This protects the environment from these disturbances.

The aggregates are transported either by a conveyor belt or by a bucket elevator.

The aggregates are stored in hoppers or a compartmented silo, the capacity of which depends on the production of the plant (100 to 400 m3).

The aggregates are weighed on a weighbridge or on a belt scale.

The weighed aggregates are transferred to the mixer.

The cement is delivered by a tanker truck and stored in waterproof silos fitted with filters. These filters prevent any release of dust into the air. Different types of cement may be stored. The cement is fed through a cement auger into a cement skip scale for weighing.

The mixer is the heart of the plant. It has a capacity of 1 to 3 m³. It receives the previously weighed components (cement, aggregates, water) and mixes them for a period of 55 seconds to obtain a homogeneous mixture, concrete.

Once the mixing is complete, a door opens at the bottom of the mixer to release the concrete that flows into the mixer truck through the loading chute.

Admixtures can be added to the production in the mixer to modify the properties of the concrete (setting retarder, accelerator, fluidity, etc.).

The control center technician ensures that the production is carried out using the controller installed in the control room. Automation guarantees the precision and the regularity of all the formulas for concretes produced.

The mixer truck with a capacity of 4.6 to 8 m³ ensures the delivery of fresh concrete to the site. The concrete must be used within two hours of its manufacture. A pump truck can be used to facilitate the delivery of concrete and its implementation on site.

The recycler is able to process the return of concrete and the residues from cleaning the mixers: it separates the aggregates from the loaded water. These are then reused for the production of certain concretes. All the residues resulting from the production are thus 100% recycled with 0 discharge into the environment.

The laboratory makes it possible to carry out tests on the concretes produced. These texts are conducted by the laboratory technician.