FEATURE TEXAS CONCRETE FITTING FOOTPRINT
The new batch plant lies on the same axis of the existing model, at the base of the girder beds. A 220-ft. conveyor feeds ex- panded overhead storage while framing a large open space with ample room for safe trafficking of wheel loader, dump trucks and cement tankers. "In addition to more aggregate storage than the existing plant, the goal was to have two mixers operating autonomously on a sin-
gle structure. Material for each mixer can be weighed up and loaded at the same time," says Concrete Plant Restoration's Paul Mon- toya. "The EZCaster has two water, two ag- gregate and two cement scales, on top of the dual silos and weigh belts. Holding hoppers enable Texas Concrete to have batches for 16 yd. of material at one time. "The added output potential means mix
delivery truck drivers are not waiting for concrete. And no priority calls. We see
this as a model for many precast and pre- cast/prestressed plants: A single, small footprint structure bearing two weigh belts and two silos directly feeding sepa- rate mixers." Texas Concrete's new plant, he adds, is strong on safety provisions: All routine maintenance points are ac- cessed from platforms—eliminating in- stances of excessive reaching or hanging over open space—while stairs and main conveyor catwalk have locked gates.
The plant was shipped in 16 truckloads and erected in five days. The 4-yd. Simem twin shaft mixer was mounted on a modular platform, pre-plumbed and pre-wired. A second platform for the existing mixer installation (left) has bolt plates and similar provisions for its scales, silo and weigh belt. The mixers will operate fully independently, thanks to dedicated weigh belts, each fed by three-compartment aggregate bin, and gravity fed silos.
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