New mixing plant for even better architectural precast concrete elements
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CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY Kniele GmbH, 88422 Bad Buchau, Germany New mixing plant for even better architectural precast concrete elements ˾ Mark Küppers, CPI worldwide, Germany The Decomo SA company, located in Mouscron near the French border in southern Belgium, produces precast elements in architectural concrete. People are and will be the decisive factor in the design and manufacture of architectural concrete. At Decomo they are supported by an efficient production apparatus that is constantly optimised through new investments. After most recently integrating new Construx tilting tables into the production, modernisation of the complete concrete production now stood on the agenda. The result is a new mixing plant with 34 silos for an extensive selection of aggregates and a cone mixer as the centrepiece of the new concrete production. The complete dosing and mixing technology was supplied by Kniele GmbH in Germany. Decomo was once again able to increase the concrete quality with this investment, thereby meeting its own very high standards. And the high number of aggregate silos in itself suggests the very high company standards that must be fulfilled here. The Bikotronic firm from Germany was responsible for the complete plant control system. The respective engineer in Decomo’s in-house design department guides every project from planning to execution. And that’s in six EU countries and Russia, all of which have an indi- vidual building culture. Decomo pursues a customer oriented company policy and always keeps an eye on the environment and surroundings in the process. Decomo operates according to an exceptional quality philosophy and can show numerous national and international certifications. All elements are manufactured, processed and inspected under excellent fabrication conditions before just-intime delivery to the building site. High quality precast elements can be manufactured in architectural concrete within relatively short delivery times. With a total of approximately 50 tables, the high production capacity enables Decomo to optimally fulfil quantity and delivery date requirements. Decomo also offers a complete surface treatment programme. Decomo was taken over by Lieven Tsjoen four years ago and he immediately invested in the company to increase the concrete quality even further. Today, 180 employees, including many from France, work for Decomo and the order situation is very good. With a share of approx. 40 %, the United Kingdom continues to be Decomo’s most important market. The other customers are primarily in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Layout drawing of the new mixing plant at Decomo with the 34 silos for aggregates CPI – Concrete Plant International – 4 | 2018

CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY Each of the 40 m3 plastic silos contains different sands and fine flints in numerous different colours. While production conditions are improved continuously through investments, Lieven Tsjoen sees problems in the changing labour market. The company relies on long-term employment relationships with its employees from Belgium and France, thus keeping know-how in the company. But new, qualified employees for production are only found with difficulty, which is, however, not only a problem in Belgium. But Decomo always looks ahead. The goal is to further increase output, but,...

CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY Charging of the aggregate silos is initially carried out from the exterior using a truck charging hopper. Aggregate transfer to a mobile bucket that can travel in 2 directions takes place upon arrival at the upper level. falls into other boxes, which would be the equivalent of a worst-case scenario for Decomo. This could not be assured by charging with conveyors. The 34 aggregate silos are set up in two rows that are easy to clean and empty. Each of the 40 m3 plastic silos contains different sands and fine flints in numerous different colours. There is also an option for...

CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY Concrete Curing Solutions View of the mixer platform with the Kniele KKM 1250/1875 cone mixer Mobile aggregate scale Precise dosing of aggregates in the mobile scale is carried out with vibrating chutes and shut off dampers. The mobile scale with bucket attachment travels below the silos and stops under the silo with the desired aggregates. The aggregates are then transported directly to the mixer and the scale is emptied into it. The complete dosing process is fully automatic. The scale is also cleaned with every change of concrete recipe. KKM 1250/1875 cone mixer The...

CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY The aggregates are transported directly to the mixer and the mobile scale is emptied into it. The mixer empties directly into a concrete bucket that is delivered empty to the concrete mixer by means of a scissor lift mounted on a mobile trolley. Kniele cone mixer – successfully in operation since 2000 The cone mixer has very diverse applications. Due to independent control of the speeds of both agitators – especially the inner agitator – both liquid and earth-moist concrete can be produced with the cone mixer. Furthermore, according to the manufacturer, this mixer type...

CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY View into the mixer immediately after cleaning The precast elements receive their special finish. Decomo SA producers precast elements in architectural concrete View inside the production hall with the new Construx tilting tables Everything at a glance thanks to controls by Bikotronic Decomo can refer to numerous reference projects. a) Little Manhattan in Amsterdam, The Netherlands b.) Tivoli in Munich, Germany However, colour dosing is carried out manually, because the extremely large variety of colours (up to 20 shades) that must be dosed in gram quantities makes...

CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY FURTHER INFORMATION SKIP CONVE YORS I CONCRETE DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEMS R DECOMO SA Boulevard Industriel, 96, 7700 Mouscron, Belgium T +32 56 850711, F +32 56 344891 info@decomo.be, www.decomo.be Mischen · Dosieren · Fördern Kniele GmbH Gemeindebeunden 6, 88422 Bad Buchau, Germany T +49 7582 9303 11, F +49 7582 9303 30 info@kniele.de, www.kniele.de Kniele representative for Benelux and Switzerland: LPI-Benelux, Postbus 62, 1633ZH Avenhorn, Netherlands T +31 610 619190 info@lpi-benelux.com, www.lpi-benelux.com More than Rollover bucket up to 6.000 l Flap bucket up to 8 000 l l...