training
plant Upkeep in Nine Parts T
To give hot-mix asphalt (HMA) producers a primer on current upkeep options, we’ve assembled a handful of priority maintenance items that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and service providers were willing to outline. The following concepts walk you through the basics of greasing, silo wall monitoring, odor reduction installation, recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) system maintenance, trunnion adjustment and more. In alphabetical order by OEM, the following topics will help you get your winter maintenance program planned.
AMMANN GROUP SUGGESTS PROTECTING THE PLANT WITH GREASING
All asphalt production businesses want to minimize the cost of ownership. The lower those expenses, the more competitive asphalt prices can be—and the higher profits can go. Ammann’s efforts to reduce asphalt operating expenses include Ammlub, which is Ammann’s automatic lubrication system, designed to provide three key benefits: longer plant life, reduced fuel costs and improved safety. Traditional lubrication methods can be a struggle. They often require that technicians stretch and strain to reach extremely tight spaces—and that they fight dust, dirt and heat in the process. There also is the question of when to grease and how much grease to apply. The labor-saving Ammlub system is mounted directly on the plant’s lubrication points. It automatically applies lubricants at scheduled intervals, ensuring that the process is done on time—every time. In addition, Ammlub eliminates downtime. The lubricant applications can occur while the plant is running, enabling completion of the routine maintenance without a drop in productivity. An immediate benefit is fuel savings, which can be reduced as much as 10 percent when all parts and components are working harmoniously. With appropriate lubrication, those parts and components will also last longer, providing further savings. Because this system
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The Ammlub device from Ammann Group is mounted directly on the plant’s lubrication points. also locks out contaminants, plant life is extended, too. Workplace safety is improved as well. Technicians no longer need to lug tools and fluids with them to access difficult-to-reach service points. These service points typically include all components along the process flow, starting with the cold feeder and ending with the discharge shoot. For more information on the Ammlub product, contact simone.franz@ammann.com or visit www.ammann.com.
ures. Inspections can still be given on a onetime basis, as well. Along with non-destructive thickness measurements, the SiloBot inspection device also checks for missing ceramic tiles, weld seam separation, damage to liner sections, holes in silo walls, batcher gate issues and other issues resulting in acute wear inside the silo. One technician travels with two SiloBot inspection devices, software, a winch and mount, tools required for SiloBot device maintenance, and a truck with a mounted scissor lift in the bed. Customers are not required to rent manlifts. The technician inserts the SiloBot through the mouth of the silo using a winch that is mounted on top of the silo (used as a safety tether and connected to the bot at all times) and the scissor lift mounted in the back of the truck. The incredibly strong natural magnets in the wheels allow the bot to traverse over ceramic tiles and onto the silo wall. The SiloBot inspection device gathers data by utilizing a steel brush and motor to clean
ASTEC WALKS YOU THROUGH SILO MAINTENANCE SERVICE
The team at Astec saw the need to make silo inspections safer and developed the SiloBot inspection device—a robot that is placed inside a silo by a trained inspection technician who then stays safely outside of the silo while performing a thorough inspection of the silo interior. A SiloBot inspection takes less than two hours to fully inspect all silo welds. With regular inspections, you can perform preventative maintenance that extends silo life. Astec Engineering recommends having full silo inspections performed every two years, minimum. For high production facilities and silos that are 10 years or older, it is recommended to inspect annually. Astec offers a recurring inspection plan for every 1-2 years that will allow us to provide the customer with comparative data. This data will help customers forecast wear in their silos so that preventative maintenance can be performed, giving them the ability to avoid spending unnecessary funds on more severe fail-
The large amount of missing ceramic tiles from the silo wall has allowed mix to wear the silo metal acutely in many areas. Multiple holes were found in this silo. Photo courtesy of Astec Industries
Inside this silo, a large hole is forming directly above the ceramic tiles. Areas like these were found along the entire circumference of the silo. Photo courtesy of Astec Industries
