POWERING ASPHALT PRODUCTION UNDER CHALLENGING CONDITIONS
HARSH PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENTS NEED SMARTER, MORE DURABLE SYSTEMS.
Blistering heat, swirling abrasive dust and relentless heavy loads. Asphalt mixing plants operate in some of the most demanding industrial environments. Managing heat, controlling torque and ensuring long-lasting performance are not just priorities, they are essential for continuous plant operation. Here, David Strain, technical director at systems integrator Technidrive, explores how carefully engineered industrial drive systems can tackle these extremes, optimise performance and extend service life.
According to the European Asphalt Pavement Association( EAPA), the European road network consists of over 5.5 million kilometres of roads, and over 90 per cent of this is paved with asphalt. Asphalt is a mixture of aggregates and bitumen primarily used in road construction due to its durability and reliability. During production, these aggregates are dried, screened and mixed with bitumen.
There are currently around 4000 asphalt plants in Europe producing 300 million tons per year and at this scale reliability is non-negotiable. However, in an asphalt plant, the drive systems in the machinery required to carry out key processes are subjected to constant torque demands from heavy rotating drums and material conveyors.
At the same time, dust and abrasive particulates accelerate wear, placing strain on seals, bearings and lubrication systems. Standard drives often struggle in these conditions, but a carefully engineered approach
40 MACHINERY, AUTOMATION, CONTROL & ENGINEERING