Equipment wunderbar: the world's largest construction equipment show opens doors to productivity and opportunity

Concrete Producer, The, August, 2004 by Rick Yelton

The Alpine air was crisp, the skies blue, and the crowds abuzz with excitement at Bauma 2004 in April. More than 410,000 visitors trekked through the Munich, Germany, Trade Fair Centre's eight halls and two large open-lot displays of construction equipment. Visitors from 171 countries joined their German hosts in establishing Bauma as the king of the international construction shows.

Construction activity might be on the mend. Bauma's results give several reasons to suggest this: larger crowds, expanded displays areas, and more global visitor participation. And there was a sense of excitement as the visitors felt things were improving. When asked about the future economic growth worldwide, 29% of the visitors questioned in an independent survey at the show said they thought business prospects were improving. This compares to 17% when asked the same question three years ago.

For concrete producers, Bauma provides a rare opportunity to look into the trends and research opportunities of the international manufacturers. I've offered a sampling of the interesting concepts I came across in the show.

Two-in-one paver finishing

One popular paver-deforming machine was the Mega 6000, introduced by Schindler manufacturing. The production machine enables the producer to create surfaces on pavers that are similar to those that are bushhammered or rumbled. Pavers are conveyed flat into the deformation chamber, and the operators can decide which surface treatment should be applied.

When bushhammering chamfered pavers, the chamfer remains after the surface deformation. This allows the final product to retain the well-contoured edge.

The pavers' tumbled appearance can be accomplished by using spherical hammers in place of the square bushhammer. Since the process occurs in a dust-proof enclosure, employees' exposure to fugitive dust is eliminated. The pavers are also easier to palletize, as they are already flat, with the face mix in an upright position.

The final product is also easier to place, because the underside and edges are not damaged or distorted.

SR Schindler, 49 941 69 68 20. www.sr-schindler.de. Circle 2.

Storefront Management

Using Cont2000, a modular design software program that combines production planning, inventory control and customer billing, precasters can introduce just-in-time production plans. The PC-based program package was developed by SAA Engineering, an Austrian consulting firm. The firm has producer clients who cast product in a wide range of industries, including pipe, bridge elements, and concrete housing.

The modular design allows producers to select those aspects that best fit their needs. Current modules include fresh concrete delivery to casting beds, automating form placement, palletizing, and even using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track inventory and customer billing. There's also an inventory control option that combines bar codes and GPS to help a forklift locate product in the stockyard.

Robert Neubauer, the firm's managing director, says SAA has been involved in a limited number of North American projects, and would like to expand their presence in the growing precast market.

SAA Engineering, 43 1 641 4247. www.saa.at. www.beton.de. Circle 3.

Bright Strength

Attendees couldn't avoid noticing the shine from the concrete plant erected by Simem, an Italian equipment manufacturer. Properly situated floodlights dramatically highlighted not only the engineering stability of the mixer's substructure, but also it's durability. Built with galvanized steel, producers can count on the design's long-term use.

North American producers will be able to enlist this style of construction. The company announced at the event that it is opening a North American operations center in San Antonio. Simem is well-known in the precast production industry.

The announcement confirms the Italian manufacturer's commitment to the United States. For the last few years, Simem had been partnering with a North American manufacturer. The move allows Simem to concentrate on the whole plant concept and focus on turnkey plant improvements, says Bob Ober, who continues to be the operation center's director.

Simem America. 800-729-0906. www.SimemAmerica.com. Circle 4.

Paving the Way

Because Bauma occurs every three years, manufacturers often rise the exhibition as a reason to celebrate a significant milestone. Zenith Equipment, a German manufacturer of zero-slump production equipment, highlighted its 50th anniversary by unveiling its Model 865 machine.

Designed as a single pallet plant, engineers have united several of the manufacturer's industry-recognized engineering features with high-tech controls. Producers will discover quick mold change, durable construction, and efficient material compaction. There are even several new options designed to increase the unit's flexibility to produce a wide range of product, from block to pavers. One option that drew a good deal of attention was the design that allows feed draw changes.

Along with the production improvement, the designers used the unveiling to incorporate technology into the machine's controls. Plant operators will find the PLC control system features an updated safety system for easier lockout and diagnostics. And with the new Windows-based operating systems, plant operators can follow production activity easier with new bold graphics on the plant computer screen.