Concrete waste reduced thanks to Hy-Parts

Hy-Parts, a Parker Hannifin distributor, created a customised volumetric concrete mixer using Parker hydraulic parts, hoses, crimps and connectors to meet a complex specification

When Hy-Parts, the Newcastle under Lyme based distributor for Parker Hannifin, needed to customise a volumetric concrete mixer to meet a customer specification, they used Parker hydraulic parts, hoses, crimps and connectors to create the bespoke vehicle.

As a result, the Volumetric Concrete Mixer allows concrete to be mixed to exact requirements on site, eliminating both concrete waste and the need for hydraulic power during transit, while at the same time allowing for efficient multiple site deliveries, if necessary.

Concrete is essential throughout the building industry, and can vary in consistency and quality, depending on the batch, raw materials used, quantities created and downtime, during which concrete can set if left for too long.

As a result, concrete providers must ensure that the correct quantities of raw materials are used, and that sufficient quantities of concrete are produced to ensure the work can be carried out, while at the same time minimising the wastage of concrete from over production.

In response to this, Hy-Parts has modified a specially imported piece of equipment in order to allow accurate measurement and delivery of raw materials directly to the concrete mixer, resulting in the creation of an optimum amount of consistently high quality concrete on demand.

Fitted to the undercarriage of a specially imported truck, Parker hydraulics, pumps and associated fittings drive the outer workings of the volumetric mixer, such as the hydraulic swivel chute that has been specially designed for quick and efficient pouring of concrete into larger areas, preventing downtime and reducing the risk that larger quantities of concrete will solidify before it has been poured.

The Volumetric Concrete Mixer allows materials to be mixed on board the truck, therefore in-situ where required or in transit to a destination.

In addition to the associated benefits of significantly reducing downtime and improving the quality and consistency of concrete delivered, the mixer is far easier to load than standard concrete transporters, as all of the individual materials are loaded separately and then mixed on site, rather than the laborious job of transferring large quantities of ready mixed concrete from a silo.

As a result, the mixer can be loaded more quickly and efficiently, increasing the amounts of concrete delivered in a specific time frame, and reducing unnecessary delays between deliveries.

In particular, the Parker F1 pump is instrumental in connecting the truck controls to the gearbox.

The F1 pump range is available in a variety of specifications with frame sizes ranging from 25 to 101, all weighing as little as 8.5kgs, making it perfect for mobile applications.

All sizes have a maximum operating pressure of 400 bar for intermittent use, or 350 bar in applications where permanent use is required, and can provide shaft speeds of 1900rpm to 2700rpm and corresponding theoretical torques of between 142 Nm and 378 Nm, depending on the frame size and operating pressure used in the specific application.

The Parker F1 pump is ideal for use in this application, as its mobile nature means that the truck is exposed to a variety of climatic conditions and as such required a pump that would be able to tolerate low and high temperature fluctuations.

The Volumetric Concrete Mixer must work smoothly and unhindered in order to produce the required quality and amount of concrete with minimum wastage.

The F1 pump was therefore the best possible solution as it features positive synchronisation with timing gear, allowing materials levels to be precisely controlled.

The F1 pump features laminated piston rings to ensure that there is virtually no leakage, practically eliminating maintenance costs and downtime.

Hy-Parts anticipate growing demand for the bespoke Volumetric Concrete Mixers within the UK.

Graham Copestake, Manager of Hy-Parts, says, "Volumetric batching helps operators improve their flexibility and is becoming increasingly popular.

It greatly reduces the amount of waste by enabling exact quantities of concrete to be delivered.

Furthermore, different specifications of material can be mixed, allowing deliveries to be made to a number of sites".

He continues, "We have been a Parker Distributor for many years and find that the high performance hydraulic products and associated hoses and fittings combined with the level of warranty and support from Parker to be invaluable to both us and our customers".

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