ADVERTORIAL - COVER STORY
“ We believe that the answer for sites that require more than 16m 3 of wet cementitious material per day ( 352m 3 a month ) is the Matpro Site Based Readymix Solution with one or more 4x4 Dieci concrete truck mixers and sometimes a Dieci telehandler as the core equipment . Smaller sites use different permutations of the basic equipment ,” says Attie Brink .
“ For even better efficiencies on the bigger sites we usually recommend that a cement and water dispensing silo component be added . With this component the accuracy for cement is ± 1 % and since cement is the most expensive component in the mix , this translates to savings of up to 5 % when using cement stored in silos compared to bagged cement .”
The main function of a traditional batch plant is to accurately weigh and measure the required amount of raw materials for a specific mix design and discharge this material into a readymix truck . The batching software allows a client to place orders for a site for the required mix designs on the system to match the required jobs for their different projects . The batch plant supervisor batches the order on the system , the order is selected by the operator and the plant automation system does the rest . The truck mixer can be a 6 or 9m 3 readymix truck that must travel by road to wherever the construction site is located with the accompanying loss of time and the logistical nightmares of city road traffic .
All this can be done on site by Matpro ’ s 4x4 Dieci selfloading concrete truck mixer , which is a complete batching plant . The Dieci concrete truck mixers come in varying sizes : 1.7m 3 , 2.5m 3 , 3.5m 3 and 5m 3 . A 3.5m 3 L4700 concrete truck mixer can transport more concrete a day on a construction site than a traditional readymix truck that operates from the readymix batch plant – and at a much lower running cost . For example , the fuel consumption of a
Dieci concrete truck mixer is 7l an hour compared to the 22.5l an hour for a traditional readymix truck . The Dieci concrete truck mixer only has four wheels compared to the 10 of a readymix truck , and with its 4x4 capabilities and four-wheel steering system it can go places on a construction site where a traditional readymix truck won ’ t get to . The Dieci concrete truck mixer is also hydrostatically driven with resulting in less mechanical breakdowns and more power efficiency .
Dieci concrete truck mixers are equipped with electronic weighing systems and batch controllers , and function as self-loading batching plants . They carry their own water tanks and chemical dispensers and the required mix designs and product quality are continuously monitored by well-trained and dedicated operators and operational management staff .
A Dieci telehandler can also be added to the equipment of the site team to assist with and expedite the distribution and delivery of the cementitious products to various subcontractors on the site .
Matpro can either sell the equipment to , and set it up for a client , or use Matpro owned equipment and skilled staff to mix the products for a client and charge a set fee for the amount of cubic metres mixed . The material is supplied by the clients , which enables them to negotiate further cost reductions with suppliers and seems to be the general preference in the market . We have already provided mix and move services with our own equipment to companies like Group Five Western Cape , Remey Construction and MSP Developments on their sites in and around Cape Town .
Says Brink , “ Recently we started to serve further afield and as far as Springbok in the Northern Cape , Coffee Bay and Mthatha in the Eastern Cape , Limpopo Province , Pearly Beach in the Overberg Region , and regularly in Citrusdal in the Cederberg area . We have also assisted clients in Steelpoort in Limpopo province . We have the equipment and proprietary software as well as competent and dedicated staff to make a marked positive difference to the efficiencies and profitability on any construction site for our clients .”
Sister company Matpro Technical Services ( MTS ) was established to offer technical support to the fleet of vehicles and plants of Matpro Site Based Readymix Solutions . MTS also provide service and maintenance support to the Dieci machines sold by the third entity in our group of companies , namely Dieci Southern Africa ( SA ). Dieci SA also import and supply a wide range of spare parts for the entire range of Dieci machines to its client base in southern Africa from the Dieci factory in Italy .
Adds Brink , “ We have , since inception , significantly grown our fleet of operational vehicles and site based readymix plants and are ready to take on more opportunities . We currently focus primarily on the Western Cape region , but the rest of South Africa and neighbouring SADC countries are well within our reach and target scope .”
For more information on Matpro Site Based Readymix Solutions and the Dieci range of concrete truck mixers and telehandlers , visit the following websites : www . matpro . co . za and www . dieci . co . za .
14
MARCH - APRIL 2018
AFFORDABLE
SA HOUSING