Precast Automation 4.0 at bauma 2022

Putzmeister will be presenting modular solutions for the automation of pumping processes at bauma 2022 - from Monday, 24 October to Sunday, 30 October. In recent years, the concrete pumping specialist has invested heavily in the development of electrified and automated precast plant solutions (BIM) to optimise efficiency and process reliability. Individual concepts and precisely matching modules are completely tailored to the needs of the precast industry. 

In recent years, Putzmeister has focused, among other things, on developing future-oriented, i.e. resource-optimised, modular and efficient system concepts for the precast industry. Whether for tunnel or industrial construction, for wind power, house or bridge construction - under the umbrella term Precast Automation 4.0, the company is now presenting solutions that can be tailored exactly to the needs of the customers. A wide variety of pumpable concretes can be processed into prefabricated elements with a consistently high concrete quality - and this can even be automated to the greatest possible extent. The Putzmeister offer could be interesting for many customers, also and especially under the aspect of the impending shortage of skilled workers. Because the most modern plants require very little personnel. Nevertheless, they promise a lot of output in much less time.

There is an economically reasonable solution for every task

The coherent, individually tailored solutions can be put together from the proven Putzmeister portfolio: Various concrete pumps (BSA), delivery lines, booms and rotary distributors, buffer storages and more offer a wide range of possibilities. The Putzmeister range extends from systems with stationary placing booms, systems for filling battery formwork using formwork adapters to systems in which the pump delivers into the concrete distributor. Putzmeister also offers the mobile Autocor solution.

With innovative concepts at bauma 2022

Putzmeister has identified process reliability and user-friendliness as very important factors for concrete transport and placing solutions. These are guaranteed by the optimisation and automation of pumping and cleaning processes. At bauma, automated solutions for cleaning the buffer storage, pump and delivery line will be presented, among other things. With these solutions, manual activities are reduced to a minimum and, in particular, the pumping processes are controlled with the help of intuitive operation.

Automation offers advantages in every respect

The first priority is always the profitability of a system, which, incidentally, can be easily retrofitted at a manageable cost - without having to convert the existing system. The Putzmeister solutions are also particularly economical because the pump working in parallel frees up other operating resources, such as the overhead crane, for other tasks. In addition, productivity is significantly higher than with conventional methods due to the faster concrete placement. If a delivery line for concrete transport is integrated, not only can the existing production area be better utilised, but the concrete utilisation can also be significantly increased.

When concrete is transported with a pump, the quality of the manufactured products increases. This is due, among other things, to the continuous flow of concrete and the homogenisation of the concrete batches in the buffer storage. Segregation of the concrete is avoided by the self-contained system. Moulds of different types and complexity can be filled continuously, which prevents so-called cold joints, for example. When pumping the concrete into the mould, more homogeneous surfaces are created due to the minimised drop heights.

Last but not least, the automation solutions offer more safety: filling into the formwork is a clean affair; falling concrete is a thing of the past and the otherwise usual in-plant traffic and the associated dangers and emissions are also eliminated.

Fewer staff, less time required

The goal of automated processes is to save time and also personnel. In the course of the shortage of skilled workers, this represents an attractive alternative to existing production methods. With Precast Automation 4.0, only a few operators are needed. An enormous time saving is also offered by the reduced cleaning effort of the plant due to the automation of the cleaning processes.

Well advised with Putzmeister expert knowledge

Customers who want to convert to automation or optimise it are supported by Putzmeister from the very beginning through to commissioning and beyond: from process consulting, including needs analysis at the customer's site, to planning for integration into the plant layout, a pumpability analysis and suggestions for concrete optimisation, through to individual operator training. The concrete specialist provides a contact person for project management and, if necessary, also for organising commissioning. The operating personnel are intensively trained on site so that production runs smoothly right from the start. In case of an emergency, customers can access a fast on-site service with experienced service technicians. And the reliable spare parts supply also guarantees high availability.

The end result is a highly productive, economical plant that is precisely tailored to the customer's needs.