For industries producing, distributing or otherwise handling concrete or cement, using the right piece of weighing technology is crucial.
Whether the task is the tracking of inbound raw materials, or consumption of materials during production and processing, or dispatch of final product, accurate systems for weighing and dosing plays an essential role through every step.
Cement is made up of a combination of a mix of many different agents such as calcium, limestones, fly ash, and other raw materials and ingredients. Weigh belts and dosing equipment are used in cement processing to control, measure, document and provide a consistent flow of the of raw- and finished material throughout the process.
To obtain and then maintain that necessary accuracy when weighing and dosing in such a demanding environment, where sensitive equipment is repeatedly required to perform under strenuous conditions, strength, endurance and reliability become key factors. That is why when we at Jesma design weighing and dosing solutions for the concrete and cement industry, we make sure they are as tough, as they are precise.
Importance of Accuracy in Weighing:
Only accurate measurements can maintain the structural integrity of buildings, bridges, and other structures. Inaccurate measurements compromise the safety of the structure.
Optimising Resources: Precision in weighing helps with the overutilization or underutilization of resources. It helps optimise costs and minimize waste
Compliance: Transport authorities stipulate the weight of raw materials that can be transported at a time. Accuracy in weighing helps ensure compliance with such laws.
Inventory Management: Accuracy in weighing helps in maintaining inventory at optimum levels. It ensures that suppliers deliver the correct quantity, ensuring trust and transparency in transactions.
Efficient Logistics: In the Ready Mix Concrete industry, properly weighed loads help improve efficiency in logistics operations by reducing fuel consumption and reducing wear and tear on vehicles.
Quality standards: Certain raw materials, such as aggregates and cement aggregates, have weight specifications to ensure quality standards. Accuracy in weighing ensures such standards are adhered to. Accurate proportioning and weighing of materials have to be ensured before they are put on the concrete mixer. Most Ready Mix plants rely on load cells, and all load cells should be of the same capacity.
Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) is a specialised material prepared away from the construction site and transported to the place of construction. RMC is produced under factory conditions and is useful in congested sites where procurement, storage, and handling of concrete materials are difficult.
RMC industry uses cement, metal, sand, and water in the right proportion for use in construction sites. Accurate weighing of raw materials helps in ensuring the quality and performance of the final product.
The Weighing Process
Different procedures can be adopted to ensure consistent and high-quality concrete. Weigh batching and volume batching are adopted in the RMC industry. Load cells are installed in the batching plant to measure the weight of the ingredients. Cement and fly ash are stored in silos. Computerized batching weighs the materials before they are placed in the mixer. Conveyors are used to transport the aggregates. Volume batching, which was used in the past, is now less common. This process involves measuring ingredients by volume (using buckets and containers). However, this is prone to inaccuracy.
In conclusion, advanced weighing solutions are indispensable for optimizing efficiency, accuracy, and overall productivity in the cement industry. By precisely measuring raw materials, intermediate products, and finished cement, these technologies play a pivotal role in cost reduction, quality control, and environmental sustainability.
Source: JESMA.COM