21
CECE
CONSTRUCTION EUROPE
OCTOBER 2013
The challenge facing
concrete production
The
current
European
regulations
on
concrete
production are based on the
factory production control that
confirms it is made in accordance
with European standards, and
with EU Regulation 305/2001
providing rules on the minimum
percentage of the various
ingredients, the minimum volume
of aggregates and their diameter.
Therefore, there is thorough
regulation with regard to the
composition of the mixture, the
selection of aggregates and the
performance of the finished
product. However, at the same
time, there are no clear rules on
the phases of production and
then of themixing of the concrete.
There is no harmonisation of
the different production technics
among European countries,
making it difficult to judge the
pros and cons of the various types
of concrete.
Industrial concrete is made
through a cycle consisting
of the different elements like
aggregates, cement and water
being placed with additives
into tanks in the batching plant;
mixing in the heart of the plant;
transportation by the truck mixer;
and distribution by pumps.
With premixing, all components
are blended into a consistent and
porous mixture, guaranteeing a
wet and workable product.
However, in some European
countries – Italy and Spain, for
example – it is most common to
avoid the premixing phase at the
plant. Mixing takes place in the
truck mixer where aggregates and
water are directly combined.
The result of this dry cycle
of production might be that
chemical reactions are lacking
which are usually triggered at the
mixing plant, contributing to the
production of a well moisturised
and homogeneous concrete.
Furthermore, the dry concrete
produced in the truck, which was
conceived for the transportation
of mixed concrete, is causing
more wear to the truck mixer
itself, wasting fuel and creating
unnecessary CO
2
pollution.
UNCOMMON
Despite the undeniable benefits
in terms of product quality, the
culture of premixing is still far
from common in Italy. In order
to support and to promote
premixing, Unacea (the Italian
construction
equipment
association and member of CECE)
recently published a concrete
equipment position paper.
ItwaspresentedonJuly5,during
a meeting of OCA (Osservatorio
sul calcestruzzo e sul calcestruzzo
armato) the Italian National
Centre for Concrete.
Co-ordinated by the ministries
in charge of infrastructure, labour
and environment, as well as senior
police and firemen, the Centre is
an institutional body gathering all
public and private stakeholders
involved in the concrete industry
with the purpose of developing
joint rules and initiatives.
Members come from science,
trade and labour unions, and
environmental associations. OCA’s
goal is to establish an institutional
communication channel which
gathers data and technical
information directly from the
market, both to monitor the
implementation of the technical
rules on buildings and to provide
information to all stakeholders.
During the last OCA meeting,
Unacea reported that 85% of the
concrete produced in Italy used
the dry production method, and
that the same can be seen in other
Mediterranean countries too.
Paolo Salvadori, counsellor
to Unacea and president of the
CECE Concrete Commission,
said, “It is necessary to introduce
a system of incentives to
encourage producers to change
their production technology.
Therefore, we are calling for the
introduction of tax relief and
CECE Secretariat
Diamant Building –
Bd A Reyers 80
B – 1030 Brussels
Tel:+32-2-706 82 26
Fax: +32-2-706 82 10
AEB
AGORIA
ANMOPYC
APCEMP
CEA
CISMA
COMAMOTER
FMIB-CWM
IMDER
SACE
SVSS
Teknologiateollisuus
UCOMESA
Unacea
VDMA
Looking towards safer, durable and more eco-friendly concrete, CECE
member Unacea is promoting the premixing process in Italy
C
oncrete is the most
widespread
building
material in the world with
more than 2 billion m
3
produced
every year.
A mixture of aggregates,
water and cement which forms
the majority of building frames,
concrete is achievable through
different recipes and production
techniques, depending on the
type required.
credit for companies that are
equipping their plants with a
mixer. Moreover, we are asking for
the introduction of reward points
in tender notices for companies
that provide premixed concrete.”
Supporting the premixing
culture in the concrete production
process is an important goal in all
respects. In the wake of the EU
plan for emission cuts, premixing
would reduce the CO
2
emissions,
using the concrete mixers just
for the pre-mixed concrete’s
transportation.
From an economic point of
view, the purchasing of a mixer is
totally refunded, saving fuel and
reducing unnecessary wear of the
truck mixers.
Last but not least, the spread
of the premixing method would
mean the production of durable
concrete and safer buildings
materials.
IMPROVE SAFETY
With
regard
to
concrete
equipment, the Unacea paper
contains several proposals calling
on public authorities to improve
the safety of operators and the
legality of the system itself.
For example, Unacea proposes
a reduction of the premiums
of companies that make yearly
checks on machines, and that
employ cutting-edge safety
technology; checking the wear of
the machine with the legislation
in force; the implementation
of penalties for defaulting
operators; and the extension
of the compulsory training for
the pumps operators to other
equipment.
Finally, Unacea proposes the
institution of a construction
equipment registry so that the
position, features, property and
rate of obsolescence of those
vehicles are available to the
public authorities, providingmore
focused market surveillance,
environmental protection and
safeguards for workers.
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