Collaboration between Heinrich & Bock and Quadra began as part of the modernization project for the Wittenheim and Steinbourg facilities. Looking for a reliable and technologically advanced partner, Heinrich & Bock’s management was quickly attracted by the innovative dimension and versatility of the equipment offered by Quadra.
New concept of vibrating press with immediate demoulding characterized by the fact that this equipment can produce according to two different modes
of operation:
• A demoulding mode by turning the mould over
• A demoulding mode by raising the mould
This special vibrating press has thus the ability to manufacture a wide range of products. The production is fully automatic with particularly optimised industrial
production rates.
Midwest Dry Cast, based in Luverne, Minnesota, is specialized in the manufacture of concrete products suitable for pig farms, like slats and beams. This young US company wanted to evolve into an industry of the future and decided to industrialize its productionAs a partner for this project, they chose Quadra, a French manufacturer of special machines. Quadra delivered a precast production line to meet Midwest’s high expectations in terms of productivity and product quality.
To industrialize production, the choice of a partner was essential and risky for the company. For Midwest Dry Cast, this production unit project was born out of a desire to evolve into an industry of the future. In addition to productivity criteria and product quality, this plant was part of a global process of improvement and progress. This is how operators’ health and safety and environmental criteria were taken into account in the development of the project.
The kinematics of the plant allows to use two molds at the same time. An automatic mold handling and movement system positions one mold at the manufacturing workstation while the other is installed at the finishing workstation. The following operations are carried out at the manufacturing workstation – placement of reinforcements, concrete filling and vibro compaction. While the following actions are happening at the finishing workstation – trowelling, demolding, and quality control. The production cycle is split into two phases of similar duration.
On October 21 and 22, 2020, the brand new Perin & Co. plant was inaugurated. Located in Saint Maudez, this facility is the 3rd Air’Bloc® plant.
established in France. In 2014 Perin & Cie will design and develop the Air’Bloc. It is the combination of a concrete block and an all-mineral cement-based insulating foam called Air’Mousse. To generate the insulation, Air’Mousse, patented by Perin & Co., a special filling machine must be installed. This machine is the result of a 3-year collaboration between Quadra and the Perin & Co. group.
As an industrial partner, Quadra participates in the development of Air’Bloc installations, provides innovative equipment, while improving existing production lines. As part of its new investment in Saint-Maudez, it was important for Perin & Co. that their partner was able to meet precise specifications. Thanks to its technical expertise and after an in-depth study of the various aspects of the project, Quadra was able to provide an appropriate response.
Given the particularity of the Air’Bloc® manufacturing process, the equipment was installed in a rational and functional manner. This layout allows each stage of the manufacturing process to operate simultaneously and continuously. With its different equipments, this versatile production unit can produce classic blocks, rectified blocks and high quality Air’Bloc®.
The installation of this new plant had to meet very precise specifications both in terms of production performance and product quality. To meet the group needs, Quadra presented a solution capable of ensuring continuous operation of the vibrating press.
To achieve a high efficiency rate, simultaneous or independent production cycles have been proposed for the fresh products, the dry products and the packaging line:
The handling solutions offered and the automated management of materials favoring the continuous operation of the vibrating press are the reasons why PREFER decided to renew their confidence in QUADRA for this new project.
Urvoy has chosen Quadra to supply a new wetcast production line for the manufacture of manholes using self-compacting concrete (SCC). The manufacruring process and the equipment were designed in order to meet the range of products manufactured in the line (manhole covers, risers, cones and bases), their dimensions (1m diameter, 300 to 1200 mm height), and their production features : cones and risers require a demolding by mold opening while covers and bases are demolded by flipping over.
This new production line has involved a 3D virtual reality reception in order to provide the client with a total immersion in his future plant, as well as an upstream work and validation of the ergonomic and the maintenance access of each working station of the process.
The production unit is made up of the following equipment : full automatic stacker crane, automated mold filling system, conveying system, demolding and palletizing cuber, and pallet exit conveyor.
During the last 10 years, the construction industry has been changing to technical products with high thermal, mechanical, acoustic, seismic and environmental performances. The concrete industry has been recently providing innovative products which combine technical reliability, aesthetic finishing, and easy implementation. These new products are largely approved by the manufacturers that are submitted to the new energetic and environmental regulations buildings. The concrete block is promoted, and regains market shares.
The company Pomel Beton, group Bomeil/Boulard Verdier since 2010, and member of the Groupement Gedimat, manufactures a large range of concrete products intended for industrial, residential, agricultural construction, and also used in the landscaping industry. Pomel Beton’s old production unit did not allow the manufacture of technical blocks or the use of new technologies. Therefore the group took on a strategic position in investing in technical installations provided by Quadra.
As part of this investment, the company Pomel Beton defined several specifications. More than a supplier, Pomel Beton was looking for a partner able to assist them in the manufacture of new value-added products such as a grinded block, and the insulation block “Air’Bloc’.
Following a strong investigation of all aspects of the project such as the existing environment, the current and future production requirements, and a rational implantation, Quadra provided the following equipment: batching and mixing plant, vibrating press, grinding machine, palletising robot, handling equipment, and dosing and filling system feeding the hollow block with a mineral foam for the manufacture of the product Air’Bloc.
The quality and the manufacturing excellence are the particular strengths of the group that focus on using the best manufacturing technologies. Following the realisation of manu projects with the manufacturer of Equipment Quadra, Fabemi renewed its confidence in his partner with the modernisation of its plant of hight capacity of production. The technical challenge perfectly taken up by Quadra was the integration of a new generation vibrating press within an existing plant, in reusing some Equipment.
The thorough study and in-depth analyse carried out by Quadra enabled the new block machine to manufacture a volume of production that was never reached, without being disturbed or slowed by the other Equipment. In order to make use of the performance of the block machine, Quadra has recommended to replace the traditional palletising equipment with a modern Equipment fully automated and robotized and removing all the hydraulic functions. This new cubing line consists of three robots operating simultaneously, following the cycle time of the vibrating press, within operating condition combining precision, speed, flexbility and reliability.
It’s widely agreed that the perfromance of the concrete, particularly in terms o f mechanical resistance and sustainability, comes from the quality of the vibration during the mfanufacture of the fresh concrete. Quality vibration ensures a concrete with uniform composition and guarantees a global homogeneity of the material overall. The current challenge in manufacturing concrete products is reducing the manufacturing cycle time while improving the quality of the product, enhancing the sustainability of the materials and assuring consistency of production. Controlling vibration and its effects on product quality and speed of production are crutical in the concrete industry today.