Cold mixing on the go
A successful collaboration between Nynas and volumetric concrete mixer manufacturer Armcon has resulted in a mobile patching machine that can produce cold mix asphalt for repairs and maintenance.
After two years of development, Armcon has produced a version of its market leading mixing equipment that is designed specifically for producing cold mix materials made using road plainings and bitumen emulsion from Nynas.
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in South Yorkshire is the first local authority in the UK to use the equipment. Key advantages include the fact that Barnsley MBC are in control of production to meet demand, the material is easier to install and work with on site and can also be stored for extended periods.
This gives the local authority a lot more flexibility compared with using hot mixes enabling them to manage programmes, which in turn generates cost savings to the business. The Armcon machine can produce cold mix materials on a continuous basis, which can then be stockpiled and used by different gangs as and when they need it. As a result, the Barnsley maintenance team is entirely self-sufficient and doesn’t have to rely on deliveries from external suppliers.
Barnsley MBC is currently using the cold mix for footway repairs and plans to use it for carriageway repairs in the future.
