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Tarmac Western Gets SMART
Date: 15 October 2004

Tarmac Western has taken delivery of two Excel Fibre Technology SMART refibreising machines at its Dolyhir asphalt plant in Powys. The SMART machines are being used in conjunction with Excel's Viscocel 500 pure fibre bitumen modifier pellets to manufacture Tarmac's high quality Masterpave, which is currently being used to provide the wearing course for the new A465 dual carriageway from Merthyr Tydfil to Ebbw Vale.

The SMART refibreiser ensures the pellets are fully converted into loose, open fibre before being added to the Masterpave mix in a single, in-line continuous process. Once dispersed in the asphalt, Viscocel 500 fibres hold the bitumen in place by creating a lattice, which binds the material together, enhancing the bitumen’s ability to adhere to the aggregates. This means that when the hot Masterpave is being laid, the bitumen doesn't drain away from the aggregate and therefore produces a more durable, hardwearing and smoother road surface.

Refibreised Viscocel 500 pellets are suitable for the manufacture of asphalts using any size stone aggregate, including the most commonly used sizes: 6mm, 10mm and 14mm.

The two gravimetric feed SMART units installed at the Dolyhir site are feeding an existing Masterpave manufacturing plant and a further, new production facility at the site. One of the SMART machines has been fitted with a 30m³ feed silo and the other with a 50m³ feed silo. Both SMART systems are operated from an integrated programmable logic control on the machine.

Excel’s Viscocel 500 fibre pellets provide improved performance over coated pellets, while requiring a lower addition rate and shorter mixing times for full dispersion. As the pellets do not rely on a binder to hold the fibre together in pellet form, they deliver cleaner handling along with greater reliability and consistency of dispersion in the Masterpave mix, since the pellets do not rely on the binder melting before dispersion can take place. This avoids ‘clumping’ and/or longer mixing times.

The patented SMART range of pellet refibreising systems is based on three ‘primary module’ refibreising options, together with a range of standardised pellet hopper configurations or silo feed options to create a dedicated handling and refibreising unit that takes into account throughput rates, storage capabilities, working practices and existing plant equipment and infrastructure.

Excel Fibre Technology, a division of Excel Industries Limited of Rhymney in Gwent, is the UK’s leading manufacturer of speciality fibres and fibre delivery systems. In addition to Viscocel SMA fibre and pellets and the SMART range of refibreising systems, Excel manufactures a range of products for use in varied industrial applications as well as the building and construction industry.

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