Liebherr L 556 - Manual (Page 22)

22 // Quarrying
“Even in ancient Rome, asphalt was used for road building,”
explains David Gütler, managing director of a+b Asphalt- und
Betonmischwerke. “Asphalt is versatile in its use and can be
adapted to meet different requirements. Depending on the
purpose, load profile and climatic conditions, we can configure
the right asphalt for any customer requirement, prepare the initial
tests, select the most suitable raw materials and manufacture
our product entirely according to generally accepted technical
standards. Asphalt production is monitored in our laboratory. In
addition, an independent institution also conducts checks.
We bunker the asphalt in different silos, each holding about
132 tons. We can store up to six different types there. The ready-
to-use asphalt is loaded onto the customers’ lorries at
temperatures of about 356 F. When we have real power days,
we start work at about 3.00 a.m. so that we have about 661
tons ready by the time operations start in the morning. The types
depend directly on what the customers have ordered. If needed,
we can fill all the silos with a single type. That sometimes happens
when a customer is working on a major construction site.”
Asphalt has another benefit; the construction material is 100 %
reusable, which reduces environmental impact and offers good
economic benefits. In the asphalt machine operated by a+b,
reclaimed asphalt is input in the form of milled material or fault
blocks. Besides the possibilities provided by classic asphalt
recycling, tarred asphalt milled material is also used. a+b prepares
this in a mixing plant to form hydraulically bonded base layers
for use in approved construction activities.
And concrete production? “Sand, gravel, water, cement from
limestone, clay and sand: mother nature supplies all the
ingredients needed for concrete. What we make of these depends
on the exact mix,” explains Gütler. “We produce ready-mixed
concrete with different physical characteristics, but always the
right recipe for the appropriate application and environmental
conditions. Our range includes: standard and heavy-duty
concrete, concrete for bored piles, fiber concrete with steel and
plastic fibers, colored concrete, drainage concrete, single-grain
and road construction concrete, easy-use concrete, and
hydraulically bonded base layers.
We rely entirely on Liebherr machines in this field. Our four
concrete mixing machines are all supplied by Liebherr, as are our
32 truck mixers – articulated mixers, demountable mixer systems
and interchangeable mixer systems. This is partly because we
are absolutely convinced of the quality. But the closeness to the
manufacturer is also, of course, highly beneficial. Liebherr-
Mischtechnik GmbH is based here in Bad Schussenried, just
3 miles away.”
Quarrying operations take place over 173 acres. “The premises
here are larger than the center of the village of Ingoldingen,” Gütler
tells us. At the bottom of a steep slope, directly in the gravel pit,
Liebherr equipment is hard at work – a Liebherr L 580 wheel
loader and a TA 230 Litronic dumper. Gütler explains, “The newest
wheel loader is always sent to the face. That is where we need
L 576 wheel loader loading a stationary mixing plant.
“The drivers are all highly satisfied with the
Liebherr machines. One of them said the new
580 machine is the best machine he’s ever
driven. And he’s been driving wheel loaders for
more than 20 years.”
David Gütler, managing director
Moraine gravel for asphalt and cement
a + b Asphalt- und Betonmischwerke is a medium-sized company that produces and sells ready-mixed concrete,
asphalt, gravel, and grit. The company was founded 43 years ago and now has 65 employees. In the Oberschwaben
region of Germany, a + b operates four ready-mixed concrete works, plus an asphalt, gravel and grit plant. Its range of
services is rounded off with concrete pumps, asphalt milling and materials recycling. Its customers include companies
working in the field of gardening and landscaping and major road building and structural engineering companies.
Feature: a + b