We have observed several significant trends.
1. The RF 200 machines, with production outputs of 220 T/h at 2% moisture content, or 150 T/h at 5%, are a particularly suitable solution for fixed plants of the mass-production type. The RF City Star set up in continuous mode can obtain particularly attractive production costs, while offering extreme flexibility in the choice of formulations, using virgin or recycled materials. The optimum choice consists of equipping the machine with a battery of 7 to 8 feed bins, one or more of which is reserved for recycled materials, and also with several types of bitumen: 3 to 4 for the plants mentioned. Long-duration storage solutions, organised around 3 x 80-tonne facilities, help to increase the flexibility of operations and save energy. This type of modern, environmentally-friendly machine is also chosen where environmental concerns are of paramount importance, as shown by the cladding. These plants are designed like genuine factories and keep emissions and pollution to an absolute minimum.
2. RF continuous plants make it easy to produce low-energy asphalts. TSM dryer drum mixer plants such as the RF are well suited to the production of low-energy asphalts, regardless of specific company processes, and comply with the new market requirements.
As a conclusion, batch-mix and continuous techniques coexist on the market. Criteria, choices and recommendations for hot-mix asphalts have been presented in publications such as the SETRA (Department of Technical Studies for Roads and Motorways) Guide. However, the manufacturing plants share the common characteristics of cladding and their mass-produced design.
