Machine Mixes Concrete, Lays Continuous Kerbing

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28630, 5 July 1958, Page 4

Machine Mixes Concrete, Lays Continuous Kerbing

A machine that lays a moulded to be cut in half by the machine, concrete kerb and side .channel but the use of special aggregate

in a continuous operation without boxing was demonstrated in Christchurch yesterday. The £l2OO machine is the designed product of an Auckland engineering firm, which holds the world patent and which hires machines out to c ntractors for reading work. Local body officers, Waimatri county councillors and leading Christchurch contractors were among those who watched a demonstration run by the machine in Grahams road yesterday morning. The machine is self-propelled. A front end loader feeds in fine aggregate, cement is fed in through a separate opening, and water from a tank. The ingredients automatically mix in their correct proportions in a piece of machinery that looks like an enlarged kitchen mincer. The mix falls into the mould and pistons compress it When the compaction. is sufficient the pistons can press the concrete together no more, and instead push the machine forward a little way fox the next part to be laid. Eight Feet a Minute With a fully-trained crew and front-end loaders continually supplying aggregate the kerbmaker has a top capacity of eight feet a minute.

Normal “cruising” speed with a minimum crew is three feet a minute.

The only preparation that is necessary for the machine to work is a reasonably level and cleared stretch of ground for the kerbing and channelling to oe laid on and a cord laid over pegs to give a straight edge to work against. Labour requirements are said

raises the cost a little. Over all, the cost to a local body would be about 10 per cent, less with the machine. The normal contract price for kerbing and channelling manually is approximately £27 a chain. High Compaction A big advantage with the machine is the high compaction of the finished product. The mix is comparatively dry when mould-, ed, and it is possible for a man to stand on it without leaving a mark. The strength of the moulding is said to be at least as good as the best poured job, and mostly up to 50 per cent, stronger. Curves of a 20ft radius for corners can be made with the machine, which also works on either level ground or slopes. Operators guide the machine by hand as it works along laying the kerb and channelling behind it. i . “With the young chaps we find that a paiv of trim ankles can cause a wavy line in the kerb, and an automatic pilot is being developed,” the demonstrator explained to his watchers yesterday. The manufacturers have demonstrated the machine in South Africa, and intend to go to Canada for demonstrations there.