Comar Plant Design & Manufacturing is currently commissioning Actop Asphalt’s second continuous mix plant. The plant, with its high 120 tph continuous mix capacity, is also capable of handling 40% recycled asphalt (RA). “This is a significant development for both Actop Asphalt and B&E International,” says Ken Basson, director of plant and engineering at B&E International. “There are not that many plants operating in the country with a 40% RA handling capacity.”

The plant was supplied with a drying drum, pugmill, four cold feed bins, two RA feed bins and a bag house to reduce emissions. A filler feed system allows dust from the bag house to be reintroduced into the system. The plant also features a 100 t hot storage capacity.

Basson says that Comar Plant Design & Manufacturing has received very favourable feedback on the performance of the plant from its customer. “Significantly, Comar Plant Design & Manufacturing recently expanded its in-house engineering team who is dedicated to continuously improving Comar plants and lowering the total cost of ownership,” he says. “There is an increased focus on innovation within the company’s R&D department and this is being directed towards developing highly energy efficient plants with a high RAP capability”. A major competitive edge for Comar Plant Design & Manufacturing is that it is the only local manufacturer of asphalt plants. The plants are manufactured in Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal. This allows customers to benefit from quick delivery times, while the high local content means that wear items are readily available. Field and aftersales service support is now provided from both these centres.

Meanwhile, Basson says Comar Plant Design & Manufacturing also puts its design and engineering resources to good use retrofitting and optimising customers’ existing plants; even if they are from other suppliers.

“Here, the focus is on improving production, reducing operating costs and aligning older plants with current environmental regulations and requirements,” says Basson.

All of Comar Plant Design & Manufacturing’s trailers are homologated making the plants roadworthy from the day they roll out of the manufacturing facilities and onto construction sites around the country.

“The “green” infrastructure movement sees many of South Africa’s roads authorities push for higher RA content in its road construction programmes, and South African consulting engineers and contractors have a local asphalt plant designer and manufacturer with the abilities to help them achieve this objective,” Basson concludes.