Applications

There are two main classes of aggregates: natural and manufactured. Deleterious material needs to be removed from both classes. Processing these materials typically requires various steps including reduction and sizing and also may include dewatering and sorting. Producers can use a variety of crushing, screening, dewatering and conveying equipment to meet their desired specifications.

Modern agriculture practices utilize thermal processes to accomplish a number of goals. Today's sophisticated systems help ensure both safe and efficient production both in the field or in the production of fertilizers. Astec has a variety of products and systems well-suited to the agriculture industry and fertilizer production. 

Processing nursery and agricultural waste with a horizontal grinder offers sustainable recycling solutions.

Asphalt milling, also known as cold planing, is the removal of top layers of an asphalt surface to provide an improved surface for repaving. It is a cost-effective and sustainable process that can be repeated as needed. 

A thermal mixing process is required to turn aggregates and liquid AC into an asphalt pavement mix for road construction. This makes an asphalt mixing plant necessary for road construction. The complete line of Astec asphalt mixing plants, and its range of capacities and features, gives you the choices and flexibility to create your optimum solution.

Asphalt shingle grinding is the process of making recycled asphalt shingles (RAS). RAS is produced by grinding asphalt roofing shingles to a small spec, generally under 3/8” to salvage the valuable asphalt and sand. 

Biomass is an energy source derived from renewable and sustainable organic materials to create electricity or other forms of power. Horizontal grinders and drum chippers are highly productive machines for creating biomass.

Chemical plants convert oil, natural gas, air, water, metals, and minerals into chemical products which are used to manufacture numerous consumer products and play an important part in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and service industries. The transfer of heat is an essential component of all chemical processes. An efficient heat transfer system is a key to manufacturing many chemicals. 

Cold-in-place recycling (CIR) involves removing a portion of existing asphalt pavement with a cold planer (asphalt mill). The milled asphalt is mixed with additives and the surface is repaved using the recycled asphalt mixture. Instead of applying all new hot mix asphalt, CIR producers remove and treat the existing asphalt with bituminous and/or chemical additives, and then use that remixed asphalt to pave the road.

Commercial paving applications need machinery that can scale down the highway paver size without scaling down the power, functionality, performance, or efficacy. These pavers are able to pave hard-to-reach areas such as parking lots, traffic circles, and roundabouts to yield a quality mat without sacrificing productivity.

Compost is decomposed organic matter derived from either a single source material or blended for specific application performance. Materials can include garden debris, kitchen scraps, manure or yard and lawn waste.

Concrete is one of the most recycled materials in the world and can be repurposed several times over. Once the existing concrete is demolished or torn up, it needs to be processed for accurate shaping and sizing using a crusher and screen. 

Construction projects today depend on an available supply of quality concrete mix. With the most comprehensive line of concrete production equipment in the industry, Astec is ready to help meet that demand.

Construction and demolition recycling (C&D) is mixed material associated with construction and demolition. The material could include wood, cardboard, gypsum, plastic, metal, wire, roofing shingles, asphalt, concrete and more. By separating and recycling different materials it reduces landfill waste and associated costs, while also producing value-added products.

Construction aggregate is typically medium or coarse materials like granite, limestone or trap rock, sand, gravel, slag or recycled concrete. Processing this material may include reducing its size with a crusher, sizing the crushed material with a screen and conveying the material into different stockpiles.

Oil refining and gas processing are procedures that turn these complex chemical mixtures into a range of usable fuels.  Refining and processing crude oil and natural gas require highly reliable and efficient heating systems and services. Astec produces a number of reliable and efficient components for use in oil refining and gas processing including heaters, tanks, heat recovery systems, and expansion tanks.

Crushed stone is a versatile product that can be used in a wide range of applications from construction to road building and even agriculture. Processing this material may include reducing its size with a crusher, sizing the crushed material with a screen and conveying the material into different stockpiles. 

Fiberboard is an engineered wood product formed by breaking down wood into fibers, and using a binder to form them into panels. Fiberboard is created by debarking logs and then chipping them with a disc chipper.

Large-scale, commercial food and beverage production relies on thermal processing techniques to ensure the safety of consumables. Reliable and efficient systems are critical to ensure safe food and beverage production. Astec has extensive experience with supplying systems for large-scale food and beverage production.

Highway class paving requires pavers that are strong, powerful and productive. These large-scale paving projects include interstates, expressways and superhighways. Highway class paving can range from one lane to multi-lane projects. These applications require pavers with large hoppers, wide paving widths and a broad scope of screed compatibility.

Land clearing generally consists of trees, limbs and roots cleared from forested or partially forested land that will be used for a new purpose including farming, commercial development or right-of-ways.

Landscaping involves designing, installing and maintaining outdoor spaces with a focus on creating visually appealing and functional environments.

Loading and unloading material from trucks, ports, terminals, stockyards and railways can be a challenge for any producer. Without having the appropriate equipment, retrieving and loading material can be a difficult and lengthy process.

In-field microchipping provides the highest possible utilization as most small stems, limbs, tops and other logging residues are processed along with the traditional pulpwood sized stems. Loggers, landowners and timberland managers recognize economic and aesthetic benefits from increased utilization and fiber yield.

Motor sports paving requires nonstop paving, precise mat thickness and consistent paving practices. The hot mix asphalt needs to be uniform in terms of temperature and consistency. The resulting pavement must be able to withstand massive stress.

Organic mulch is a product that can decompose, providing nutrients to the soil over time. It can be made from a variety of materials, typically organic, but not exclusively.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) consists of everyday items we use and then throw away, such as product packaging, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps and newspapers. These items come from our homes, schools, businesses, etc.

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires or floods create debris that must be cleared to restore affected areas. This type of debris can be green waste (such as tree limbs), furniture, drywall or entire structures that have to be demolished and recycled.

Commercial orchards are cleared on a rotating cycle to remove lower producing or unhealthy deciduous fruit, citrus and nut trees or to replace them with a more valuable crop. New, higher-producing trees are replanted so the cycle can start again.

Green waste recycling is fresh or biodegradable waste material including grass, leaves, plants and tree trimmings that can be diverted from landfills for recycling. This method is best used to produce compost for use on gardens, lawns, erosion control projects and agricultural crops.

Production of paints, resins, and adhesives involves complex chemical processes that demand sophisticated, reliable thermal processing systems. Astec has a long history of producing trustworthy and efficient thermal systems that can be used in the production of paints, resins, and adhesives.

The petrochemical industry is fundamental to our contemporary world. It supplies many of the raw materials that we rely on: plastics, medicines, lubricants, synthetic rubbers, and synthetic fibers. The petrochemical industry relies heavily on various thermal processes and heat-controlled methods to produce its vital materials. Astec components used in the petrochemical industry include heaters, controls, steam generators, and heat recovery systems.

The plastics industry relies on industrial heaters to mold, melt, mix, and prep plastics. Astec manufactures and installs an extensive range of thermal processing equipment for the production of plastics and thermoplastics. 

Playground chips/mulch typically have a fibrous consistency, free of twigs, leaves and hazardous materials, no larger than two inches long and have the ability to drain water.

Loading and unloading material at ports and terminals can be a challenge for any producer. Without having the appropriate equipment, retrieving and loading material can be a difficult and lengthy process. With dedicated systems, operators can avoid costly double-handling and avoid the use of dedicated haul trucks.

Power generation is essential to modern life and industry. The power generation industry depends on heating equipment and systems to meet its demands. Astec serves the power and electricity generation industry with a number of products such as thermal fluid heaters, process heaters, heat economizers, and expansion tanks and pump skids. 

Astec's comprehensive concrete product line features many plants and components for the precast/prestressed concrete market.

Common sources for pulp and paper chips include mill wood yard chips, in-field clean (flail) chips and sawmill residual chips.

Loading and unloading material at railways can be a challenge for any producer. Without having the appropriate equipment, retrieving and loading material can be a difficult and lengthy process. With dedicated systems, operators can avoid costly double-handling and avoid the use of dedicated haul trucks. 

The creosote treated railroad ties are a valuable energy source, once they have been broken down into a manageable and consistent size.

Many plants in Astec's extensive concrete product line are well-suited to ready mix operations.

Recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) is asphalt paving material recovered from old road beds either by milling or excavation.

Residential paving focuses on paving driveways, parking lots, cart paths, bike paths, walking paths and other small areas. 

Astec's comprehensive line of concrete plants delivers high-quality and durability for the roadbuilding industry with an extensive selection of high-production plants and mixers.

Asphalt reclamation, also known as road reclamation or full depth reclamation, is a cost-effective method of pavement rehabilitation.

Throughout the asphalt/roofing industry efficient heating systems and services are needed as well as reliable storage systems. Astec has an extensive background supplying equipment designed for heating and storing liquid asphalt as well as experience with all types of thermal systems. 

Salvage logging is the removal of dead or damaged trees from forestlands that have been damaged by wildfire, harsh winds, flood, disease, infestation of insects and other natural causes. 

Aggregates, when gathered, may contain clays, silts and other deleterious material that needs to be processed out for commercial-grade products.

Soil stabilization prepares a surface for new road construction. Rather than preparing a base with new soil, the existing material is recycled. 

No matter what the application, with an industry-leading concrete product line Astec is ready to help you build a plant to meet your needs. 

Surface mining involves removing soil and bedrock to reach resource deposits. The most common types of surface mining are strip and open-pit mining. 

Heating and thermal process are indispensable in the production of textiles and packaging. In addition, precise and accurate temperature and control systems are often required for efficiency and safety. Astec has a variety of products and systems well-suited to textile and packaging production. 

Underground mining involves digging into the earth and creating tunnels and shafts to reach hard rock deposits. The coarse ore that is removed from the stope can be crushed using a jaw or cone crusher or crushed using a rock breaker. 

Wood waste is the second largest category of construction and demolition (C&D) debris, and accounts for 10% of material added to landfills annually.