ForConstructionPros.com

The Internet has become an integral part of the American way of life. It has opened the doors to unprecedented levels of information sharing and expanded the number of business opportunities. You can buy anything from cars to used heavy equipment on line. Most large- and medium-sized corporations have created their own Intranets, which have allowed companies to operate more efficiently and cost effectively.

But when it comes to consistently making a high quality mix design, there is no way the Internet can help asphalt producers through the production process, right? Wrong! Recently developed plant control systems from Terex Roadbuilding, manufacturer of Cedarapids and CMI brand asphalt plants, controls and accessories are using the Internet and company Intranets to offer exceptional levels of remote access diagnostic capabilities of the production process.

Armed with just a computer or wireless portable laptop, a web browser and Internet connection producer superintendents, lab technicians, field workers and office personnel can access real-time plant operational information from just about anywhere to help them do their jobs more efficiently. Trend monitoring, silo storage levels, electrical outputs, mix temperatures and liquid AC and moisture content information can now be remotely accessed and reviewed without calling and diverting the attention of the plant operator.

"No longer is the control house a lone island of information for producers' asphalt plants with Quality Mix Asphalt (QMA) or Impulse control systems," says Steve Edwards, a senior project engineer with Terex Roadbuilding. Embedded web browsers — standard with QMA controls and optional as a remote terminal of the Impulse controls — allow key producer personnel to review production information to help employees anticipate material needs or solve any problems. Although these capabilities have been available to the market for the past three years, producers are just now discovering and expanding the uses of this technology.

Networking independence

Independence Construction Materials (ICM) operates five asphalt plants throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland. The lion's share of the 1.2 million tons-per-year of asphalt produced comes from a Cedarapids 500-tph drum mix plant at the company's headquarters in Devault, PA, and a second 350-tph Cedarapids plant in Aberdeen, MD.