The following sections summarise the products, materials, capacity and equipment associated with the CONSTMACH BS-42 fully automatic concrete block making machine, the largest model in the BS series.
What the BS-42 produces
The BS-42 forms hollow concrete blocks and concrete paving stones as standard, producing 18 hollow blocks of 20x40x20 cm and 42 paving stones in each pressing cycle. With a mould change the same press can produce interlocking pavers, solid blocks and other precast concrete units. The products a plant can offer are defined by its mould inventory.
Raw materials
The machine uses a semi-dry, low-slump concrete mix.
- Aggregates such as crushed stone, gravel and sand
- Cement as the binder
- Water in controlled quantities
- Pigments where coloured paving stones or facing units are required
Production capacity and pallet size
The BS-42 is rated at 130 to 140 pallets per hour and uses a production pallet of 1400 x 1350 x 230 mm, the largest in the series. Over an eight-hour shift this corresponds to figures in the region of 18,000 hollow blocks of 20x40x20 cm or about 40,000 interlocking paving stones, depending on the product and mould in use.
Automation level
The BS-42 is fully automatic and is controlled by a Schneider PLC system. The operator selects automatic or manual mode, recalls stored timing recipes, and can stop and resume the cycle from the point at which it was halted. A stacking robot, a cleaning brush and a dry product cubing robot extend the automation to product handling.
Mould changeover
Each product is defined by its mould box and pressing head. Switching between hollow blocks, paving stones and other units is done by changing the mould and selecting the matching timing recipe in the control panel. The number of moulds held determines the variety of products the line can make.
Required ancillary equipment and plant layout
The press forms the forming stage of a complete block plant.
- Aggregate batching and weighing system
- Concrete mixer
- Charging conveyor or skip, fed from a 1.8 m3 hopper
- Pallet feeding and handling line
- Stacking robot for green product and curing area
- Dry product cubing robot for the cured product
Comparison across the range
The BS-42 is the largest model in the series. The model number reflects the number of paving stones formed per cycle, so capacity rises from 36 on the BS-36 to 42 on the BS-42, on the largest pallet and the highest installed power in the range. Selection is governed mainly by required output and pallet footprint.
