The following sections summarise the products, materials, capacity and equipment associated with the CONSTMACH BS-30 fully automatic concrete block making machine, and explain its position within the BS series.
What the BS-30 produces
The BS-30 forms hollow concrete blocks and concrete paving stones as standard, producing 12 hollow blocks of 20x40x20 cm and 30 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-30 is rated at 110 to 120 pallets per hour and uses a production pallet of 1200 x 1150 x 230 mm. Over an eight-hour shift this corresponds to figures in the region of 12,000 hollow blocks of 20x40x20 cm or about 28,000 interlocking paving stones, depending on the product and mould in use.
Automation level
The BS-30 is fully automatic and is controlled by a Schneider PLC system. The operator selects automatic or manual mode, recalls stored timing settings for different products, and can stop and resume the cycle from the point at which it was halted, so production is supervised rather than manually driven.
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 part of a complete block plant.
- Aggregate batching and weighing system
- Concrete mixer
- Charging conveyor or skip
- Pallet feeding and handling line
- Curing racks or curing area for multi-layer green product
- Stacking or cubing arrangement and forklift for the dried product
Comparison across the range
The BS-30 occupies the middle of the series. The model number reflects the number of paving stones formed per cycle, so capacity rises from 25 on the BS-25 to 30 on the BS-30 and onward through the BS-36 and BS-42, accompanied by larger pallets and higher installed power. Selection is governed mainly by required output and pallet footprint.
