Cement
Rapid’s flying success
A Rapid Mix 400, manufactured by Rapid International, is performing
rehabilitation work on runways at JFK Airport, New York
The Conti Group of New York is currently running a Rapid Mix the mix to improve work ability at the low slump ranges that
400, manufactured by Rapid International, to perform result in higher strengths.
rehabilitation work on runways at JFK Airport, New York, in order
to accommodate the Airbus 380. JFK project
Increasingly used in the US, econocrete is a lean concrete that The project undertaken by The Conti Group of New York is the
may be made with low-cost, locally available aggregates that do largest asphalt contract for JFK in 20 years. It has been
not meet conventional specifications. Interest in the use of developed to accommodate the new Airbus 380, which is the
econocrete has developed in the last few years due to the high world’s largest commercial airliner, with a wingspan of 262 foot.
cost, and dwindling supplies of high-quality virgin aggregates in It is through the use of econocrete that Conti has managed to
some areas of the US. accommodate this beast of an aircraft, and to reduce the total
In the past substantial quantities of natural aggregates, and cost of the project.
crushed stone sources, have been discarded or rejected because A key tool in the successful undertaking of this project has
of restrictive specifications or other reasons. Much of this been a continuous mixing plant, which in this case is a Rapid
material could be used in concrete structural elements, if proper Mix 400. The Rapid Mix 400, manufactured by Rapid
attention were given to developing mix designs to meet the International Ltd of Northern Ireland, is a totally mobile and
structural requirements, and environmental conditions, to which completely self contained unit. Its is capable of mixing up to
it will be exposed. This is where econocrete comes into its own. 400 tonnes per hour, depending on the precise application. It
Federal Highway Administration, together with local uses a hydraulic system to change the plant from its travel mode
governmental agencies, are now supporting the movement of into a fully operational plant in minutes, which is perfectly suited
the econocrete concept from the laboratories into the field. The to a project such as the JFK airport.
mixes are based on laboratory tests, are designed for specific The Rapid Mix 400 possesses a self-erecting silo that has a
strength and durability levels in accordance with their intended capacity of up to 50 tonnes. This is fitted with a twin shaft
use. The possible applications of econocrete are as varied as continuous mixer that enables it to be also used in applications
the many structural elements of modern highway paving such as soil stabilisation, and dam construction.
systems as it is a durable concrete, with a well distributed air The Conti Group is producing the econocrete at JFK by milling
void system. Water reducing admixtures are often included in asphalt recovered from the demolition of old runways,
screening it, and then mixing it in
the Rapid Mix 400 with cement and
water. Due to the fact that
econocrete uses 70 to 80 percent of
the material from the old runway, it
provides huge economic benefits to
the airport as well as being
environmentally friendly.
The project is still ongoing at JFK
airport, and has expanded to several
other airports around the US. It is
hoped that the success of
econocrete, and the Rapid Mix 400,
will bring its clear benefits not only to
the customer, but also to the
environment. This will hopefully
prompt many more airports around
the US to consider using the
econocrete / Rapid Mix 400 team for
their airport runways.
For more information contact Rapid
International on
tel: +44 28 38 840 671 or visit:
www.rapidinternational.com
www.solidsandbulk.co.uk February 2010 Solids & Bulk Handling 33
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