Vortex - Model Modulo 60 -Velocity Plant

The fresh concrete is prepared in an automatic batching and mixing plant having a 750 litre yield capacity.

The tiles are formed on the top surface of precision diecast aluminum pallets by an extrusionpressure process.

The extrusion machine incorporates a continuous action chain mechanism that drives the pallets through the extrusion machine that is also equipped with an automatic ‘double-flying’ cutter unit fitted with twin knife blades to enable the new tile to be accurately cut to the correct length.

Loading and unloading of the newly formed wet roof tiles in and out of the steel curing racks, can be done manually or by an automatic operation undertaken by a racker/deracker machine. This machine automatically elevates and the pushes wet tiles and their supporting aluminum pallets into an empty compartment of a steel curing rack until it becomes full. The full rack is then transferred to a warm curing chamber. When the tiles are cured the steel rack is returned and loaded into the de-racking side of the machine. The cured tiles and supporting aluminum pallets are then automatically pushed out of the respective compartment into a descender mechanism that will lay one row of tiles a time onto an outgoing conveyor. Controls for the racker/deracker machine are through a PLC.

Cured tiles and supporting aluminum pallets are travelled through an automatic depalleter machine whereupon they are separated.

The empty aluminum pallets are conveyed back to the tile extrusion machine via a turntable unit and prior to entering the machine pass through an oiler unit that sprays approximately 8 gramme of release oil onto the top surface of each pallet as it passes.

If required, the separated dry tiles are then painted on their top surface followed by either manual or automatic packing operation to suit a customer’s preference. When automatic packing machinery is used a PLC unit controls the stacking, pack forming, strapping and timber pallet loading of bundled finished tiles.

A long transport line (or a dryng system) can be incorporated into the production system to enable the acrylic paint on the tile surface to dry prior to being packed. Heavy duty service conveyors will be used for the movement of both roof tile and aluminum pallets.