The newly commissioned Van Dyk Stene plant in Vredenburg in the Western Cape is saving the manufacturer up to 30% on its total cement input costs using Kraft Curing. The state-of-the-art plant is a showcase for the total concrete solutions available from Pan Mixers South Africa (PMSA), the largest manufacturer of concrete brick, block and paving machinery in Africa.
Van Dyk Stene is the first plant of its kind in Africa to use a full curing system from German technology leader Kraft Curing, distributed locally by PMSA. The total automated solution supplied covers batching (mixing and weighing), a stacker and destacker, an RE1400 block-making machine and automated wet and dry side product handling.
The advanced technology from Kraft Curing allows PMSA’s customers to reduce their input costs by cutting down on the quantity of cement used in the production process, without compromising on the quality of the bricks and blocks.
“Van Dyk Stene is now able to achieve the same strength requirements, but with 30% less cement, a cost-saving that will have a significant impact on its bottom line,” points out Quintin Booysen, PMSA sales and marketing manager.
The Kraft Curing technology allows for consistent control of temperature and relative humidity levels of between 90 and 95 percent, improved operational efficiency, high early concrete strength, uniform colour and a denser product surface.
The curing system uses air circulation to maintain temperature and humidity consistency throughout the top and bottom levels of the curing chamber. Together with increased humidity, this contributes to improved product strength. High early strength means that the end product can be tested and delivered more quickly, thereby reducing stockholding.
Booysen explains that PMSA specialises in providing total concrete solutions to meet all of its customers’ requirements. It was awarded the contract by Van Dyk Stene to supply all of the equipment for the state-of-the-art plant, which took nine months from design to final construction, and was opened officially on 20 May 2015.
Van Dyk Stene was established in Vredenburg in 1970. Owned and managed by Mario and Andre van Dyk, the company manufactures and supplies precast masonry products, sand, stone, kerbs, pavers, walls and garden products. Its focus on customer service and high-quality products has made it an industry leader in the Western Cape.
The company has invested heavily in modern production techniques for efficient high-volume output of its extensive product range. “The latest example of our commitment to innovation is the addition of our concrete curing process facility,” points out Andre van Dyk.
