Asphalt Review - Volume 32 Number 3 (Jun / Juy 12) - Australian ...

AdvertorialApollo – quality road construction equipmentGujarat Apollo Industries Ltd. is theleading manufacturer and exporter of roadconstruction equipment in India.Over 40 years of experience, a wideproduct range, and an establishedcustomer base in India and more than40 countries world-wide makes it one ofthe most reliable and trusted suppliers ofroad construction equipment.Incorporated into a public limited companyin 1987, Gujarat Apollo Industries is a publiclimited company with annual sales turnoverof over US$ 70 million.The company is accredited with ISO9001:2000 TUV NORD Certification. Itsasphalt plants have their design rootsfrom association with Barber Greene, USAand NIIGATA Engineering Co. It also hadtechnical collaborations with companies likeTerex USA, Max Peitsch Germany, VielhabenGermany and Klaus Dieter Sprehe Germanyfor various products.Facilities in India and Germany featureworld class equipment and a 1,500 strongwork force comprising over 150 engineersensures production activity factors adhere toestablished high quality benchmarks.Company installations worldwide includeover 339 Batch Mix Plants, more than 2,045Drum Mix Plants, over 1,440 HydrostaticSensor Paver Finishers, more than 4,936Mechanical Paver Finishers, over 617 Wet MixMacadam Plants, in excess of 1,018 BitumenPressure Distributors and more than 534Concrete Curb Laying Machines.Apollo has also developed a Mobile DrumMix Plant with Counter Flow Drum and aconfiguration allowing for forced mixingof aggregates, bitumen, filler and recycledasphalt (RAP) material.The company is set to increase itspenetration in Australia through agent, RoachConsulting & Construction Pty Ltd. Apollohas received acknowledgement from AsphaltBatch Mix Plant customers including SunstateGroup QLD Pty Ltd:50 ROADS JUNE/JULY 20121. Describe your experience with Apollo’sengineers during commissioning:• Overall the main engineers were veryknowledgeable about the Apollo productand also about the asphalt productionprocess in general.2. How did Apollo adapt to changes and issuesduring the construction?• Apollo was very accommodating at sitelevel and was able to effectively adapt torequired changes either from SGQ or asrequired through construction changes.3. Is the plant meeting your expectations nowthat it is operational?• Yes although the technology has a scopefor improvement compared to otherasphalt plant manufacturers. But thisplant’s simplicity has its advantages and isperforming well to our requirements.4. Were there communication issues? Howwas this managed?• Yes there were issues and communicationgaps; however this was well handled byApollo in allowing their main engineers tobe available allowing the plant constructionto be completed effectively.5. How is the feedback from the plantoperators, do they like the plant?• Plant operating system is very different toother systems experienced by our plantoperators. There was some resistanceinitially and this plant needs the operatorto be alert at all times (this is a goodthing from SGQ’s point of view). Operatoracceptance has improved dramatically, andthe feedback is very good.6. Technically speaking, is the plant returninggood quality asphalt in specification?• The mix being produced is in specificationand the accuracy is very good. With Apollo’stechnical knowledge, and with workingclosely with SGQ on the requirements of thestate road authority, a very good outcomewas achieved. Apollo was extremelyproactive in getting the required changesmade and accuracy increases adjusted tothe satisfaction of SGQ and QueenslandMain Roads.7. Was the Apollo plant cost effective for yourbusiness?• The plant cost enabled SGQ to enter themarket with its first asphalt plant at a lowercost base.8. Would you recommend Apollo to othermanufacturers?• Yes we would and obviously it wouldbe dependent on what the requiredoutcomes are.Top: Apollo Facility in Rathenow – Germany.Below: Apollo Continuous Asphalt Plant Facility UnderCommissioning in QLD, AUST.