CPI – Concrete Plant International – 6 | 2015 www.cpi-worldwide.com114

CONCRETE PRODUCTS & CAST STONE

Productive line with high operational efficiency

The production machines type « HP »(meaning High Performance) include sever-al patented system. This is the most produc-tive and efficient range of machinedesigned by Quadra. The expertise interms of vibrating and mechanical develop-ment is combined with latest technologicalprogress, and make this range stand outthrough unique technical features.The core component of the plant is theblock-machine. Designed for meeting ver-satile and multi-products production, theQ12 HP allows first-class product manufac-turing with high output rates. This machineensures high efficiency whilst giving overallease of operation, friendly maintenanceand greater safety. Highly performing, thisblock machine offers an impressive produc-tion rate of 13 seconds per pallet of 18blocks (20 x 20 x 40).As per the rest of the range supplied byQuadra, the Q12 HP has a streamlinedconfiguration. Mounted on anti-vibrationfeet, the frame (large and heavy one-piece

steel structure) is protected from vibratingsolicitation. Thanks to the lateral position ofthe motors, no civil engineering such as apit is required for setting up the machine.No vibrations are transmitted to the ground,and the elevated and ventilated architec-ture of the block machine allows easycleaning and maintenance operations.

Optimal filling and vibrating system:patented process

The vibrating features designed by Quadraare patented, and make their blockmachine stand out thanks to a faster anduniform filling resulting in accurate productsmanufacturing (height, weight, density, andstrength).The vibration motors are located on oneside of the block machine allowing directaccess. The components are isolated fromvibrating solicitation and concrete projec-tion, which ensures the reliability and thelongevity of the equipment. This configura-tion also enables to differentiate the vibra-tion settings between the front and the rearof the mold. During the filling process (pre-

vibration cycle), the vibration amplitude isindeed higher in the front of mold, therebyallowing an optimal filling of the front partof the mold. This pre-vibration system with“flexible force and speed” is patented byQuadra, and enables to produce a uni-formed and homogenous filling on thewhole surface of the mold (density andstrength are enhanced), whilst achieving ashorter cycle time. In addition, the block machine is equippedwith retractable static bars. As they are notused during the filling process, these staticbars are moved into low position during thisoperation. They are not in contact with thepallet or the mold for avoiding any heavyand repeated impacts. The retractable stat-ic bars allow maximum vibrating ampli-tudes consequently giving shorter cycletimes and more efficient filling. Then, duringthe main compaction, the statics bars moveup to play the bottom reference of the pal-let. Finally, the range of block machine provid-ed by Quadra guarantees a height accura-cy of less than 1 mm. The tamper headalways goes down at the same position,and meets on a mechanical stop. When thetamper head reaches the mechanical stop,

Full-scale plant set-up in Mexico: innovative manufacturing conditions as decisive factor

Quadra, 74130 Contamine-sur-Arve, France

The company Abastecedora de Materiales Garcia is a family-owned company, which is a leading player in the industry of manufacturing,commercialisation and distribution of construction materials in South America. Specialized in concrete blocks manufacturing, this companyis widely recognised within this industry, and currently achieves a monthly output of 7 million of concrete blocks. This company ensures thisproduction with state-of-the-art equipment. Equipped with 7 units of American brand, this manufacturer has solicited for the first time aFrench equipment manufacturer for the replacement of one of its production line. The final decision naturally relied on the advance and pio-neering features provided by the plant supplied by Quadra, who is the leading French machinery supplier with plants operating worldwide.The company Abastecedora de Materiales Garcia was indeed attracted by the high flexibility of the plant, which currently enables them toenhance its product range. However, this is the winning combination between the technical advance of the plant and the high output ratesachievable that led making Quadra the obvious choice as their preferred supplier.

The vibration motors are located on oneside of the block machine allowing directaccess.

Abastecedora de Matériales Garcia: Head office based in Monterrey, Mexico

04b-Waren_86-127_en_Layout 1 02.11.15 16:03 Seite 114

www.cpi-worldwide.com CPI – Concrete Plant International – 6 | 2015 115

CONCRETE PRODUCTS & CAST STONE

Block-machine type Q12 HP: rugged and ventilated architecture that allows high-quality product manufacturing within high rates.

Manufacturer of Equipment for the Concrete Industry

QUADRA - 40 route de Findrol - 74130 Contamine-sur-Arve - France - Tel. +33 (0)4 50 03 92 21 - Fax. +33 (0)4 50 03 69 97 -

www.quadra-concrete.com

FRENCH MANUFACTURER

High Technology Turnkey PlantBlock & Paving Stone MachineState-of-the-art Handling System

COME TO VISIT US

Project Egypt

in Dresden

11-14 February 2016

Booth n°E2

Concrete Show

in Birmingham

17-18 February 2016

Booth n°D51

04b-Waren_86-127_en_Layout 1 02.11.15 16:03 Seite 115

CPI – Concrete Plant International – 6 | 2015 www.cpi-worldwide.com116

CONCRETE PRODUCTS & CAST STONE

The finger car with rotating platform: The curing solution is engineered to give the optimal utilisation of space

Cubing robot type Kuka KR 1000 equipped with 6 axes: maximal load of 1300 kg

Following the curing and the transfer to the lowerator, the palletsloaded with products are finally transferred to the cubing station viaa walking beam conveyor. This type of conveyor lifts and moves thepallets without any friction. It also means no wear, and no noise.

Rational configuration: frame (massive and heavy one-piece steel structure) based on anti-vibration feet. Optimal filling and vibrating system:patented process

a final vibration is performed and allowscalibration of the top references of theproducts. As for the bottom references, theyare ensured by the static bars that go up atthe fixed height. Whatever the height of theproducts, the tamper head always stops atthe same position, thereby achieving con-sistent height accuracy. These unique technical features developedby Quadra offer innovative manufacturingconditions. The synergy between the elec-

tronic, mechanic, informatic and automa-tism systems aims at adjusting, for eachcycle, the manufacturing conditions, whichwill be optimal for producing a first-classproduct. This system is therefore pioneeringand enables this machine to enjoy an auto-matic autoregulation of each cyclebetween the filling settings and the finalvibration time. This is thanks to the mecha-tronic integrated in this range of blockmachine. For example, if the final vibration

is different from the vibration time initiallydefined, the filling parameters are automat-ically adjusted from one cycle to the nextone by reducing the pre-vibration time.

State-of-the-art handling system

The finger car with rotating platform per-forms the storage operations. This equip-ment, able to receive 20 production pallets,has the advantage of saving floor space

04b-Waren_86-127_en_Layout 1 02.11.15 16:03 Seite 116

www.cpi-worldwide.com CPI – Concrete Plant International – 6 | 2015

CONCRETE PRODUCTS & CAST STONE

■ Laboratory / Sample block making machine

■ Mobile block making machines

■ External vibrators

■ Special machines

Knauer Engineering GmbH Industrieanlagen & Co. KGD-82538 Geretsried, Elbestrasse 11 – 13, GermanyTel.: + 49 (0) 8171 6295-0Fax: + 49 (0) 8171 64545e-mail: info@knauer.deWebsite: www.knauer.de

■ Vibrating tables

within the building. The curing solution isengineered to give the optimal utilisation ofspace. The curing area may receive 4500pallets, and is equipped with a ventilatedand humidity-controlled system that ensuresconsistent and uniformed curing environ-ment. The position of the finger car is continuous-ly monitored by laser probe and driven byservomotors for accurate positioning of theplatform in front of the rails of the curingracks, elevator and lowerator.

Efficient tailor-made cubing solution

One cubing robot type Kuka KR 1000,equipped with 6 axes, may load 1300 kg.The settings and recipes are easily changedfrom the control desk. The operator inputsthe number of layers, the number of prod-ucts per layers, and their position on thepallet. The cuber clamp is designed andmanufactured by Quadra. The use of ser-vomotors and continuous monitoring of theposition of the clamp allow very accurateplacement of the blocks as well as veryhigh production rates.The specificity of the robot, which was inte-grated in this production line, is the way ofcubing products. Indeed, this robot enablesthe customer to palletise products withoutany wooden pallet as overall support. Thelower raw of the pallet is made from prod-ucts placed horizontally. The finished packswill be then directly retrieved by the forklifton the slat conveyor. This robot proceeds as follows: he makesthe pallet called “virtual” that will be usedto form the lower layer. When this pallet iscompleted (consisting of 6 ranks), the robotretrieves one line of products and put themhorizontally in view of implementing the firstraw of the pack. Then, the robot makes thepack from the products supplied on the pro-

duction board and completes it to get 6 lay-ers of products (+1 lower row). When thepallet is finished, it starts a new cycle until ituses all the “virtual” pallet. This cubing solution allows the forklift topick up the finished pack from the convey-

The settings and recipes are easily changedfrom the control desk. The operator inputsthe number of layers, the number of prod-ucts per layers, and their position on thepallet.

1) The robot is cubing the «virtual» product pallet.

2) The robot is retrieving one raw for creating the low rank of the product pallet.

3) The lower rank of the pallet is formedfrom the product settled in the «virtual» pallet.

4) The robot is making the product palletfrom the product on the production boards.

04b-Waren_86-127_en_Layout 1 02.11.15 16:03 Seite 117

CPI – Concrete Plant International – 6 | 2015 www.cpi-worldwide.com118

CONCRETE PRODUCTS & CAST STONE

or, eliminating the use of wooden pallet.The cubing cycle follows the rate of theblock-machine with the view of therebyreducing any production downtime.

Comfort and safety conditions: supervision vs. handling

The technological progress by Quadraaims at improving work conditions as wellas reducing heavy manual handling. A noise-insulated control room is located inthe middle of the production line. Equippedwith glazed windows, it enables the opera-tor to control the block-machine whilewatching the overall plant, from the manu-facturing to the cubing. This factory is controlled with high-end con-trolled software designed by Quadra dis-playing the full plant. The operator maywatch easily and quickly the whole pro-duction cycle. A touch screen terminalallows adjustments and observations of allparameters throughout the productionprocess.Clear, intuitive and user-friendly interfaceallows easy modification of the block

machine settings. Any interruption in pro-duction are fully described, and thanks tothe program structure, automatic cycles arequickly and easily resumed. Machine set-tings are stored and recorded by produc-tion recipe in order to retrieve easily manu-facturing parameters associated to a typeof product. This control-device is also a pertinent toolfor managing the overall production since itindicates operating data in progress (timecycle, filling level, daily production, ratesetc.), and other information such as pro-duction shutdowns, number of cycles foreach mold. These production data aredetailed, recorded, and may be thenanalysed by the customer in order to con-tinuously optimise rates.

Conclusion

Quadra has build up a highly respectedreputation as expert in automated processand cutting edge vibrating system. Quadrahas been a leading supplier for the precastindustry for more than 20 years, and nowhas a large and growing worldwide pres-

ence with more than 300 plants set-up inthe world. The company Abastecedora de MaterialesGarcia is a new reference in Mexico. Apartfrom the quality of both the relationship andthe support displayed from the study of theproject, Abastecedora de MaterialesGarcia is particularly pleased with the inno-vative manufacturing features provided bytheir new Quadra plant. This generation ofmachine offers a technological leap. Theyenable them to achieve extremely high out-puts whilst continually optimising the manu-facturing conditions for producing highquality product in terms of dimension,weight, density and strength. Finally,Quadra provided its expertise as robot inte-grator. These solutions are increasinglybeing used in the concrete industry, allow-ing new handling opportunities (speed,flexibility, and precision) by simplifyingequipment and reducing the maintenance.Quadra integrates the robots supplied byKuka, a leading manufacturer of industrialrobot. Quadra uses then their own expert-ise to design and manufacture the handlingclamps as well as the automatism pro-grams. Quadra has become a major part-ner for integrating robot within the concreteindustry, with more than 100 robots operat-ing worldwide for multiple applications.

!

FURTHER INFORMATION

Quadra40, route de Findrol, 74130 Contamine-sur-Arve, FranceT +33 45003 9221, F +33 45003 6997info@quadra-concrete.com, www.quadra-concrete.com

Abastecedora De Materiales Garcia, S.A. de C.V.Carretera Santa Rosa km 4, 66610 Apocada, NL, MexicoT +52 81 8385 0283

Equipped with glazed windows, it enables the operator to control the block-machine while watching the overall plant.

Clear, intuitive and user-friendly interface allows easy modification of the block machine settings

Watch a video about Quadra’s packaging solution:

Simply scan the QR-Code with your smart phone and watch the video!

04b-Waren_86-127_en_Layout 1 02.11.15 16:03 Seite 118