BFT Mixing Technology Forum at Kortmann Beton: Theory Meets Practice

Approximately 120 participants gathered on October 8 for the BFT Mixing Technology Forum at Kortmann Beton in Schüttorf. Eight technical presentations and a tour of the modernized production facility provided an opportunity to directly link current developments in mixing technology with their practical implementation.

Using numerous practical examples, the BFT Mixing Technology Forum demonstrated how closely concrete quality, cost-effectiveness, and resource efficiency are linked to the interplay of individual production processes. Topics of focus included mixing and conveying technology, batching, moisture measurement, concrete admixtures, water treatment, and automation.

Eight Engaging Technical Presentations by the Premium Partners

After the BFT moderator team - Karla Knitter and Silvio Schade - welcomed the participants, Julian Krümpel, Managing Director at Kortmann Beton, delivered his opening presentation. Next, Timo Häfner, Sales Manager at Maschinenfabrik Gustav Eirich GmbH & Co. KG, addressed the topic “What You See Later Is Determined in the Mixer.” Andreas Ziegler, Head of Business Development North America at Würschum GmbH, spoke on “Color and Admixture Dosing in the Concrete Industry.”

After the first coffee break, Christian Søndergaard, Area Sales Manager at Haarup Maskinfabrik A/S, introduced his company: “Haarup, the Danish manufacturer of high-quality mixers.” Matthias Daut, Sales Manager at VHV Anlagenbau, later gave a presentation on “Modern Belt Conveyor Technology in Concrete Plants.” Following the lunch break and the plant tour at Kortmann Beton mentioned below, Dr. Ricardo Remus, Managing Director of Sonocrete GmbH, delivered his presentation on “Slurry for Everyone - How the Sonocrete Premix Plant Works.” Sönke Ahrens, Sales Manager North at Cemex Admixtures GmbH, then spoke about the proper “Storage and Dosage of Admixtures.” Bernd Hahn, Managing Director of AJF Group Engineering GmbH, addressed the question “Excess Residual Water?” with a discussion on legally compliant water treatment for precast plants through to discharge into the public sewer. The technical forum concluded with the presentation “Automation, Process Control, and Measurement Technology: From Material Delivery to the Final Product” by Frank Weilacher, Managing Director of Bikotronic GmbH.

Modernized Mixing Plant as a Practical Example

A unique feature of the event was the close connection between the presentation program and the plant tour. Several partners of the technical forum had already been involved in the modernization of production at Kortmann Beton. Participants were then able to see firsthand during the tour of the concrete plant and the new mixing tower what had been explained earlier in the presentations. It was precisely this combination of technical background and concrete plant technology that was very well received by the approximately 120 guests.

In addition to the technical content, the event offered ample opportunity for personal exchange.

The event was supported by the premium partners Eirich, Haarup, Ubo Engineering, Würschum, VHV Anlagenbau, Cemex Admixtures, AJF Group Engineering, Bikotronic, and Sonocrete, whose representatives also delivered the presentations mentioned at the beginning. Special thanks go to the host, Kortmann Beton, for providing insights into production, as well as to all speakers, participants, and the Bauverlag event team.

In addition to this follow-up report, those interested can look forward to an event video featuring highlights and comments from the technical forum.

Other Important Topics at Kortmann Beton

Following the BFT Mixing Technology Forum itself, Kortmann Managing Director Julian Krümpel spoke with the BFT editorial team about other important topics concerning the company: “As you could see, we’re currently reorganizing our production and are bringing on a maintenance coordinator whom we’d like to send to another precast plant for 1–2 days. The goal is for them to see how maintenance is planned and carried out elsewhere - in return, someone from other plants is always welcome here, and no area is off-limits. We look forward to positive feedback.”

Julian Krümpel continues: “In addition, we are currently selling our Haarup VM750 premix plant, built in 2016. This includes the mixer with a bucket elevator, the aggregate dosing system with five silos, the cement scale, the admixture dosing system, and a complete dry color system with six color silos. The hot-dip galvanized steel structure, compliant with EN 1090, is also included. The plant is available as a complete unit or in modules, and on-site disassembly is possible. We’d be happy to send interested parties a detailed description.”

A third and final point was particularly important to the managing director: “In my experience, precast plants often face the problem that a position in production or maintenance remains open for months, and hardly anyone responds to the job advertisement. Potential applicants hardly read newspapers anymore; instead, they’re on Instagram and Facebook in the evenings. That’s exactly where we reach them at Kortmann with our in-house recruiting tool. The applicants come to us already pre-screened, which means we hardly have any problems with the skilled labor shortage here.”