BRECON is a leading manufacturer of vibration technology and serving the concrete industry for more than two decades. BRECON’s production site is in Cologne, Germany.
Brecon has entered into a contractual agreement with CONTROLS for the sales of concrete testing machines in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This complements Bepete’s own extensive range of products with a very strong portfolio of CONTROLS, a renowned manufacturer for over 50 years. Within the first six months of the cooperation, numerous testing machines were delivered to customers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Customer interest covers the complete spectrum of products and applications. Here we present three testing machines that can be described as key products.
Compression testing machines
Compression testing machines are one of CONTROLS’ strengths in the fiercely competitive global marketplace. The compression testing machines are available in frame sizes from 2000 kN to 5000 kN test force. The test frames impress with their efficient and compact design and thus require little space in the laboratory.
The hardware and firmware comply with all current international concrete testing standards, including EN 12390-4 and ASTM C39. Brecon was able to book the first customer order as early as the end of 2021 and deliver the compression testing machine in January 2022. After the DAkkS calibration according to DIN EN ISO 7500-1 passed off to their complete satisfaction, the concrete plant group ordered a second compression testing machine for a second location. Due to the very good reference, further customers were convinced by the Controls compression testing machines.
The testing machine is intuitively, quickly and easily handled by the operator via a 7-inch colour display, which allows time-saving, fully automatic test execution. The testing chamber of the machine provides space for testing concrete cubes with edge lengths of 100 mm, 150 mm and 200 mm, as well as concrete cylinders with dimensions Ø 100mm and 150mm, heights 200 mm, 300 mm and 320 mm, using spacers. A very compact overall solution for test laboratories can be implemented via additional measuring channels by adding further test frames, such as for mortar tests and/or flexural tensile tests for concrete beams.
We created a step-by-step guide to select the right compression machine.
Digital Mortar Mixer
The digital CONTROLS mortar mixer with a volume of 5 litres in accordance with EN 196 is a sophisticated device that is used worldwide in large numbers as basic equipment for laboratories. Thus, Brecon was also able to deliver tens of units to concrete plants in all three countries (D/A/CH) within the first six months.
The mortar mixer has a user-friendly display and a clear user interface. It is also ideally suited for individual uses outside the norm. The two mixing speeds of 140 or 285 rpm are available from the factory in accordance with the standard. However, the mixing speed can also be selected individually, even during the mixing process. To protect the operator, the mixer stops automatically as soon as the protective grid is opened during operation. The mixer is available with a programme automatic and individual mixing cycles can be programmed.
Concrete Gyrator Compactors (rotary compressors)
The Galileo gyratory compactor from CONTROLS is a model for cement and concrete that covers most applications very well, even in its basic version. The method, which is very popular, especially in Scandinavia, is used for recipe design and quality control mainly in concrete plants where concrete with low workability is used (examples: hollow core slabs, pipes and paving stones).
The method is used for mix design, simulation of selected production processes, sample preparation for strength tests (fresh and cured) and research into mix-related phenomena (workability, curing time, admixtures, etc.).
The simultaneous application of low static pressure and a shear action achieves compaction that results in a movement of the centre line of the specimen, creating a conical surface of revolution, while the ends of the specimen remain approximately perpendicular to the axis of the conical surface. The machine is equipped with a 100mm diameter mould and a scraper and processes in real-time the evolution of the sample density as a function of the number of cycles and records a densification curve. It is possible to upgrade the machine to measure shear during compaction in kN/m2.
Shear is a measurement parameter useful for more accurate selection or batching and thus tuning of earth-moist concretes. For example, a very small change in water and liquefier can significantly shift the position of the maximum shear value along the compression curve. An increase in the water and superplasticiser content generally shifts the maximum shear value towards the first gyratory cycles; a reduction in the water and superplasticiser content, on the other hand, shifts the maximum shear value towards the end of compaction.
