A Ready Mixed Concrete batching software system these days usually comprises of a combination of hardware and integrated automation software. A concrete batching system can be very expensive and not usually practical or cost effective for a small batch plant operation.

Many older batching plants only have a weigh scale display with no supporting concrete batching system software. Operators may have to manually record batched data on paper or in a spreadsheet of some sort.

The main advantage of recording the achieved batch weights using an electronic concrete batching system is "Meaningful data analysis and control".

On a paper driven batching system target batch weights are usually fixed and displayed on paper with limited variation capability. The space on a piece of A4 paper limits to fixed batch quantities and the amount of moisture weight adjustments that can be catered for. Typically stone weight is fixed at 1% moisture content and sand and water are fixed to 4%, 6% and 8%. Beyond this no other adjustments can be catered for. For example Slump water variation for a batch may have to calculated somewhere else.

SolBatch Concrete Batching software Features

We have developed an inexpensive concrete batching software database specifically designed for concrete batching plants that do not have hardware automated systems.

This concrete batching system can do everything an automated system can do with the exception of actually physically batching the concrete. Batch weight transposition is still manual but the variations in displayed batch weights can be totally catered for along with more such as:

• User login and user type control.
• Unlimited amount of batch book mix designs!
• Many error captures and warning messages to minimise the risk of misbatching!
• Monitors, reports and provides warnings for Minimum Cement Content and Max Water/Cement Ratio compliance with EN206-1.
• Batch any quantity of concrete in whatever increments required maximising weigh scale capacity.
• Control maximum cement weighed using a cement scale capacity parameter kg/m³
• Does not allow a vehicle to be over batched beyond its carrying capacity.
• Does not calculate and show target weights until all batch data entry is completed and free from errors.
• Auto-constructs a batch code using batchbook code and cement content.
• Allows the aggregate moisture contents to be changed to auto-calculate target batch weights for pre-set aggregate moisture content.
• Allows change driver during the batching process.
• Any batching variation over or under the previous batch is carried forward to the next target batch weights.
• Mix designs can be extracted by way of printable report for a full cement content range in 5kg increments.
• A Special single mix design capability, just input a single mix design SSD weights.
• A proteced maintenance system by user group login.
• Allows fully formatted manual hard copy batching cards to be printed as backup.
• Allows cement stock control with a maximum cement silo capacity parameter. This can give an indication of how much cement is theoretically left in the silo at any point in real time based upon cement deliveries v production usage dynamically. It also allows stock adjustment arising from a physical cement stock check in the silo.
• This concrete batching software can cater for drybatch or wetbatch concrete plants.
• Caters for single batch weighing or cumalative batch weighing.
• Offers instant daily production reports.
• Offers production reports for a date range.
• Offers instant orders reports for a date range.
• Reports can be output directly to excel for further analysis.
   

SolBatch Concrete Batching software benefits

This section covers the benefits for using an electronic concrete batching software be it automated or manual transposition.

• Running an electronic concrete batching system that provides control over batching accuracy and keeping a batching history is a key requirement  for third party Quality Accreditation for the supply of Ready Mixed Concrete be it BSI or QSRMC in the UK;
• Solbatch Concrete batching software enables a computerised concrete batching control system making manual hard copy batch books redundant;
• Solbatch  Concrete batching software may minimise transposition errors from reading manually printing batch sheets;
• Solbatch  Concrete batching software enables instant dynamic production reporting for stock control and cost analysis at the simple press of a button, can output information directly to excel;
• A concrete batching system enables a batched load report print after each load listing actual batch weights along with recorde batched variations;
• A concrete batching system enables more accurate batching using computerised automated moisture content control adjustment to target batch weights;
• Concrete batching software enables hard copy batching sheets to be printed to form a manual backup system;
• Concrete batching software enables a daily production report on Truck deliveries;
• Concrete batching software enables Mix Design Certificates to be printed for Customers;

Savings using Solbatch Concrete Batching Software

• A concrete batching system would reduce costs for paper and other stationary used in the creation of manual batch books.
• It will minimise the risk of misbatching via transposition errors, saving potential remedial claims from Customers.
• It will allow better control of materials stock by way of production reports with usages.
• Concrete batching software may produce savings of materials using more accurate automated moisture adustment control to target batch weights.
• An electronic concrete batching system may increase production by as much as 40% by minimising batching time for example:
  • A manual batch card for 5m3 may use 5 x 1m3 batches.
  • An electronic batching system will calculate maximum cement weigh capacity which may reduce this to 3 batches, thus reducing batching time by 2 batches, almost 50%!
  • Producing more in less time, saves wear and tear on plant equipment and power usage, electric bills would be reduced!

Solbatch Concrete Batching Software Database requirements

• Windows 98/2000/XP/Vista
• Microsoft Access 2000/2002/2003/2007
• System Memory, min 256Mb
• Min CPU 1.0Ghz or more.

Please note that if Microsoft Access 2007 is used it is NOT NECESSARY to purchase MS Access. Microsoft provide FREE runtime so it can run without purchasing a full version of MS Access saving up to £200!

NEWS - 10th September 2009 - This product has been seen and accepted by BSI for use in a Ready Mix Concrete production environment during a formal external audit. 

If you would like further information about our Solbatch Concrete Batching System, please contact us.