DeSilva Gates Construction, a heavy, highway and Civil Engineering Construction firm serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area, has just completed the installation of a new state-of-the-art asphalt plant that boasts the latest innovations and highest standards to enhance quality and efficiency, while addressing the latest challenging emissions regulations and environmental standards.

 

The equipment includes an Astec Inc. Double Barrel Dryer/ Drum mixer, offering the latest in Hot and Warm-Mix Technology. The new plant is located at 6527 Calaveras Road in Sunol, Calif.

 

The Double Barrel system features Astec's patented Stack Temperature Control system and Double Barrel Green Warm-Mix foaming system. The foaming action helps the liquid Asphalt coat the aggregate at a temperature within the range of 230 - 270˚F versus traditional temperatures of 300 - 325˚F, which helps reduce energy demand and emissions.

 

Key benefits of Warm-Mix Asphalt include improved workability

for customers because the foamed liquid asphalt coating has a lower viscosity, no smoke or smell due to the fact that the light oils in the liquid asphalt never reach their boiling point, the ability to run high percentages of recycled mix with standard grades of asphalt, longer pavement life from reduced oxidation of mix, and more uniform compaction. The design includes the ability to produce up to 50 percent RAP mixes that will address the increasing desire of public agencies to recycle and re-use material to the greatest extent possible.

 

The plant includes an eight-compartment Cold Feed system and three-compartment recycle system, creating the flexibility to meet current and future customer demand. Coupled with six 300-ton silos, capable of storing 1800 tons of mix for up to four days, the plant will serve a range of customer needs with a variety of asphalt mixes.  

 

The plant is permitted to generate up to 18,000 tons of material in any given 24 hour period and up to 1,000,000 tons of product annually. The permit to operate allows a seven day per week, 24 hours per day operation that generates the greatest flexibility to address a broad range of clients needs. For added convenience and to fully take advantage of the efficiencies of this modern plant, DeSilva Gates Aggregates installed a dual sided spray rack, dual loading scales, a large staging area and four ticket stations to speed up truck flow.

 

The facility also includes a fully certified materials lab to ensure quality aggregates and asphalt product and a Central Order Desk for scheduling and sales.

 

DeSilva Gates Aggregates, part of DeSilva Gates Construction headquartered in Dublin, Calif., specializes in Heavy Highway and Civil Engineering Construction Services for both public and private clients. For more information, contact Ben Inkster at (925) 586-6412, or click HERE to visit the company website.

A drone's-eye view of DeSilva Gates' new asphalt plant in Sunol.

 

The next meeting of the joint Caltrans-industry Section 39 review committee is scheduled for July 22 in Sacramento. For more information, contact Kee Foo of Caltrans at (916) 227-7084.

CalAPA is finalizing and will roll out later this year its "Section 39" training classes. Watch this newsletter for announcements of dates and locations.