An asphalt drum mixing plant is a high-efficiency piece of equipment used for the continuous production of asphalt mixtures, an indispensable key facility in road construction and maintenance. Unlike Batch mix asphalt plant, drum equipment uniformly mixes aggregates, asphalt binders, and additives on a continuous flow basis. This process ensures product quality stability and can quickly produce large quantities of asphalt mixtures, making it ideal for large-scale projects such as highways, airport runways, parking lots, and urban roads.

Its high efficiency and cost-effectiveness are mainly reflected in its rapid production capacity, which is crucial for projects with tight deadlines. Through continuous mixing, the equipment enables precise control of the batching process, producing homogeneous products that meet stringent performance standards. Asphalt drum mixing plants play a crucial role in modern infrastructure construction that requires large quantities of high-quality asphalt.

Core Upgrade: Continuous Mixing Cylinder Design, Unlocking a New Era of High-Efficiency Mixing

The biggest innovation of the ZOOMLINE mobile drum asphalt plant lies in its newly added dedicated continuous mixing cylinder structure. This breaks through the limitations of traditional mixing equipment, achieving integrated continuous operation of “mixing-feeding-production,” completely eliminating the efficiency losses caused by Batch mix asphalt plant. The produced asphalt mixture has stable quality and reliable performance, ensuring the quality of road paving from the source. Compared with traditional equipment, this continuous mixing cylinder requires no additional connecting processes. After mixing, powder, asphalt, and cold recycled materials can be directly added, making operation more convenient and proportion control more precise. It enables immediate replenishment of raw materials and uninterrupted production, significantly improving the output efficiency of asphalt mixtures, especially suitable for construction scenarios with tight schedules and high demand.

The adaptable design of the continuous mixing cylinder balances environmental protection and economy. The direct input of cold recycled materials enables efficient recycling of old materials, aligning with the current trend of green and low-carbon development in engineering construction. This reduces raw material loss and lowers construction costs, achieving a dual improvement in environmental protection and efficiency, and meeting the industry’s mainstream demand for old material recycling.

Adaptable to Diverse Construction Scenarios

Compact and Efficiently Site-Adaptable

The ZOOMLINE mobile roller asphalt station features a modular and compact design, integrating all major systems onto a mobile chassis. Compared to traditional fixed asphalt stations, its size is significantly reduced, allowing for rapid deployment without the need for extensive site planning. Whether in confined construction areas in urban centers, narrow working sections in mountainous regions, or temporary sites for rural road reconstruction, this equipment can flexibly adapt, effectively solving the pain points of large site occupation and inconvenient deployment, and significantly reducing site rental and preparation costs.

Convenient Dismantling and Transportation, More Efficient Cross-Site Operations

Addressing the core need for multi-site transportation in engineering projects, the equipment adopts a segmented folding and modular dismantling design. The dismantling process is simple and convenient, requiring no large dismantling equipment and only a small amount of manpower to quickly complete the dismantling operation. Simultaneously, the overall weight of the equipment is optimized, allowing direct transport using conventional trailers and pickup trucks. The small size of the disassembled transport unit allows for easy movement between different construction sites, significantly shortening the site relocation cycle. Compared to the time-consuming and labor-intensive dismantling and transportation of traditional fixed asphalt plants, this equipment achieves efficient integration of “rapid dismantling – convenient transportation – rapid installation,” significantly reducing equipment downtime and improving cross-site operation efficiency, making it particularly suitable for projects requiring continuous multi-site operations.

Extremely low foundation requirements, significantly reducing upfront investment

Traditional fixed drum-mixing asphalt plants require the pouring of complex concrete foundations, which not only consumes significant manpower, material resources, and time costs but also affects the equipment installation and commissioning cycle due to the progress of foundation construction, increasing upfront investment. The ZOOMLINE mobile drum asphalt plant completely breaks this limitation, requiring extremely low foundation requirements and eliminating the need for complex foundation pouring procedures, allowing for complete equipment installation and commissioning, significantly shortening the initial preparation period. This feature not only reduces civil engineering costs but also enables rapid installation and rapid commissioning, making it particularly suitable for projects with tight schedules or temporary projects.

ZOOMLINE Mobile drum mix asphalt plant: Precisely Matching Construction Needs, Empowering Improved Project Quality and Efficiency

Compared to traditional fixed asphalt plants and ordinary mobile asphalt equipment, the ZOOMLINE Mobile drum mix asphalt plant boasts core advantages such as “continuous and efficient mixing, compact size, convenient transportation and dismantling, and simplified foundation requirements.” It precisely matches diverse scenarios including small-to-medium-sized road construction, municipal maintenance, mountain road construction, and emergency repairs, balancing efficiency, cost, and environmental protection. It perfectly solves the pain points of traditional equipment, such as difficult transportation, poor site adaptability, and high initial investment.

As a brand focused on innovation in engineering equipment, the ZOOMLINE Mobile drum mix asphalt plant not only achieves breakthroughs in core performance but also optimizes operational convenience. Adopting a PLC intelligent control system, it is simple and easy to operate, requiring no specialized technicians to quickly learn, further reducing labor costs. Whether it’s a road and bridge construction company undertaking short-term, scattered projects or a traffic maintenance department needing to handle emergency repair tasks, choosing the ZOOMLINE Mobile drum mix asphalt plant can achieve “on-site production and nearby construction,” reducing temperature loss and quality degradation caused by long-distance transportation of the mixture, while also lowering overall construction costs and enhancing project competitiveness.

The stable operation of an asphalt drum mixing plant relies on the coordinated work of several core components. Each component performs a crucial function and is indispensable, collectively ensuring production continuity and mix quality.

Cold Aggregate Feed Hopper

This is the initial storage unit for aggregates (such as crushed stone, sand, and stone chips). Aggregates of different particle sizes are stored separately for precise proportioning. Features include a multi-compartment design, adjustable gates to control aggregate flow, and vibrating motors to ensure uniform and continuous feeding.

Belt Conveyor System

This system transports cold aggregates from the feed hopper to the drying drum. The system typically includes a heavy-duty belt conveyor, a frequency converter that adjusts the speed according to output, and dust suppression devices to reduce dust emissions during transport.

Drying Drum

This is one of the core components where the aggregates are heated and dried. The drum’s interior has lifting blades that raise the aggregates and form a curtain, ensuring uniform heating; the exterior usually has an insulation layer to improve energy efficiency; continuous rotation ensures thorough drying and heating of the aggregates.

Burner

Provides the necessary heat energy to the drying drum. The burner can use various fuels such as diesel, heavy oil, or natural gas, and features automatic ignition and temperature control to maintain the optimal operating temperature within the drum.

Asphalt Insulation Tank

Stores asphalt and maintains its fluidity under controlled temperatures. The tank is equipped with heating coils to maintain asphalt viscosity, an agitator to prevent sedimentation, and a pumping system to accurately deliver the asphalt to the mixing zone.

Mixing Drum

Here, heated aggregate and asphalt are thoroughly mixed to produce hot-mix asphalt. Continuous drum rotation ensures uniform mixing, a precise metering system guarantees accurate aggregate-to-asphalt ratios, and internal agitator blades further enhance the homogeneity of the mixture.

Bag Filter

A key device for achieving environmental compliance, used to capture dust and particulate matter generated during the production process. It features high filtration efficiency, an automatic dust removal system to extend filter bag life, and a dust collection device for proper treatment or recycling of the collected dust.

Control Center

As the “brain” of the entire mixing plant, the control center allows operators to monitor and adjust various parameters such as temperature, humidity, and output. Its user-friendly interface, real-time monitoring capabilities, and automated control functions ensure the precision and efficiency of the production process.

The core working logic of an asphalt drum mixing plant is to transform three core raw materials—cold aggregate, filler, and asphalt—into qualified asphalt mixture through a continuous process of “processing-weighing-mixing.” The entire workflow is coherent and efficient, and can be divided into four key steps:

Cold Aggregate Processing Steps

First, aggregates of different specifications are stored in their respective compartments of the cold aggregate silo. Based on production needs, the discharge ratio and speed of each aggregate are precisely controlled via adjustable gates in the cold aggregate silo. Then, the proportioned aggregates are conveyed at a uniform speed to the drying drum by a conveying system, ready for heat drying. After entering the drying drum, the aggregates come into full contact with the hot air generated by the burner under the action of the drum’s rotation and internal blades, gradually removing moisture and being heated to the specified temperature. The heated and dried aggregates are then conveyed to a vibrating screen for grading and screening according to particle size. The screened aggregates then enter a weighing system for precise measurement and are conveyed to the mixing drum for later use.

Filler Processing Steps

During the aggregate heating and drying process, some dust is generated. This dust is collected by a dust removal system and sent to a recycling storage bin as recycled filler. Simultaneously, new filler (usually mineral powder, sand, etc.) is added according to production needs. After the new filler is mixed with the recycled filler, it is sent to a filler weighing system for accurate metering and then transported to a mixing drum to mix with aggregate and asphalt.

Asphalt Processing Steps

The asphalt in the asphalt tank is heated by heating coils to maintain a suitable temperature and viscosity, preventing solidification. Subsequently, the liquid asphalt is pumped to the asphalt weighing system via an asphalt pumping system. After precise metering according to the production ratio, it is conveyed to the mixing drum, ready to be mixed with the aggregate and filler.

Mixing and Molding Steps

The heated aggregate, precisely metered filler, and asphalt enter the mixing drum together. Under the continuous rotation of the drum and the stirring action of the built-in blades, the three materials are fully contacted and uniformly mixed. After mixing for a specified time, a qualified hot-mix asphalt mixture is formed. The finished mixture can be directly conveyed into asphalt transport vehicles via the conveying system and transported to the construction site for use; alternatively, it can be temporarily stored in a finished product storage warehouse and used as needed to ensure construction continuity.

In the road construction industry, asphalt mixing plants, as core equipment, are often simply referred to as “asphalt mixing plants.” Batch mix asphalt plant and drum-type asphalt mixing plants (also known as continuous asphalt mixing plants) differ significantly in their working principles, equipment structure, finished mixture quality, and price, making these key factors crucial for procurement. Batch mix asphalt plant employ a short-interval, batch production mode, completing production in batches according to a fixed cycle. Their structure is relatively complex, requiring specialized metering, mixing, and screening equipment. The finished mixture exhibits precise gradation and asphalt content, resulting in stable quality and suitability for high-standard projects. However, their procurement and operating costs are higher. Drum-type plants, on the other hand, employ a continuous, uninterrupted production mode, allowing for continuous input of raw materials and continuous output of finished products. Their core component is an integrated drying and mixing drum, resulting in a compact structure, convenient installation, and more economical procurement and operating costs. For procurement professionals, it is essential to make a clear choice based on their budget and project requirements to avoid cost waste and potential project quality issues.

Working Principle Comparison: Continuous Operation vs. Precise Batch Control

The difference in working principles directly determines the production efficiency and quality control capabilities of the two types of drum mixing plants. A detailed breakdown is as follows, tailored to actual engineering applications:

Drum Mixing Plant

During operation, cold aggregate is evenly conveyed into the inclined drum by the batching system. As the drum rotates, high-temperature hot air generated by the burner dries and heats the aggregate. Simultaneously, liquid asphalt is sprayed onto the hot aggregate through a spraying device, continuously and evenly mixing with the hot aggregate during the rolling process. The entire process is continuous and uninterrupted; there is no waiting time after raw materials enter, and finished products are continuously output. Its mixing relies on the rotational inertia of the drum, eliminating the need for additional forced mixing components, thus simplifying the process.

Batch Mix Asphalt Plant

The production process is divided into multiple independent steps, each with strictly controlled time and quantity: First, cold aggregate is conveyed to the drying drum according to the mix proportions for drying and heating. Second, hot aggregate is fed into a vibrating screen via an elevator, sieved into different sizes, and stored in the hot aggregate silo. Third, hot aggregate, asphalt, and mineral powder are precisely weighed and fed into a forced mixing pot. Fourth, the mixture is forcibly mixed until homogeneous by a mixing paddle, then discharged and enters the next batch batching stage. The mixing time for each batch can be flexibly adjusted to ensure the uniformity of the mixture.

Key Performance Comparison: Significant Differences in Efficiency, Quality, and Energy Consumption

For engineering procurement buyers, production efficiency, mix quality, and energy consumption are core considerations. The differences between these two methods are particularly pronounced, directly impacting project costs and construction quality:

Production Efficiency

Drum Mixing Plant: Continuous operation without interruption, theoretically with high production efficiency. Mainstream models have a capacity of 20-200 t/h. Suitable for projects with high output requirements and no need for frequent adjustments to mix proportions (such as large-area paving of rural roads). However, once started, it cannot quickly adjust the mix proportions or stop production, resulting in poor flexibility.

Batch Mix Asphalt Plant: Operates in batches, each batch requiring 45-60 seconds. Mainstream models have a capacity of 60-400 t/h. Single-batch efficiency is lower than drum mixing plants, but mix proportions and mixing time can be flexibly adjusted. Suitable for projects requiring frequent changes in mix specifications (such as municipal roads and highways requiring different grades of mixes). Overall capacity can be increased by increasing batch frequency, adapting to the needs of medium to large-scale projects.

Core Recommendations for Choosing a Drum Mixing Plant

There is no inherent superiority of one over the other between drum-type and Batch mix asphalt plant (drum mixing plants); the key lies in “suitability to specific needs.” Your final choice should be based on a comprehensive consideration of project quality requirements, budget constraints, site conditions, and long-term production plans. Additional considerations during selection: Drum mixing plants offer limited upgrade potential and cannot meet the demands of higher quality engineering upgrades; Batch mix asphalt plant have higher initial purchase costs but offer wider applicability, controllable quality, and the ability to improve capacity and environmental performance through component upgrades, making them more suitable for engineering companies with long-term development goals.

The production capacity of a conventional asphalt drum mixing plant ranges from 20t/h to 200t/h, allowing for flexible selection based on project needs: small equipment (20-30t/h) is suitable for small-scale road maintenance and temporary construction projects; medium-sized equipment (30-100t/h) is suitable for small to medium-sized projects such as rural roads and municipal roads; large equipment (above 100t/h) is suitable for large-scale construction projects, enabling efficient mass production.

Overall, drum-type mixing plants are more cost-effective, mainly in two aspects: firstly, equipment purchase costs, with drum-type mixing plants costing only 60%-80% of the cost of intermittent mixing plants with the same capacity; secondly, maintenance costs, as drum-type mixing plants have a simpler structure, fewer components, and lower maintenance frequency, resulting in maintenance costs that are only 50%-70% of those of intermittent mixing plants. However, it should be noted that if the project has extremely high requirements for finished product quality, although intermittent mixing plants are more expensive, they can guarantee project quality and avoid rework losses later.

Not particularly high. Diesel fuel consumption is approximately 6 kg/ton of finished asphalt, and coal is approximately 10 kg/ton. Compared to intermittent mixing plants, the thermal energy utilization rate is higher, and energy costs are lower.

This mainly depends on the environmental regulations of the project location. If the location is in an environmentally sensitive area or has strict regulations, a high-efficiency filter baghouse dust collector must be selected. If environmental requirements are not high, and initial investment is a concern, a water-based dust collector is an economical choice.

The nominal capacity (e.g., 80 t/h) usually refers to the maximum theoretical continuous output under ideal operating conditions and standard formula. Actual output will fluctuate due to factors such as aggregate moisture content, formula complexity, and operator skill. When purchasing, it is recommended to choose a model with a capacity 20%-30% higher than the theoretical requirement to allow for some margin.

Maintenance is not difficult. The equipment structure is relatively simple. Daily maintenance mainly involves basic inspection and cleaning: this includes cleaning residual material inside the drum, checking the tension of the belt conveyor, cleaning dust from the bag filter, checking the heating system and sealing of the asphalt tank, and calibrating the metering parameters on the control panel. As long as you follow the maintenance manual provided by the manufacturer and perform basic maintenance regularly, you can effectively reduce equipment failures and extend the equipment’s service life. No professional maintenance team is required.