A efficient solution

Watering
system

How Alpacem Zement Austria keeps the plant roads in Wietersdorf dust-free using the Winkelbauer watering system, whilst making optimal use of its existing machinery

Particularly during dry spells, dust generation is one of the major challenges of day-to-day quarry operations. On heavily trafficked site roads, such as those in cement works or gravel plants, dry conditions lead to high levels of dust – affecting staff, machinery and infrastructure alike. And this is precisely where Winkelbauer provides the right solution – a hydraulic sprinkler system for wheel loaders. A development partnership between Alpacem Zement Austria – Wietersdorf plant and Winkelbauer has resulted in a hydraulic sprinkler system designed to be mounted on wheel loaders.

The Alpacem Group is one of the leading manufacturers of building materials and cement in the Alpe-Adria region and operates several plants and quarries in Austria. In day-to-day operations, efficient processes, robust machinery solutions and the economical use of resources play a central role.
To reduce dust formation on the plant roads in the long term, the Wietersdorf plant has been using the hydraulic sprinkler system for around a year.

Joint

Development process

In many companies, watering the factory roads has traditionally meant additional financial outlay: this task often required the purchase of a dedicated tractor with a water tank or specialised watering vehicles. At Alpacem, however, a different decision was deliberately made. They sought a more efficient solution. As part of a development partnership between Alpacem and Winkelbauer, the idea became a reality: a watering system for wheel loaders designed to effectively control dust on the factory premises. Instead of an additional machine, the watering system is used directly with the existing wheel loader – in this case, a VOLVO L180H. This keeps the fleet lean, allows the existing infrastructure to be used efficiently and minimises dust levels. “The big advantage is that we don’t need an additional machine. The tank is simply attached to the wheel loader and can be used flexibly. We use it every day; the solution works really well,” says Martin Groinig – machine operator at the Alpacem cement plant in Wietersdorf.

Easy to use

Water tank in everyday use

As well as its flexibility, ease of use was a key factor for those in charge at the plant. The automatic filling system with overflow protection significantly reduces the workload on a day-to-day basis.
The 6,000-litre tank fills automatically – the water supply is automatically cut off as soon as the tank is full. This means that no additional staff are required to monitor the process. The tank’s baffle plates ensure maximum driving comfort and minimise strain on the machinery. An integrated hose reel enables customised cleaning tasks across the entire factory site.
This flexibility proves to be a major advantage, particularly during ongoing operations. The system is readily available and can be deployed immediately as and when required.

Product information