Design of Precast Concrete Production Requiring Low Investment

Abstract

The production of precast concrete components is an important part of off-site construction technology. Major construction activities are moved to the factory that can manage the production process and the environment for higher efficiency, and better and more convenient quality-control and can use automatic machines to help the work routines. As a result, the cost and duration of construction work is reduced, the quality and consistency of work is increased, and the danger and environmental impact of construction work are reduced. Such advantages make the technology soon become the world's main construction method.
However, the establishment of a dedicated, semi-automated manufacturing plant requires very high investment and reliance on foreign technology. It is a major obstacle for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. This research aims to design a new semiautomatic plant that requires low investment. It combines the advantages of both traditional factories and foreign prefabricated designs by positioning in the production line and machine design for assisting in important production processes such as concrete
moulds, concrete pouring, surface trowelling, mould shuttering and stripping, and final product storage. Finally, an estimation of investment for this new manufacturing facility is presented.