NEWS

A LIGHTWEIGHT DOUBLE TELESCOPIC CONVEYOR

This text is extracted from Concrete magazine, July 2009 - p. 28.

The current economic situation is driving ready-mixed producers to find new ways to make a profit. Last summer, Faheys Concrete decided to buy the first TDL16.5 double telescopic THEAM conveyor in the UK, to make the difference.

Today, the margin on ready-mixed concrete is decreasing due to the economic climate and a strong competition between concrete producers. For this reason, different British drivers and concrete producers decided to equip some of their truck mixers with a conveyor to offer a concrete handling service and diversify their profit sources. From the builders’ point of view, using a conveyor system for small and medium deliveries of concrete has technical and economical advantages. When they use a conveyor, they need less workers and less time because operatives can work directly alongside the head of the conveyor, ensuring full efficiency straight away.

Offering a conveyor service is not new for Faheys Concrete; the company has had conveyors for about 25 years. Indeed, it had standard and telescopic conveyors but it wanted to find a safe product with three important features: at least one telescope for flexibility, a maximum reach and light equipment so that enough concrete can be carried in the drum.

The range of products offered by THEAM includes 12 models of conveyors (designed for 4-, 6- and 8-wheeler trucks), in aluminium or steel, with or without telescope. All products can be supplied with three options: a 140 bar high-pressure washer to keep the conveyor clean, a high voltage power line detector to prevent incidents due to electric power lines and a demountable system for those who want to have the choice to either use the conveyor or carry a full drum of concrete (when the conveyor is demounted).

THEAM and its British agent, Europa (Sales) decided to launch TDL6.5 conveyor in the English market. This patented product was first designed in 2003 to answer the needs of French companies that wanted to carry 7m3 of concrete, deliver all types of ready-mixed concrete up to 16.5m away from their truck and place materials on a second floor through a window. Since then, THEAM engineers have launched two other versions of this model, in 2004 and 2005, in order to improve its performance and safety features.

Nathan Faheys of Faheys Concrete was impressed with the balance between the weight and the reach of TDL16.5. In terms of flexibility, this model is capable of placing concrete from 10.5m–16.5m away from the truck mixer. Its conveying height (9.5m) together with its conveying depth (6.5m), its rotation arc (310° around the concrete mixer) and its belt width (360mm), make it practical for residential, industrial and agricultural jobs. In particular, this double telescopic conveyor is perfect for complex construction sites with difficult access. For instance, it can be used to cross obstacles (barriers, walls, etc), for foundations or slabs, and to deliver concrete up to a second floor by using telescopes situated on the second (3.5m telescope) and third sections (1.5m telescope) of the conveyor. These two telescopic parts mean that the concrete can be placed in one go without moving the mixer truck.

In terms of weight, this TDL16.5 is much lighter than its steel equivalent. In fact, it weighs approximately 2500kg, which is 500kg lighter. Not only does this feature have technical benefits (reducing the weight on the boom by 500kg considerably reduces the efforts on axles, pivot, etc) but in a highly competitive market, carrying 7m3 instead of 6.5m3 is a major benefit.

In terms of safety, the model benefits from the following features: a pressure limiter on the hydraulic system; a pressure gauge control of cylinders; an optimal safety guard system; a lock/unlock indicator light for stabilisers; an emergency shut-off on the truck; and a double rotation chain system with pressure limiters. In addition, it is supplied with hydraulic stabilisers to improve truck mixer stability as well as remote control radio so the operator can be positioned a safe distance from the equipment and keep and eye on the delivery.

Moreover, engineers added two features to this conveyor. First of all, TDL16.5 is equipped with a sliding system which prevents concrete segregation and makes it compatible with every kind of concrete plasticity. Second, it is supplied with proportional hydraulics to avoid shifting balance when you stop the conveyor and to deliver concrete precisely.

Conclusion
The latest innovation from THEAM is a telescopic conveyor with a rotating chute at the end that increases the delivery area by 35% compared to the same conveyor without a rotating chute. Concrete can now be delivered in angles within a shorter distance compared to standard conveyors (7m).

ANNE-MARIE IDRAC IN NANTES

(This text is a translation of the article entitled "Anne-Marie Idrac en visite chez les entreprises exportatrices", extracted from Le Figaro Economie magazine, from march 31st 2008).

"For her very first company visit, the new Foreign Secretary, Mrs. Anne-Marie Idrac, went to Nantes on Thursday in order to meet some CEOs from companies focusing on exports, students from Audencia Business School who want to start their career abroad, (.) the Chambers of Commerce and the DRCE.
(…)
What is better than starting up by visiting a small company that makes more than 65% of its turnover thanks to export?
THEAM company (75 employees), settled in Bouguenais, is the worldwide leader in mixer mounted concrete conveyor belt market.
“Our upcoming playground is the rest of the world!” said its CEO, Henri-Bruno Levesque, as he was greeting --the Minister; to whom she said in return, “You couldn’t cheer me up better by saying so!".
Still, Henri-Bruno Levesque did draw her attention on the fact that the “Chamber of Commerce should rather devote and focus on small and medium businesses”. He also pleaded for a revaluation of import credit tax.
Afterwards, she started a country scaled visit based on the example of her stop in Nantes.

ANNE-MARIE IDRAC at THEAM

(This text is a translation of the article entitled “France – Anne-Marie Idrac recueille les doléances d’une PME”, extracted from Reuters Mondiale from March 27th 2008).

Anne-Marie Idrac (…) visited THEAM, a company located in Bouguenais, in the suburbs of Nantes. «The French Chamber of Commerce should deal with SME’s that are focusing on export” said the THEAM CEO, Henri-Bruno Levesque. THEAM is the world leader in mixer mounted concrete conveyor belt market.
He said : “We must comply with many formalities in order to penetrate the Chinese market”. “The implementation of business centers with common secretaries would be very helpful, mostly during the first months. This would develop partnerships between companies that have already been through this”.
Henri-Bruno Levesque also pleaded for a revaluation of the credit tax (…). Anne-Marie Idrac answered him : “This matter must be considered”. “This is a recent concept, and it works quite well actually; but we should maybe focus on customizing it for the more dynamic companies”.

TROPHEE JULES VERNE

On June 11th 2007, THEAM received from the MEDEF 44, the 19th Jules Vernes trophy concerning “Go International” topic.

For the first time, THEAM had its own booth at the BAUMA international show (held in Munich, Germany) from April 23rd to 29th. As a world leader in the mixer mounted concrete conveyor belt market, THEAM put the emphasis on its new widespread international development: with a stronger export sales structure and the creation of subsidiaries and sales offices, THEAM can guarantee a worldwide presence.
Since the company was taken over by Henri-Bruno Levesque in 2000, the strategy of this independent French company has been based on innovation and export.

T3D15 CONVEYOR WITH ROTATING CHUTE

THEAM devotes a main part of its turnover to Research and Development in order to improve the performance of its conveyors. Now, the brand new T3D15 brings further innovation to the telescopic technology. It has a 360° rotating chute controlled by a hydraulic system. Thanks to this technology not only the delivery area is increased by 35%, but also the distance of delivery is more compact.

Practical example on a 110m2 pave ground floor
The telescopic features combined with the rotating chute (both are fully remote controlled) allowed the 6.5m3 delivery to be performed in one time. Besides, as you can see on pictures, it did not require additional effort from the two masons. Dare we say, only ONE mason could have easily handled the whole work by himself. 65% of the 100m2 delivery surface have been successfully placed without moving the mixer truck.

The remainder did not require to resort to the conveyor belt.
After its first presentation during the Bauma show in Munich during spring 2007, this brand new conveyor belt has been available since mid-October.

Vendée Béton, a subsidiary of Vendée Matériaux, has been the very first company to resort to this brand new innovation. The first delivery took place in Vertou (Loire-Atlantique). The ready mixed concrete was provided by VM Matériaux based on the same location.

RESULTS ON THE RISE

Strong growth on the French market.
As a world leader in the mixer mounted concrete conveyor belt market, THEAM has recorded an important rise of its activity (+63%) thanks to the public buildings and works sector that has registered a significant growth. The French market now represents 35% of THEAM turnover.
Overseas markets have grown by 15% and now represent 65%.

Despite a high level of equipment this market is facing a growing demand for newer, always better performing and innovating products. Thus, this explains why sales of our new T3D15 have been soaring since its launch. Our R&D department combined the telescopic technology with a rotating chute. Thanks to this feature, the delivery area is increased by 35%; the compact distance (7m) enables delivery on very short distances.

In 2007, 30% of the 6000 mixer trucks operating in France are mounted with THEAM conveyor belts.

Our customers are ready mixed concrete manufacturers (groups or independent companies), transport companies and mixer truck rental companies.
THEAM has done a satisfaction study so as to meet its customers’ requirements. The final users, mostly the contractor the craftsman or SME’s are targeted through marketing and publicity campaigns focusing on conveyor advantages. In order to convince them, the following advantages have proved to be really convincing: time savings, operating smoothness, a better profitability, economy of workforce, increased security.
The after sales service has been completed by a network of THEAM relay points throughout the country.