The Putzmeister Iontron is a hybrid truck-mounted concrete pump that be powered with diesel or electricity from the construction site. The patent-pending technology integrates the plug-in hybrid in the hydraulic pump train to save fuel, space and weight. By pressing a button, operators can switch between the two modes of energy during the operation of the pump. Depending on the local electricity mix, CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 100%. The Iontron also reduces noise levels up to 50%, which significantly reduces disturbance due to construction activity in residential areas. In the electric mode of operation, the noise perceived by humans can be reduced to 107 dB(A), compared to 115 dB(A) in the diesel mode.
Patrick Reichel, regional director – Middle East & North Africa, Putzmeister, explains the product development strategy for the Iontron pump.
“Environmental protection has become a decisive factor for tendering and awarding construction projects globally. In urban areas, regulations are being imposed strictly both for CO2 emissions and the noise level of construction machinery. To meet these requirements, our customers in the concrete and construction industries demand innovation in productivity, sustainability and safety with regard to concrete pumping and placement. They also aim to position themselves as drivers of sustainability in their industries.
Putzmeister continuously invests in the development of carbon neutral construction machinery which applies not only for concrete pumps but the entire product portfolio. By developing the first ever concrete pump that enables environment-friendly construction, we are offering our customers a competitive edge in their markets. For the first time, our customers can offer a sustainable concrete pumping solution without the need to compromise on efficiency or profitability,” says Patrick.
In the electric mode, the Iontron pump is operated with power supply (125 A) from the jobsite and without the need for additional batteries. The electric mode supports the positioning of the support, boom movements, and concrete pumping. In this mode, the 92kW electric motor of the Iontron covers typical site use applications with a delivery rate of up to 100 m³/h. The output volume depends on the pressure and site conditions.
The Iontron hybrid pump when configured with Putzmeister’s intelligent low stroke (ILS) core pump provides 3% increase in efficiency through the prevention of leaks, 10% improvement in suction by removing bottlenecks in the concrete flow, and 25% reduction in fuel consumption through the Ergonic Output Control (EOC 2.0) system which regulates the engine speed to ensure that the concrete pump operates smoothly with fuel efficiency and low wear.
Depending on the local safety requirements machine operators can connect the power supply themselves or by a trained worker onsite. Irrespective of the mode of operation – diesel or electric – the experience of operating the concrete pump remains the same for the machine operator.
The operator can switch from the diesel drive to the electric mode of operation by driving the truck to the jobsite in the diesel mode and activating the distributor gear. Then, the 35m cable is plugged into the 125A socket. The unwinding can be done by hand or supported hydraulically in the diesel mode. The distributor gear is deactivated in the diesel mode. Then, the main switch is turned to the electric mode. Finally, the electric motor is activated by pressing the ‘start engine’ button on the radio remote control and the concrete pump is operated in the electric mode.
One of the early adopters of the Iontron globally and the first customer in the Middle East and North Africa is Saudi-Arabia-based Abdulla Abdeen Ready Mix Concrete Establishment, which has invested in the Iontron specifically for construction projects at NEOM in line with the sustainability vision for the megacity.
“The major construction companies and contractors worldwide have already implemented sustainability requirements in their tenders and project specifications. Furthermore, several markets have introduced incentives for reducing the carbon footprint in the construction industry, either through lower taxation or direct incentives for new investments in hybrid or all-electric machines. The increasing momentum in such initiatives worldwide is driving interest in the Iontron and discussions about the total cost of ownership of machines equipped with this technology,” says Patrick.
The Iontron is currently available for Putzmeister’s 20, 30 and 40m series of truck mounted concrete pumps. Putzmeister has plans to introduce the technology in its stationary concrete pumps and truck mixers in the future.