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SOlD OUT! The winter
customer school started
January 10 and ran
through February 24, 2011,
running for a total of five weeks
to accommodate attendees. The
theme, “Are You Prepared,”
focused on taking the lead to
improve performance. The
sessions offered training on
skill sets and knowledge to be
proactive on plant operations and
maintenance.
Expertise and Experience
After attending one of the fourday
sessions, customers are
empowered to eliminate many
service calls, troubleshoot plant
operation issues, gain more
from service calls, and get their
plants back up and running
faster, maximizing the plant’s full
potential. The training provides
more knowledge about the
plant features and components,
making for better operators in
the field.
Dr. J. Don Brock, Astec founder
and CEO, opened the sessions
with a presentation on the time
and money savings that can be
achieved through being prepared
before the initial service call.
1) A student troubleshoots a load cell on a weighbridge. 2) Astec instructor
Steve Corcoran shows students how to test burner limits. 3) Students
troubleshoot PLC hardware. 4) Astec instructor Rick Hodge demonstrates how
to adjust burner limits.
Other presentations included:
• Get Prepared: Stack Testing
• Dust: Cellulose, Fiber, Anti-
Strip – How? Why? What?
• Intense Wear: Maintenance
and Care Technologies
• Maximize Uptime: Don’t Let
Your Equipment Manage You
• Take Control: PM II and TC II
Overview
4
Hands-on Training
The school is designed for
customers and non-customers
wanting detailed information on
the asphalt industry and hotmix
asphalt (HMA) production.
Those in attendance included
experienced operators who
wanted to enhance their skills,
new operators wanting to
increase their knowledge level,
and active owners and managers
wanting to keep their skill sharp.
Sessions included:
• Maintenance and Calculating
Calibrations
• Start-up and Common Control
Mistakes Management
• Silos, Cones, and Drag
Conveyor Care
• Environmental Regulations,
Controls, and Baghouse Care
• Overall Plant Performance
Improvements
With new equipment for 2011,
the session on burner training
was enhanced for greater
learning. The actual, full-size
Whisper Jet ® , Phoenix ® Talon,
and Phoenix ® Fury Burners
were on hand with real burner
controls and lights on all limits
for better burner maintenance
and troubleshooting. The session
included training on keeping the
controls properly calibrated.
A session on Heatec Tanks and
Heaters at Heatec, Inc. was
included along with tours of the
Astec and Heatec manufacturing
facilities.
Being proactive—that’s the key to
great plant operations.
HOT-MIX MAGAZINE 37 VOLUME 16 NUMBER 1