An Ammann asphalt batching plant and paver are helping to expand a key commerce junction in Bangladesh.

The ABC 120 EcoTec asphalt plant is producing mix for NDE Readymix Concrete, one the biggest suppliers of ready-mix concrete and asphalt in Bangladesh. The company, headquartered in Banani, in the capital Dhaka, serves highway departments and municipalities.

This most recent high-profile project carried out by the NDE team is a 17.6-km stretch of road linking Feni to Noakhali. Feni is the only connection between the area’s key tourist destinations and other important districts. Noakhali is a coastal district that produces major crops such as paddy, soybeans, peanuts and a variety of vegetables.

“Road connectivity is important between Feni and Noakhali for trade and commerce and agricultural production,” said Shak Md. Rejaul Karim, AGM (EME) of electro mechanical engineering at NDE Readymix.

The project calls for resurfacing two lanes of existing highway, plus adding two more lanes. The scope includes earthwork, soil compaction and paving.

Ammann equipment is familiar to the NDE team. “We have been using an Apollo drum-mix plant for seven years and it is still working well,” said Mr Karim. The company has also been utilising 15 Ammann and Apollo pavers.

On the Ammann ABC 120 EcoTec asphalt plant, Mr Karim mentioned that it is “easy to operate and maintain. The control system layout is very user friendly, even for inexperienced operators.”

NDE Readymix chose the standard plant configuration, which has served the company well. “The simplicity of design is what we like the most about this plant,” noted Mr Karim. “The filler elevator being integrated in the tower leg allows for a smaller footprint, too.”

When it’s time to pave, NDE Readymix puts the Ammann AFW 500 wheeled asphalt paver to work at widths up to 5 m. “The paver has helped us on multiple jobsites,” revealed Mr Karim. “We have used this paver on four different sites since its delivery, and it has been meeting our expectations and the varying working conditions.”

The paver’s instrument panel is well-designed and features advantageous components, according to Mr Karim. “The user-friendly dashboard colour display includes the important parameters, and we found that very useful.”

Both the plant and the paver are helping NDE Readymix achieve all project deadlines. “We feel proud doing every single project because we are part of building the important national infrastructure,” said Mr Karim.