Plant quotations, specifications and manuals share a vocabulary of their own. This glossary explains the terms buyers meet most often, in plain English, grouped by topic.
Process terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Batch plant | Plant that makes mix in separate weighed batches after screening hot aggregate. See how a plant works |
| Drum mix plant | Plant that dries and mixes continuously in one drum, proportioned by cold feeders |
| Continuous plant | Any plant that produces mix in a continuous flow, including drum mix plants |
| Batch cycle | Time to weigh, mix and discharge one batch. See cycle time |
| Dry mixing | Mixing aggregate and filler before binder is added |
| Wet mixing | Mixing after the binder is added |
| Counterflow drum | Drum where aggregate flows against the hot gas. See counterflow vs parallel flow |
| Parallel-flow drum | Drum where aggregate and gas flow the same way |
| Hot recycling | Adding heated RAP to new mix in the plant |
| Warm mix asphalt (WMA) | Mix produced at lower temperature using additives or foaming. See warm mix |
| HMA | Hot mix asphalt |
Equipment terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cold feed bins | Ground-level bins holding each aggregate size. See cold feeders |
| Belt feeder | Variable-speed belt under each cold bin that meters aggregate |
| Collecting belt | Conveyor under the feeders that gathers all sizes |
| Weighing belt / belt scale | Conveyor section that weighs the flow of aggregate |
| Drying drum (dryer) | Rotating inclined drum that dries and heats aggregate. See drum and burner |
| Flights | Steel plates inside the drum that lift and drop aggregate through hot gas |
| Riding rings (tyres) | Steel rings on the drum that rest on rollers |
| Trunnion rollers | Rollers that support and turn the drum |
| Burner | Supplies the heat; fired by oil, gas, LPG or coal. See burner fuel |
| Turndown ratio | Range between a burner’s maximum and minimum stable firing rate |
| Hot elevator | Bucket elevator lifting hot aggregate to the screen |
| Vibrating screen | Multi-deck screen splitting hot aggregate into sizes. See screen and hot bins |
| Hot bins | Bins storing each hot size fraction above the scales |
| Overflow chute | Path for excess material from a full hot bin |
| Aggregate scale | Hopper weighing the hot aggregate for each batch |
| Filler scale | Hopper weighing mineral filler |
| Bitumen scale / bucket | Vessel weighing binder for each batch |
| Twin-shaft mixer / pugmill | Mixer with two paddle shafts. See the mixer |
| Paddles (tips) and arms | Mixing elements on the shafts; tips are wear parts |
| Liners | Replaceable wear plates inside the mixer |
| Baghouse | Fabric filter that cleans exhaust gas. See baghouse care |
| Pressure drop (ΔP) | Pressure difference across baghouse bags; shows their condition |
| Pulse-jet cleaning | Compressed air pulses that knock dust off the bags |
| Wet collector / scrubber | Dust collector using water instead of bags |
| Exhaust fan | Draws gas through the drum and dust collector |
| Filler silo | Storage for imported filler and recovered fines |
| Hot mix silo | Insulated storage for finished mix. See silos |
| Thermal oil heater | Heats oil that circulates to warm bitumen tanks and lines |
| PLC | Programmable logic controller — the plant’s control computer. See control systems |
Materials terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aggregate | Crushed stone, gravel and sand forming most of the mix |
| Gradation | Distribution of particle sizes in aggregate or mix |
| Filler | Very fine mineral material that stiffens the binder |
| Bitumen / asphalt binder | The black binder that glues the aggregate |
| Penetration grade | Classification of bitumen by hardness |
| Polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) | Bitumen with polymers for better performance. See PMB requirements |
| RAP | Reclaimed asphalt pavement — milled old asphalt reused in new mix |
| SMA | Stone mastic asphalt — gap-graded mix with fibers |
| Job-mix formula (JMF) | The approved recipe: gradation, binder content, temperatures |
| Moisture content | Water in aggregate, as a percentage of dry weight |
Performance terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| t/h (TPH) | Tons per hour of finished mix |
| Rated output | Output under reference conditions. See rated vs real output |
| Installed power | Total motor power of the plant in kW |
| Fuel consumption | Fuel used per ton of mix (kg/t or L/t) |
| Emission limit | Maximum dust concentration allowed at the stack, e.g. in mg/Nm³ |
Commercial and logistics terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| FOB / CIF / DAP | Incoterms defining who pays and carries risk. See Incoterms |
| Packing list | List of every package, size and weight in the shipment |
| Flat rack | Container with no sides or roof for oversized items |
| L/C | Letter of credit. See payment terms |
| Pre-shipment inspection | Inspection before goods leave the factory |
| Commissioning | Start-up, calibration and trial production. See commissioning |
| Wear parts | Parts that wear in normal use and are replaced regularly. See spare parts |
Missing a term? Ask us and we will add it.
