Prefeeding conveyor is an aggregate pre-feeding conveyor system that delivers raw aggregate from grade-level hoppers directly to the aggregate inlet of a concrete batching plant. Its purpose is to eliminate the on-site loading ramp that would otherwise be built so that wheel-loaders could drive up and discharge into the plant's elevated aggregate hoppers.
Where Prefeeding Conveyor Is Used
Prefeeding conveyor is added to CONSTMACH mobile, compact, stationary and dry-type concrete plants whenever the customer wants to skip the loading-ramp civil works. It is particularly common in mobile plant deployments (where the no-civil-works ethos is the central design philosophy) and in urban or environmentally sensitive sites where temporary earthworks are restricted.
How It Integrates with a Plant
Prefeeding conveyor is sized to match the upstream batching plant — belt width, discharge height and hopper sizing are matched to the plant's aggregate throughput. The system is supplied on a wheeled chassis where transport regulations allow, otherwise as a quickly-bolted modular assembly. Same SIEMENS / SCHNEIDER electrical components and PLC integration as the main plant.
Operating Considerations
Prefeeding conveyor runs continuously while the upstream batching plant is producing. The wheel-loader discharges aggregate into ground-level hoppers; the conveyor lifts the material to the plant. Daily checks cover the belt condition and the hopper feed slot for blockages. Belt life is typically 3–5 years for standard aggregate; abrasive feeds (washed sand, hard rock) shorten this.
Comparison to Alternatives
Compared to building a loading ramp in concrete and steel, prefeeding conveyor saves the upfront civil-works cost and the deployment time. The conveyor can also move with the plant when the project relocates — preserving the no-civil-works advantage at the next site. For permanent stationary installations on a single site, a loading ramp may be more economical over the plant lifetime if relocation is not in the operating model.
