Simex’s GEN II ART 1000 cold in situ asphalt recycler will soon be launched on the Australian market
At Bauma 2025 the new version of ART 1000, the patented technology developed by Simex for in-situ regeneration of deteriorated asphalt, was presented in its latest GEN II version.
Simex ART is an innovative technology that focuses on surface-level interventions for the functional recovery of road deterioration. It does not require the removal of milled material or the addition of virgin bituminous mix, instead utilising only the existing on-site material.
This cuts down on road closure time, with the surface immediately usable after restoration.
During the milling phase, the equipment uses an eco-friendly chemical rejuvenator to cold-recycle the bituminous aggregate produced. Specifically, ART consists of two drums: the first for milling and mixing, and the second for crushing and disintegration.
In its working phase, the ART 1000 combines the following processes:
- milling of the deteriorated road section
- controlled injection of rejuvenators proportional to the working depth and the carrier’s speed
- reduction of the milled material to the correct grain size
- final mixing to create the recycled bituminous mix ready for compaction.
After regeneration, the bituminous mix is deposited directly into the milled track and is ready to be levelled and compacted with a roller or vibrating plate.
It should also be noted that, as in the case of repairs after the installation of fibre optics, the presence of cement mortars in limited proportions compared to the total volume of milled asphalt does not compromise the success of the final restoration.
“In addition to the logistical advantages on-site and in terms of traffic flow, the ART 1000 technology offers other key benefits,” Queensland Rock Breakers sales manager Peter Muirhead says.
“The costs associated with the purchase and transport of new raw materials is lower, as you are exclusively using the bituminous mix available on-site.
“There’s also the environmental sustainability aspect, because you are recovering and reusing material rather than bringing in new materials, which also cuts down on truck movements as the old material doesn’t need carting off site and disposed of.
“Finally, it’s fast and durable, so road repairs can be undertaken more quickly which helps with planning.”
Cutting-edge tech
Over the past year, Simex has enhanced the onboard electronics of the ART 1000 to better meet the daily needs of road construction sites.
The onboard electronics have been further developed with the addition of a new video interface to improve connectivity between the operator and the ART 1000 technology. This interface displays real-time values such as linear metres (progress), litres per metre (additive dosage), and actual litres (additive consumption).
It is possible to manually set a precise amount of rejuvenator (with a sensitivity of 0.1L/min) according to the manufacturer’s specifications and the site’s environmental conditions. The Simex software calibrates and adjusts the rejuvenator dosage according to the change in the carrier’s speed, based on parameters entered by the operator at the start of the job.
The control display is paired with an LED indicator installed above the equipment in an ergonomic position, making it easy for the operator to monitor and ensure the correct speed for effective material mixing.
The eight-LED light scale gradually lights up: the first two indicate a speed that is too low, and the last two indicate a speed that is too high. The middle range, highlighted in green, suggests the ideal speed for proper regeneration of the milled material.
Easy maintenance
The 100-litre rear tank is now removable from the side, and thanks to a drainage cap located at the bottom, it can be easily emptied if necessary. Additionally, the lateral movement of the tank allows access to the second drum compartment (crusher) from above, for cleaning and maintenance.
The grille that determines the correct grain size of the material exiting under the second drum is also easily removable from the side for proper maintenance and cleaning at the end of the day. The removable tank and grille have been designed to ensure safe and easy access to the crusher drum of the equipment.
Contact your local SIMEX dealer to learn more. Authorised SIMEX dealers in Australia are:
- Walkers Hammers (VIC, SA, TAS), walkershammers.com.au
- Groundtec (NSW), groundtec.com.au
- QLD Rock Breakers (QLD and NT), rdw.com.au/qld-rock-breakers
- Total Rockbreaking Solutions (WA), totalrockbreaking.com.au