Sustainability update: Hymix on target for fuel reductions

Since September 2008, Hymix has been rolling out the second stage of its Energy Reduction Initiative. It focuses largely on fuel reduction and has already delivered some impressive fuel savings in the first quarter of 2009, much of which can be credited to three major improvements made with Hymix:

1. Enhanced batching and water-trim accuracy

Tests conducted by Hymix revealed that batch slumps were usually 15-20mm drier than the required slump. This meant that drivers had to remmix the concrete at the slump-stand or on-site; a process that usually takes around five minutes and wastes between 1.4 to 1.7 litres fuel.

Between December 2008 and January 2008, Hymix used its toolbox meetings as an opportunity to explain to drivers and batchers that they can achieve more accurate batches by simply communicating more often with each other, especially when dry batching becomes an issue. Not only has Hymix seen improvements to its slump and water-trim-accuracy-rate, but there has also been a flow-on benefit for its rate on-time deliveries.
Total fuel saving estimate: 1-2 litres of fuel per truck, per day.

2. Reduced 'dead running'

Decreasing the number of trucks transferred between plants, or 'dead running' as it is more commonly referred to, was also identified as a major fuel-reduction opportunity and since August 2008, Hymix has reduced this practice by sixty-seven percent.

Total fuel saving estimate: 94,000 litres of fuel per year.

3. Encouraging fuel-efficient driving

In December 2008, Hymix launched the Fuel Efficiency DVD to all drivers. It used a simulated race between two truck drivers to explain how they can reduce fuel consumption by adopting 'fuel-friendly' practices like turning off their trucks after the initial warm-up and avoiding hard acceleration wherever possible.

Since the DVD's launch, Hymix drivers has been progressively implementing these practices, with the importance of 'fuel-friendly' driving reinforced by a second, informal instructions to drivers which allows them to better understand when they should and should not spin their barrels for charging.

With eighty-percent of trucks now also displaying their optimal mixing speeds on the controls, rev. control standards have been tightened.

Total fuel saving estimate: 1-2 litres of fuel per truck, per day.

As Hymix completes the second phase of its Energy Reduction Initiative, a trial process in underway to determine what fuel savings can be made by adopting more stringent tyre-pressure rules on its 200-strong fleet of agitator trucks.