At the heart of CMQ Engineering’s concrete reclaimer is a deceptively simple piece of equipment:
The trommel screen.
A trommel screen is a rotating cylindrical screening device that separates materials by size. In a concrete reclaimer, it performs the critical job of separating coarse aggregate from the cementitious slurry and wash water contained in returned concrete.
As returned concrete enters the reclaimer, water helps break down and wash the material. The mixture then moves through the rotating trommel. As the cylinder turns, the material is continuously lifted, tumbled, and washed. Smaller particles, cement paste, and water pass through the screen openings, while larger aggregate remains inside the drum and moves toward the aggregate discharge.
Why a Trommel?
Concrete reclaimers can use several mechanical methods to separate aggregate from slurry. A trommel screen offers an important advantage because screening, agitation, and washing happen simultaneously.
The continuous rotation keeps material moving through the separation process while the tumbling action helps wash residual cement paste from the recovered aggregate. This promotes efficient separation while reducing the tendency for material to accumulate, bridge, or clog.
A trommel also provides a relatively simple mechanical solution. Rather than relying on a complex arrangement of moving separation components, the primary action comes from the rotating drum. Fewer moving parts can mean straightforward operation and easier maintenance.
For ready-mixed concrete producers, effective reclamation means less returned concrete going to waste — and more valuable aggregate being recovered.
Simple. Continuous. Effective.
The trommel screen is at the heart of CMQ Engineering’s concrete reclaimer because it combines size separation, material agitation, and washing in one efficient process.