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SIMTO® M-Blend for Asphalt Blending

Making Performance Grade (PG) asphalts involves mixing various base asphalts and polymer modifiers. The qualities of the base asphalts vary widely and depend on the crude oils from which the asphalts are derived. The specifications of PG asphalts change with requirements for high and low temperature applications. While the base asphalts usually determine the low temperature properties, the polymer modifiers determine the high temperature properties. Optimizing and managing this complicated blending process is a challenge for asphalt producers. SIMTO M-Blend for Asphalt Blending is a response to this need. Key features of this application are:
  • Minimizing cost and quality giveaway of multiple blends over multiple periods in the schedule horizon, while honoring constraints in specifications, inventory, logistics, and shipments.
  • Avoiding the problem of optimizing a single blend at the risk of inventory shortage, shipment delay, and even loss of sale for subsequent asphalt blends.
  • Managing inventory economically by accurately predicting demands of asphalt and polymer components.
  • Controlling tightly critical properties like rolling thin film oven (RTFO), aging, and stiffness temperatures to minimize quality giveaway.
  • Predicting asphalt blend properties accurately with versatile blending methods including linear blending, bonuses, formulas, interactions, and dynamic libraries.
  • Blending asphalts consistently for consistent product quality.
  • Increasing plant flexibility with the ability to blend opportunity asphalts and to adapt quickly to changes in asphalt supply and quality.
  • Managing asphalt specifications and blending methods through a blend knowledge base.
M-Blend for Asphalt Blending has user-friendly interfaces to interact with the program and tabular displays and trend charts to present simulation results. These features make the comprehensive functions of the application accessible. M-Blend can be used stand-alone or integrated with SIMTO Scheduling for arranging feedstock receipts and product shipments.

 
 
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