Search:
Lintec and Linnhoff asphalt plants help bring Moto GP to Indonesia
Staff Report,
21 Dec 2021
Lintec CSD3000 and Linnhoff TSD1500 MobileMix asphalt plants used to build 4.31km Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit on Lombok Island, the only street racetrack on the international motorcycle racing circuit
International motorcycle racing has returned to Indonesia after a 24-year hiatus, with a Lintec CSD3000 containerised asphalt plant the key to producing the country’s new, premium-quality, racetrack in record time.
The CSD3000, the largest mixing plant in Indonesia, was joined by two units of the Linnhoff TSD1500 MobileMix asphalt plants, which were also deployed to produce the asphalt mix for the run-off areas at the 4.31km Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit on Lombok Island’s southern coast.
Construction began in June 2020, as part of the Indonesian government’s campaign to promote new international tourist destinations. Paving works began in February 2021 and went on until August, with the entire project completed by October this year. The circuit was ready to host its first race – the finale of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) season – during November 19-21.
Two Linnhoff TSD1500 MobileMix asphalt plants produced 90-100 tonnes of hot mix asphalt per hour and were primarily used for the run-off areas around the main track.
As the resort area of Mandalika forges ahead with its multi-billion-dollar transformation into a luxury coastal resort worthy of rivalling nearby Bali, the track will become the only street circuit in the prestigious MotoGP calendar functioning as an ordinary road when no events are scheduled.
The surface layer is specially paved using special Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) mixture, which combines the famously tough coarse aggregate Tau stone from Palu, Central Sulawesi, with Performance Grade (PG) 82 polymer-modified bitumen (PMB). Also added was limestone filler from Ponorogo and Probolinggo, East Java, and cellulose fiber additives from Germany - only the highest-quality materials were used. By strengthening the structure of the surface layer so that it remains strong through stone-by-stone contact, its high cohesive strength provides greater resistance to intense heat and heavy loads. Additionally, by remaining non-slippery in wet conditions, this mix is especially suitable for racetracks in tropical regions.
The Lintec CSD3000 plant was chosen because of its reputation for effective screening, accurate weighing, proper and efficient drying, and a production output of up to 240 tons per hour. The high-capacity asphalt plant was chosen to minimise the paving joints for a smoother race track surface. With the PG 82 PMB providing improved workability of asphalt mixtures, it was imperative that the contractors used an asphalt mixing plant that could be relied upon to provide homogeneous output to ensure a reliable production capacity of the optimum mix.
It produced a total of over 50,000 tons of hot mix asphalt for the three layers of the main track; namely the Asphalt Concrete (AC) base layer, AC binder layer, and the SMA surface layer.
Teo Siang Leong, general manager (Sales), Lintec & Linnhoff Asphalt Pte Ltd, said: “The contractors appreciated the consistent quality of the finished mix. And, because of our unique double screen drum technology, they benefited from considerable energy savings as there is no hot elevator or vibrating screens – this also resulted in higher reliability and required less maintenance work.”
Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) was used to pave the surface layer of the street circuit, making it less slippery and more resistant to intense heat and heavy loads.
As the first asphalt mixing plant of this size to be used in Indonesia, the Lintec CSD3000’s modular construction (the entire plant is built inside ISO shipping containers for safe, economical transportation) allowed for fast installation and commissioning after arriving on the jobsite.
The Lintec CSD3000 was also joined by two Linnhoff TSD1500 MobileMix asphalt plants. These mid-size models of the range produced 90-100 tons of hot mix asphalt per hour, and were primarily used for the run-off areas around the main track.
These areas also play host to a large paddock area containing 40 garages, along with temporary grandstand seating for 50,000 fans and 7,700-person-capacity hospitality suites, all of which will be removed at the end of each race schedule. There is also a standing tribune area catering for 138,000 spectators.
“And, because of our unique double screen drum technology, they benefited from considerable energy savings as there is no hot elevator or vibrating screens – this also resulted in higher reliability and required less maintenance work,” Leong added.
Operated by the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA), the generally flat circuit features 17 turns – many of them medium- or high-speed – with just a few hard braking areas. The picturesque coastal scenery is exploited to the full, with the entire course surrounded by panoramic views on all sides and several of its corners being within spitting distance of the beautiful beach.
The circuit has met the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Class A level and will next play host to the prestigious MotoGP in March 2022. They are aiming to meet the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Grade 1 level to be eligible for consideration as a potential future Formula 1 venue.
RELATED ARTICLES
