Fibo Intercon launch fully automated, self-cleaning, self-service batching plant capable of flipping between concrete, mortar and screed recipes.

Fibo Intercon has announced the launch of its Fibo Collect technology to the UK builders merchant market. The new machines integrate an automated concrete batching plant with a touch screen payment terminal so customers can collect high quality concrete, screed or mortar at the push of a button. 

The team at Fibo hope that their new technology will help builders, landscapers & DIYers tackle the ‘small-loads' challenge whilst also decreasing the carbon emissions from the current concrete transportation process.

What is meant by the ‘Small Loads Challenge'?

Builders, landscapers & DIYers who require small to medium loads of concrete will typically receive it via one of three methods:

  1. They mix themselves on site: This can be an expensive and often time-consuming route
  2. Collection from the local ready-mix plant: This brings about problems with waiting times and issues when special mixes are required
  3. Delivered to site by volumetric trucks: This is the most popular route by far. Customers can be subject to minimum order charges, issues with waste disposal and problems with waiting times. This is also thought to be the least environmentally friendly solution for smaller loads.

"I can't believe someone hasn't thought of this before, it's a game changer.  To be able to drive up at a time to suit you and collect small quantities of mortar and concrete is going to save us so much time and money.  We can't wait to see it in a builders merchant near us soon". Stuart Cranfield, Managing Director at Bell Meadow

We caught up with Fibo Intercon CEO Henrik Jeppessen to find out more about the thinking behind the company's move to introduce Fibo Collect to Builder's Merchants in the UK.  

Q: How does your solution help the industry in the UK?  

A: "When we looked at the UK market we saw a huge opportunity to tackle both the customer challenge and the environmental challenge posed by concrete delivery. Our solution ultimately gives the end customer more choice: They choose exactly what types of recipes, how much they want to collect, when they want to collect it and even how they want to pay."

Q: Why local Builders Merchants?

A: "We built this solution for Builders Merchants; we feel they have a huge opportunity to drive new revenue streams from their existing customer base whilst also building a new unique selling point over the local competition that will help draw in new customers."

Product Features

To get fully acquainted with this new technology we investigated what makes it so unique. These are some of the features included:

  • Automated payment terminal with touch screen technology. Payment options are set by the vendor and include: Prepaid (in store) barcode, Credit Card at the plant (payment kiosk), RFID chip for regular account customers
  • Self-cleaning mixing pan: A fully automated internal washing system that cleans the pan mixer immediately after a batch is delivered ready for the next batch and a new recipe.
  • Water outlet hatch: A second release hatch that is positioned on the ‘none customer' side of the machine and is used to relieve all loose aggregates and dirty water following a clean.
  • Waste recycling unit: A unit that separates the washout materials from the water and reconditions the water for use in another concrete batch.
  • In person and remote recipe programming: Up to 60 recipes using up to 4 different additives.
  • Time to refill alarms : Silo levels are measured using weight cells and refill alarms are triggered by email and SMS..
  • Maintenance control panel:  A screen on the machine that is used to identify faults, programme recipes ad hoc and view service schedules.
  • Modem connectivity: Allowing the machine to be cloud based and accessible for remote support. This technology also allows for making delivery and production notes for each batch available in the Fibo cloud, as either pdf or CSV.
  • Productivity data monitoring: Output data on usage is sent via the cloud to be read remotely.

Fibo Collect machines are now available in the UK market. For more information you can visit  www.info.fibointercon.com/fibocollect