Innovative Project

Otsego Ready Mix’s new plant has new and innovative designs which resulted in a plant that allows for the implementation of new and more environmentally friendly concrete products. The plant meets current environmental and safety standards and also provides for the concrete production meeting future requirements..
Storm water is retained on site by incorporating 5 feet of cobble fill beneath the site allowing all storm water to be captured, stored and slowly released back into the sub-surface. The plant is a 12 yard plant with 4 cements, 6 aggregate bins and 10 admixes. The structure used for the office, support systems, lab and storage is a 2 story ICF building. It was designed so the dispatcher office is on the second floor allowing fiber, color or other components to be added to the load out belt from the office, as well as, permitting the dispatcher to watch the loading of the mixers. A camera systems provides the dispatcher with images of all areas of the plant.
The automation is provided by SYSDYNE. SYSDYNE’s Concrete Go technology allows for “E” ticketing and eventually allowing for on-line scheduling. The source of water is an aquifer which created the opportunity to develop a proto-type geothermal heating system in order to supply winter concrete as well as provide chilled water for summer production. When researching geothermal heating systems it became apparent that geothermal had not been used in a ready mix production facility in upstate New York. In order to insure sufficient hot water for production it was necessary to incorporate an 8000 gallon, insulated storage tank. Ground water is pumped from the wells, run through the geothermal system where heat is transferred to the stored water tank to 130 degrees. The system is an open loop system where the return water is discharged into the cobble retainage area. From there is filters back into the aquifer. NYS Energy Research and Development Authority was approached and in conjunction with Earth Sensitive Solutions, LLC a grant was received for the development of the geothermal system. This grant covered a small portion of the cost of implementation. This is believed to be the first such application in the Northeast region for a geothermal heating system.
Otsego Ready Mix is part of the Carbon Cure Network. Mix designs have been created (and are used) that incorporate CO2 allowing for a 5% reduction in Portland while maintaining the desired strength and W/C ratio.