A Moldtech installation now operating in Hungary incorporates screeding and power trowelling equipment to improve the upper-surface finish of precast concrete panels. The project also includes two tilting tables and five laser projectors that support simultaneous formwork positioning on both tables.
Panel quality extends to the upper surface
When precast panels are manufactured horizontally, the upper face of the concrete remains exposed during production and requires specific treatment to achieve an even, uniform surface.
Without screeding and power trowelling, this face has a more irregular finish. Surface treatment is therefore an important part of manufacturing and contributes to the overall quality of the finished panel.
At the installation in Hungary, Moldtech has integrated both operations to improve the panel surface before the concrete completes its hardening process.
Screeding and power trowelling for a better finish
The equipment combines a vibrating screed and a power trowel, which perform two complementary tasks. The screed levels the concrete and corrects unevenness after placement. The power trowel then works the surface to produce a smoother, more consistent finish.
Together, these operations address both surface evenness and final appearance. Compared with a surface that does not receive these treatments, screeding and power trowelling deliver a more uniform finish across the upper face of the panel.
The power trowel therefore plays a key role in production, directly contributing to the surface quality of the precast element.
Surface finishing as part of manufacturing
Moldtech’s solution allows these operations to take place directly on the production tables. Upper-surface treatment becomes part of the manufacturing sequence, alongside formwork preparation and concrete placement.
The equipment addresses a specific requirement of precast production: controlling the surface finish as well as the shape and dimensions of each element. This approach considers panel quality from forming through to surface finishing.
Tilting tables and surface finishing within the production process
The panels are manufactured on two tilting tables, which provide the working surface for positioning formwork, placing concrete, and carrying out screeding and power trowelling.
The installation includes one table measuring 24 metres long by 4.5 metres wide, consisting of two modules, and a second table measuring 36 metres long by 4.5 metres wide, consisting of three modules. Both feature adjustable side forms to accommodate different panel thicknesses.
While the panels remain horizontal, the screed and power trowel work their upper surfaces to achieve a more even, consistent finish. Once the concrete reaches the strength required for demoulding, the tables tilt to facilitate panel removal.
The two tilting tables and the finishing equipment thus perform complementary functions within the same production sequence, from forming the panels through to demoulding.
Five laser projectors to prepare both tables
The installation also incorporates five laser projectors for simultaneous formwork positioning on both tables. References projected onto the working surfaces guide the placement of the formwork elements that define the panel geometry.
This support during table preparation complements the subsequent work of the screed and power trowel. The project brings together solutions for two important stages of production: positioning the formwork and finishing the upper concrete surface.
Moldtech solutions for precast concrete quality
As a manufacturer of moulds and equipment for precast concrete, Moldtech develops solutions tailored to the requirements of each production process. This installation in Hungary reflects its focus on integrating equipment that contributes to panel quality and supports manufacturing operations.
With engineering and manufacturing based in Spain, Moldtech continues to bring its experience to international projects where preparation, forming, and surface finishing are treated as parts of a single production process.
