News

Second LASTRADA User Conference 2012

LASTRADA on the road

15/16 Feb 2012, Liverpool, UK
11th International Conference on Pavement Engineering and Infrastructure

The fifth year in a row we will be exhibiting at Liverpool's John Moores University. We are going to present our LASTRADA software and the new developments around it, such as the new LASTRADA/AS1 interface, which enables data transfer between the asphalt or concrete plant and the laboratory. If you are interested in a short (or long) introduction to LASTRADA we are happy to welcome you at our stand.

At 2010's conference we have presented a paper about the benefits of interfaces between asphalt laboratories, plant control systems and ERP system. Please find the abstract of the paper below. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the paper, do not hesitate to contact us!

The latest LASTRADA Release 4.3.0 introduces a new workflow control module for independent laboratories.

This module provides an alternative to the existing ways of workflow structuring in LASTRADA, which laid much focus on flexibility and wide, overlapping responsibilities. Now we are pleased to present a module which concentrates on the requirements of independent labs that prefer well-defined responsibilities and central oversight. An integrated user-friendly interface guides the user from sample receiving, via test planning and test data entry to the document outbox. Each user receives quick, intuitive and role-based access to all necessary information and control centres. The possibility of a seamless integration with quotations, invoicing and document management modules goes without saying.

Here are the key-features of the new module:
- one seamless user-friendly interface provides step-by-step guidance from sample receiving to report sending and invoicing
- support of up to 5 roles for clearing stages and signatures
- direct access to test data registration dialogues
- optional integration with invoice management and document management modules
- comprehensive overview of the status of testing programs (sample receiving, clearance, testing, signature, invoicing and outbox) at the push of a button
- automatic status messages via Windows task bar icons and direct access to the corresponding tasks
- fast and direct document generation (e.g. for contract confirmations, sample data sheets, lab work sheets, reports and invoices)
- integrated outbox (document distribution lists and outgoing document registration)

This new module also includes all features of the LASTRADA Digital Signature Module and the LASTRADA Sample Management Module.

LASTRADA users are welcome to contact us to receive a three-month trial license for this new module - our hotline will gladly provide support with the necessary setup.

If you are new to LASTRADA, we look forward to your call or email to arrange a free demonstration at your company premises.

A complete list of features of this year’s LASTRADA versions will be issued in the upcoming LASTRADA Feature Almanac 2012.

The last two versions 4.2.5 and 4.2.6 brought a lot of new functionality for all user groups. Here are some highlights:

The dialogue for mass data operations for concrete mix designs has been completely redesigned. The available features are offered now with more comfort and transparency:
- Simultaneous replacement (and dosage adjustments) for cements, aggregates, additions and admixtures in an unlimited number of mix designs
- Comprehensive filter to find mix designs
- Checks whether the new component(s) have been already used in the selected mix designs. In such cases, a warning appears which offers the possibility to directly modify the parameters.
- Comprehensive "conformity hints" with references to the applicable tables in the EN 206-1 standard.
- One-click-export of the recipe list into Excel.

We have added a "long missed" feature to the layout designer: the mouse wheel in combination with the Control key can now be used to zoom in and out. Holding SHIFT and using the mouse wheel will scroll through the document pages.

Aggregate producers can enjoy the new Inspection Plan dialogue for external test results. It is possible to define testing frequencies for all available test types and corresponding size fractions. LASTRADA will automatically retrieve the available test results from samples flagged 'externally tested' of the last five years display them in one concise table. If a PDF of the original test report was linked to the sample, this report may be directly opened in the Inspection Plan dialogue and its name and location may be reported. To output the Inspection plan we are providing a template with a customisable table with the corresponding cell-types.

Find out about the many other improvements in the accompanying read-me file!

LASTRADA Roadshows

Here is another opportunity to experience our laboratory software in your company! Our LASTRADA specialists demonstrate how LASTRADA improves quality, efficiency and productivity of your laboratory.

23 May 2011: New LASTRADA Release!

14 March 2011: New LASTRADA Release!

First LASTRADA User Conference 2011

The fourth year in a row we will be exhibiting at Liverpool's John Moores University. We are going to present our LASTRADA software and the new developments around it, such as the new LASTRADA/AS1 interface, which enables data transfer between the asphalt or concrete plant and the laboratory. If you are interested in a short (or long) introduction to LASTRADA we are happy to welcome you at our stand.

At last year's conference we have presented a paper about the benefits of interfaces between asphalt laboratories, plant control systems and ERP system. Please find the abstract of the paper below. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the paper, do not hesitate to contact us!

17 January 2011: New LASTRADA Release!

The latest LASTRADA version 4.2.2 has been released. New features include:

- Extensions of the XML-Export facilities for test results of asphalt mixtures and cores

- A new flexible table-type with many new feaures for statistics of incoming aggregates at the asphalt plant

- New sieving methods: 'repeated dry sieving' and 'repeated wet sieving' (the supported sieving methods now amount to a total of 12, including many sample splitting variants!)

- New concrete master data 'Requirement Class'. It supports the initialisation of concrete specifications at concrete registration stage, which should be even faster now.

Please find the details of all new features in the ReadMe-file of your Update Package.

The latest LASTRADA version 4.2.1 has been released. Important new features are included for asphalt laboratories and independent test houses in general. The former will be please to learn that the sample-based testing register supports more test types (ITSR, ITS, binder drainage, modulus of elasticity and stability loss among others).

All test houses among our users are invited to try out the new dialogue . Until now, LASTRADA offered several test lists and work lists to plan test sequences and worksteps. Now we have created a central interface for a centralised access to all those lists. It provides an overview over all tests and worksteps which are due in a specific time frame. A double-click on a test or workstep leads directly to the corresponding list.

Please find the details of all new features in the ReadMe-file of your Update Package.

The last versions 4.1.8 and 4.1.9 were released in shorter intervals due to the requirements of new customers. In the newest version 4.2.0 the changes have been made available LASTRADA-wide for all users. The most important ones are the following:

User control of dialogue behaviour
All users now have more control over the behaviour of dialogues. Citrix users for instance, can opt for an alignment of minimised dialogues on the lower edge of the LASTRADA window and define rules for the sequence of minimised dialogue icons. Alternatively the minimised dialogue aligns at the lower edge of the screen. Also, when a report preview is generated, the user may decide whether dialogues should minimise automatically or remain active - a feature that was requested by users with large monitors.

Concrete Identity Testing
The methods for identity testing have been extended by the possibility of statistical evaluation of flexural strength results. This has been done on the basis of the rules of identity testing for compressive strength.

Additionally, the construction site access has been reworked to facilitate the registration of concrete pourings without pop-up windows. The new dialogue allows the registration of delivery ticket details, curing details, sending of concreting announcements and creation of new samples with very few clicks.

Asphalt Quality Control
The asphalt construction site quality control module has been extended to support new local requirements for arbitration testing. Until recently it was sufficient for binder tests, maximum and bulk density, voids content, voids filled with bitumen and VMA to conduct two separate tests and report only the average result. Now it is possibly to control whether single results of sample one and two appear separately on the report or only the mean value.

Support of Additional Test Types
Two more tests are now supported: particle shape determination in accordance with BS 812-105.2 and soil density determination in accordance with BS 1377-1 Chap. 8.2.

Sample Management
A new overview dialogue offers easier management of registered samples, printing of lists for many purposes and direct access (double-click) to the sample test results.

Many more customer requests have been implemented. Please find the details in the ReadMe-file of your Update Package.

The new version 4.1.7. includes several new functionalities.

Workflow control through Testing Programs

All laboratories offering services to external clients will be please to learn about a new workflow control variant in LASTRADA. This variant offers an additional possibility for controlling the complete workflow of contract creation, sample registration, test data entry and invoicing. The concept of testing programs coexists now with the contract/sub-contract concept.

While testing, organised in contracts/sub-contracts, gives the highest possible level of flexibility when it comes to structuring the laboratory work, the new concept of testing programs and testing packages offers the highest level of automation:
- Automated sample registration and tracking
- Automated test location registration
- Automated management of contract-related product lists
- Automated creation of testing registers
- Automated report generation
- Automated invoicing


Support of New Testing Standards
It goes without saying that all tests suported by LASTRADA conform to the European Testing Standards. Additonally, our maintenance philosophy incudes the support of testing according to the national and regional requirements. During the past three months we have successively extended over thirty tests to provide data entry, evaluation and data output according to American (ASTM) and British (BS) standards.

Extension of Cement Testing
We have completed the cement testing module to support not only tests that are necessary for FPC but the complete range of physical and chemical test of the EN 196 series of standards.

Many more customer requests have been implemented. Please find the details in the ReadMe-file of your Update Package.

In the past months we have released versions 4.1.2 to 4.1.4.

Included were many new features. We would like to highlight the improved handling of reclaimed asphalt samples here. Especially the integration of the statistical evaluation of reclaimed asphalt tests into the classification of granulate for asphalt declarations has been made much more comfortable. The ranges of measured granulate properties, for instance, are transferred autmatically or semi-automatically into the classification dialogue.

For our new Swedish users, binder viscosity has been added to the material specifiaction dialogue and new statistical output possibilities have been added. Norwegian users might be glad to hear that delivery ticket information for aggregate deliveries can now also be entered for each vessel compartment (and this may vary from the delivery ticket in the sample header data, if the sample was initially taken for FPC, not from a vessel).

It is now possible to use up to three different types of reclaimed asphalt in asphalt type tests. This addition applies also to the asphalt mix parameter sheets for the plant control system and to the output tables in the templates.

For concrete factory production control, the sample registration dialogue has been re-designed to allow for a more direct way to create samples and (optionally) enter fresh concrete test results. Results of hardened concrete testing can now be entered on two concise pages: one for compressive, flexural and tensile strength, water permeability and modulus of elasticity - the other page allowing for test result entry for all other possible test types.

Also, the toolbar of the document editor now offers more features to align tables, graphs and images.

All new features of version 4.0.9 can be found in the enclosed ReadMe file.

This version adds several possibilities to customise the user interface for each individual account or for groups of accounts which have the same set of user rights.

In the area of Asphalt FPC we have added a functionality to specify a rule on how to treat unfinished (untested or not fully tested) asphalt samples in the sampling schedule.

The asphalt product list feature is now being used in more scenarios than we have foreseen, namely: internal and external lists of produced asphalts and asphalt CE-declaration. Therefore, we added several output options to the corresponding tables. It is now more comfortable to define which asphalt properties and recipe details shall be reported under the various circumstances.

All new features of version 4.0.8 can be found in the enclosed ReadMe file.

Version 4.0.7 provides a number of new possibilities to graphically display the development of the Operating Compliance Level. Of course, it is also possible to produce image files or documents of the graphs.

The Concrete Factory Production Control Module received enhancements which provide more flexible (and therefore faster) possibilities to register new fresh concrete samples in the database.

In the Aggregate FPC modules there is a new master data dialogue which we offer as an alternative for the administration of aggregate declarations. It has been designed to provide the required flexibility, e.g. for aggregate suppliers which manage a huge number of declarations for different countries, but also to provide a quick way to assign declared aggregates to concrete and asphalt plants (the required step before using the material specifications in the corresponding product design modules).

All new features of version 4.0.7 can be found in the enclosed ReadMe file.

This version contains an enhancement of the Asphalt Inspection Scheduling Module. As EN 13108-21 leaves some points open to interpretation, we decided to leave this to our customers and offer the possibility to customise some of the rules which determine the inspection frequency based on the OCL.

Furthermore, independent asphalt laboratories benefit from additional test types now supported by the Asphalt Testing Register. The Testing Register lists all samples that have been entered into the database at an earlier stage and are due for testing. It offers fast access to the testing dialogues by double-clicking the corresponding sample.

All new features of version 4.0.6 can be found in the enclosed ReadMe file.

It is now possible for all customers to assign PDF-files to each LASTRADA dialogue. The assigned PDF-file can be assigned for all users, for individual users and also depending on the individual user's active interface language. The main reason for this feature was the wish to attach instruction sheets to test dialogues, in order to comply to the quality assurance protocol. Of course this feature opens up a multitude of other new possibilities and we look forward to our customer's feedback.

All new features of version 4.0.5 can be found in the enclosed ReadMe file.

Version 4.0.4 comes with a new interface, which enables the communication with a plant control or balance software package. It imports and processes produced quantities per asphalt recipe (per type test) and sends the current OCL per product group (small/large asphalt mixes, mastic/hot-rolled asphalt). Using this interface in combination with the LASTRADA Inspection Scheduling Module provides users with automatic and up-to-date information about each plant's production and quality control status.

New possibilities to compare the range of properties of independent sets of asphalt samples have been implemented into the Asphalt-Data Analysis Module. It is now possible to visually compare multiple sets of asphalt samples regarding their properties, such as binder content or content of fine aggregates within one graph.

As always, read all about the new features of version 4.0.4 in the enclosed ReadMe file.

The fourth year in a row we will be exhibiting at Liverpool's John Moores University. We are going to present our LASTRADA software and the new developments around it, such as the new LASTRADA/AS1 interface, which enables data transfer between the asphalt or concrete plant and the laboratory. If you are interested in a short (or long) introduction to LASTRADA we are happy to welcome you at our stand.

At last year's conference we have presented a paper about the benefits of interfaces between asphalt laboratories, plant control systems and ERP system. Please find the abstract of the paper below. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the paper, do not hesitate to contact us! To all those who will not be able to attend, we would like to offer an individual presentation. Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to arrange an appointment!

LASTRADA's handling has been standardised throughout all modules. A new button bar on the bottom of each dialogue replaces all existing buttons for database operations. Various self-explanatory icons and additonal descriptive tool tips should make the familiarisation rather quick.

Asphalt users will be happy to see the asphalt specifications now being hard coded, which makes the definition of new asphalts faster because limits and tolerances are being proposed automatically now for each of the thirtysomething standard asphalt types.

Additionally, a new kind of product list can now be compiled for each plant. The corresponding output template can contain the type test results for all asphalts produced at a specific plant, as well as the property categories of the underlying product standards.

New preset template examples have been added for asphalt inspection schedules, evaluations of conformity and type tests. These examples are based on practive proven templates and should suffice for many users and provide a good basis for those users who whish to extend the templates with more details or own layout ideas.

New functionalities can be reported for almost all areas of LASTRADA. As always, read all about the new features of versions 4.0.0, 4.0.1 and 4.0.2 in the enclosed ReadMe file.

3 December 2008, Košice, Slovakia:
LASTRADA-Seminar

In co-operation with Technický a skúšobný ústav stavebný, n. o. -
Building Testing and Research Institute

"European Standards for Asphalt Factory Production Control - Efficient Laboratory Work with LASTRADA"

On December 3rd, 2008, we would like to present to you different solutions for Quality Control on the basis of the LASTRADA System. We will choose several examples from our Asphalt Clients to illustrate how laboratory work is organised in Switzerland, Austria and Germany and we would like to discuss with you the implications of the national implementations of the European Standards for your daily laboratory work.

On the basis of LASTRADA we will demonstrate and discuss:

- Software-based Asphalt Design, Asphalt Type Testing and Asphalt Declaration (EN 13108, Part 1 to 8 and 20)
Optimisation Tools, Automatic Calculation Tools, Digital Signature

- Factory Production Control Testing (EN 13108-21 Chap. 5 and 6))
Testing of Asphalt Mixtures, Bitumen, Aggregates, Reclaimed Asphalt and Cores

- Operating Compliance Level and Automatic Inspection Schedules (EN 13108-21, A.3)
Central Supervision of all Plants, Detailed Analysis of the OCL

- Laboratory Management (EN 13108-21 Chap. 8)
Maintenance and Calibration of Equipment

- Preparation and Output of Test Certificates and Statistical Documentation
LASTRADA Report Editor, Intelligent Data Analysis Tool (IDA Asphalt)

- Sample Management, Document Control, Staff Administration (EN 13108-21 Chap. 4, 7, 9, 10)
Traceability of Work, Reproducibility of Results, Security Schemes

We would be glad to see you in Košice on December 3rd, 2008!

In the LASTRADA Asphalt Construction Site Quality Control Module, the graphical design features have been extended by numerous options to apply descriptions, hatchings and colours to asphalt layers.

The experiences from the daily work of our asphalt customers led to new developments for the LASTRADA Report Editor which enhance the design features for asphalt declarations and full analysis reports.

Also, asphalt declarations can be managed more easily now: we introduced the concept of aggregate classes which allow users to specify grading limits and material properties for the individual aggregates and the aggregate mix and assign those classes to the asphalt declaration. Additionally, the tolerance limits for asphalt mixtures are transferred automatically from the type testing results and from the tolerances given in the technical specifications.

In the Asphalt Data Analysis Module, it is now more convenient to exclude outliers from the statistics. The sample overview table has been extended by various columns for test results which can be added optionally.

As always, read all about the new features of version 3.6.2 in the enclosed ReadMe file.

With this version, the »LASTRADA-LASTRADA Interface« has been released. Asphalt suppliers, contractors and commercial laboratories awaited this new module with great anticipation. It facilitates the easy exchange of asphalt type testing information (according to EN 13108-20) between independent LASTRADA systems.

As always, read all about the new features of version 3.6.1 in the enclosed ReadMe file.

In LASTRADA, the laboratory service catalogues are completely customisable, their items can be structured in (sub-)sections and paragraphs, eventually forming a tree structure (like the familiar Explorer directories). With this new version 3.6.0 it is possible to select a branch of service items and to declare it a new service catalogue.

The common way to compose items for an offers is to select those items in the service catalogue. For those users who regularly compose large offers, we added another dialogue. With this dialogue one can add items to the offer in a tabular view. Just type in item numbers and quantities while service descriptions and prices are filled in automatically. Of course one can also add information about revenue account and item type (internal/external/etc) if need be.

In the concrete area, previously added features for concrete design have once more been broadened. All augmentations of a recipe (design) can now be documented. This provides users now with two distinct work styles: rather rigid product lists with multiple recipes for each concrete or multiple product lists with one recipe per concrete.

In the aggregate QC and FPC modules, the design possibilities for Armourstone test reports have been drastically improved. Several types of charts have been added.

Last but not least, the Excel-exporting features of the language module have been extended. Original phrases which have changed due to updates are now exported with more context information.

As always, read all about this version’s new features in the enclosed ReadMe file.

We would like to thank all guests of our stand for your interest in our laboratory system and for insightful discussions, especially about the new asphalt production control regulations. The conference at large was as informative as it was a pleasant and friendly experience - well organised and led by a very courteous host. We are looking forward to next year's asphalt conference at the LJMU!

To all those who were not able to attend, we would like to offer an individual presentation. Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to arrange an appointment!

The focus of Version 3.5.9 lies on LASTRADA's Concrete Design and Asphalt Modules.

Several concrete recipes can now be linked to a particular concrete type, whereas only on recipe is marked current. The main purpose for this adjustment is to facilitate an easier documentation of concrete design changes over time.

The water susceptibility (volume increase) test has been added to the factory production and on-site quality control portfolios of asphalt tests.

Furthermore, a large number of small features have been introduced: e.g. new user rights, numeration schemes and a new sieving method.

As always, the new version includes a variety of new features for all existing modules. Read all about it in the enclosed ReadMe file.

About ten years ago, LASTRADA has been developed as a flexible standard software for the testing of construction materials. Since then a modular system for continuous and integrated quality control had been developed in close co-operation with our customers. In 1998, the Teerbau GmbH (today Eurovia) was the first German asphalt producer to adopt LASTRADA as a company-wide quality control system. Today, more than 300 asphalt mixing plants are being supervised by laboratories using the LASTRADA system.

Being a LASTRADA user means being up-to-date with the latest product and quality control standards. Working in accordance with the new asphalt standards EN 13108-21 for instance, was tested by LASTRADA users for half a year prior to their implementation. Detailed information about the operating compliance level (OCL) of plants and product categories can be displayed as graphs and time series to get a view of the big picture as well as information on the single sample which causes changes to the OCL. Because some aspects of these standards, especially the implementation of initial type tests, are not set in stone yet, we stay in contact with the decision makers and react quickly to new developments.

We would like to cordially invite you to discuss the impact of the new standards on the daily laboratory work with us.
Find us at stand T02!

The new LASTRADA release 3.5.8 concentrates on adjustments and extensions to LASTRADA's user administration features.

In LASTRADA, user rights can be assigned up to an unlimited level of detail. Those administrators who dislike micro-management will be pleased to hear that it is now possible to define patterns of user rights which can be assigned to users according to their access level, their qualification level, etc. Also, if the user rights constellation changes in a certain pattern, the new rights are immediately effective for all users which are assigned to this pattern.

Because some customers make use of the full capacity of the user rights system, we also introduced the possibility to copy existing user rights constellations to create new patterns or to transfer them to other users. This will not only accelerate the administration process but make it more attractive for other customers to exploit all of LASTRADA's safety features.

Additionally, we added another type of guest account for concrete plants which belong to another company. The new guest account has been designed with special emphasis on security and comfort, the latter referring to fresh concrete data entry. This guest account enables concrete laboratories to integrate external plants into the quality control system.

As always, the new version includes a variety of new features for existing modules. Read all about it in the enclosed ReadMe file.

The new LASTRADA release 3.5.7 includes two new modules: the revised Resource Scheduling Module and the Intelligent Data Analysis Module (IDA-Asphalt).

Using the Resource Scheduling Module all assignments of laboratory personnel and equipment can be managed via a convenient time table for optimal utilisation. When a deadline approaches, the responsible technician is aided by a customisable reminder system. Weekly and daily schedules can be printed and overlappings with scheduled concrete tests, for instance, are being highlighted.

The Intelligent Data Analysis Module offers new ways to look at asphalt production control data: more than 30 asphalt properties can be selected to be displayed as time series within one (auto-scaled) graph, e.g.: binder content, voids content and filler content. Also, all relevant factory production control data can be retrieved from the database to display the Operating Compliance Levels of mixing plants and mixture categories along with the range of individual test results.

Interested LASTRADA users are invited to put the new modules to the test. We will instantly activate the new modules on request and we are looking forward to opinions and feedback.

May 2007: Immense interest at Bauma 07

With more than 3,100 exhibitors and half a million visitors at this year’s international trade fair for the construction industry, Bauma 07 in Munich proved to be a record event.

Together with Toni Technik, we were placed in Hall C1, Stand 104. On one side high quality testing machinery, on the other side the complete solution for laboratory information management – a perfect match for a successful cooperation stand.

The trade fair also saw a great deal of interest in the depth and breadth of functionalities the LASTRADA solution for laboratory and information management has to offer.

The latest module designed for GEOTEXTILES now completes the LASTRADA range, which also includes previously developed testing modules for CONCRETE, ASPHALT, AGGREGATES, SOILS and CEMENT.

Many visitors were particularly interested in LASTRADA’s ASPHALT module and made the most of the opportunity to see what working in accordance with the upcoming asphalt standard EN 13108-21 would look like.

The LASTRADA Construction Site Terminal, still in the development phase, and the LASTRADA Asphalt Info Terminal, which is already available, were highlights from our research and development department. The latter Terminal has been specifically designed to inform company management about the status quo of factory production control. The Construction Site Terminal is a communication platform for the laboratory, the contractors and the awarding authority. Its primary purpose is to allow contractors to document quality control procedures on an on-going basis on site. But building owners, developers and authorities also benefit from more reliable quality data and more trustful business relationships.

Dr. Jung & Partner AG is now looking back on a successful trade fair and looking forward to working with a lot of new LASTRADA users!


We would like to thank Toni Technik for a cooperation that exceeded all our expectations.