There is provided an apparatus (100) for manufacturing a cementitious slurry comprising foam, the apparatus (100) comprising: a mixing chamber (101) for mixing a cementitious material and water to form a cementitious slurry, a channel (103) fluidly connected to the mixing chamber (101) at a first end, the channel (103) for receiving the cementitious slurry from the mixing chamber (101), the channel (103) extending from the first end and terminating a second end; the channel (103) comprising a foam inlet (106) for introducing foam into the channel (103); wherein the portion of the channel (103) between the foam inlet (106) and the second end has a length from 400 mm to 1200 mm inclusive, wherein said foam inlet (106) is positioned such that the distance between said first end of said channel (103) and said foam inlet (106) is less than 25% of the distance between said first end of said channel (103) and said second end of said channel (103). A cementitious slurry channel (103) and a method of manufacturing a cementitious slurry are also provided.

A system and method for controlling concrete production are disclosed. The system includes a protected, self-cleaning sensor assembly positioned at an entrance of a concrete mixer tank. The assembly comprises a robust housing with a protective upper cover to deflect materials, a transparent front cover for a sensor array including at least a camera, and an active cleaning system with water and air nozzles. This assembly provides continuous, real-time sensor data (visual, acoustic, thermal) to a proactive artificial intelligence (AI)-based control system. The AI system processes this data to autonomously determine the type, quantity, and timing of chemical admixture additions to maintain desired concrete properties. The AI system is also configured to control the assembly's cleaning system in a coordinated wash-and-dry sequence, ensuring the integrity and reliability of the incoming sensor data for closed-loop control of the concrete production process.

Disclosed are an animal fat grading device using superheated steam and a method. The device comprises a bracket, a material container, a steam heating assembly, an oil leakage assembly, a pressing part, an oil pumping assembly, a switch structure and a controller, where an upper part of the bracket is fixedly connected with the material container, a top side wall and a bottom side wall of the material container are provided with the steam heating assembly; an inside is slidably connected with the oil leakage assembly; a top of the oil leakage assembly is fixedly connected with the pressing part; a top surface of the oil leakage assembly is fixedly connected with the oil pumping assembly, a bottom of the material container is communicated with an oil discharging pipe, the switch structure is arranged on the oil discharging pipe, and a temperature sensor is arranged in the material container.

Disclosed are an animal fat grading device using superheated steam and a method. The device comprises a bracket, a material container, a steam heating assembly, an oil leakage assembly, a pressing part, an oil pumping assembly, a switch structure and a controller, where an upper part of the bracket is fixedly connected with the material container, a top side wall and a bottom side wall of the material container are provided with the steam heating assembly; an inside is slidably connected with the oil leakage assembly; a top of the oil leakage assembly is fixedly connected with the pressing part; a top surface of the oil leakage assembly is fixedly connected with the oil pumping assembly, a bottom of the material container is communicated with an oil discharging pipe, the switch structure is arranged on the oil discharging pipe, and a temperature sensor is arranged in the material container.