Investigation of the Importance of Asphalt Mixing Plant Properties for Selecting the Best Sustainable Alternative

The optimal composition of an asphalt mixture, composed from the various mineral materials and bituminous binders, is produced in an asphalt mixing plant (AMP). Various AMP properties determine the suitability of this complex, long-term-use technological equipment in meeting contemporary requirements. Worn AMPs are replaced with new ones when they fail to satisfy these requirements. The AMP purchase process consists of two separate parts: (1) the decision-making process—whether there is a need to purchase a new AMP; and (2) AMP suitability—the evaluation of various technical and other properties, related to the AMP itself. This research paper considers the second part of the AMP purchase process and presents a new twenty-criteria system that identifies the most important AMP quality parameters indicating AMP suitability. The weights of the quality criteria for a new AMP were established by applying the Average Rank Transformation into Weight-Linear (ARTIW-L), Non-Linear (ARTIW-N) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods. Furthermore, the paper presents and verifies the Inverse Hierarchy for Assessment of Main Criteria Importance (IHAMCI) method. The findings of the research show that customers consider technological parameters to be the most important, followed by technical performance. Economical indicators rank third, while ecological (environmental) indicators receive the least attention. Future research will assess the sustainability requirements applied to operating AMPs in recent years.