HE major construction shows in Europe are over for the year. With bauma 2007 the next major event, the leading manufacturers will soon start rolling out information on their new introductions. There are however, some interesting developments in the road construction equipment and compaction sector.
Wirtgen has just acquired an 80 per cent interest in stationary and mobile crushing plant company, Kleemann GmbH. As a result, the Wirtgen Group is going to operate under two dedicated divisions – the current business segment “Wirtgen Road Technologies” will run alongside a second segment called “Wirtgen Mineral Technologies”. Wirtgen says, “A first tangible step has already been planned for marketing Kleemann’s products via Wirtgen Group’s own companies”. To what extent this will impact on dealers worldwide has yet to be announced. Wirtgen has also entered into a joint marketing agreement with Benninghoven asphalt plants. At this time the arrangement is for Eastern Europe.
Hamm has introduced two small compactors – the HD8 and HD10. These 1.5t machines with respective drum widths of 800 mm and 1,000 mm, with a very low centre of gravity, are designed to be very manoeuvrable and provide the operator with good visibility to the drum edges for easier steering round obstacles. The small tandem rollers are suitable for earthmoving and asphalt laying.
Proportional control
Another introduction from the Wirtgen stable is a new paver from Vogele. The Super 1900-2 is a powerful paver designed for handling a large variety of applications up to a maximum width of 11m. Typical paving tasks are highway, runways and motorway construction, racing circuit projects or surfacing medium to large-scale areas. The new paver features an advanced Deutz engine rated at 142 kW and represents the very latest in paver technology. The unit has been designed to be very quiet in operation, allowing full application in noise sensitive areas. With a maximum pave width 11m and lay down rate up to 900 t/h to a maximum layer thickness 30 cm this machine is designed for high productivity – a feature demanded for large projects. It can pave at speeds up to 25 m/min, and maximum travel speed is 4.5 km/h. Proportional control of the conveyors regulates flow rates to precisely match the requirement of mix in front of the screed for consistent paving results and the auger height can be adjusted across the full pave width. There are a number of screed options. Despite the high performance and specifications, the transport width is only 2.55m.
Compaction manufacturer, Bomag GmbH, has further developed its agreement with Marini (Fayat Group). Earlier this year the company started to market the Marini range of milling machines alongside Bomag rollers. Now they have announced that Marini pavers are to follow. A potentially useful introduction from Bomag is the Economizer for plate compactors. This device clips to plate compactors and, according to the company, it can reduce the number of passes by as much as 25 per cent. A row of LEDs gradually light up as compaction levels are achieved. A red LED alerts the operator at the end of compaction. Bomag has also announced the Series 4 tampers, with 4-stroke engines and a unique feature – an Engine Protection System, to help overcome damages due to lack of servicing. With a two-layer air filtering system, Bomag’s 4th series ensures that even fine dust particles cannot penetration the suction area of the engine.
New from Dynapac is the CA134, the company’s latest small self-propelled soil compactors, which replaces the CA121/141. For improved operator comfort, the spacious operator’s platform is isolated from vibrations to give the best possible working conditions. A modern easy-to-read instrument panel, with a warning panel and fuel gauge, is fitted as standard. As demanded by rental fleet managers of machines this size, the CA134 provides a high degree of manoeuvrability and ease of operation. The roller features long service intervals with only a small number of service points such as a maintenance-free steering hitch and steering cylinder – all of which are easily accessible. The 5,500 kg machine has a drum width of 1,370 mm and is designed for compaction operations in pipe trenches, on road shoulders and in cramped spaces in connection with refilling work.
Improved valve block
In the larger equipment sector, Bell has upgraded its range of articulated dump trucks with what they are calling the second-generation D-Series. Although all models now feature a Tier III compliant Mercedes engine driving an Allison automatic transmission, there are no other serious modifications. The cab is larger, more spacious and the instrument panel better positioned for convenience of the operator. The chassis has been strengthened and the hydraulic systems upgraded with an improved valve block. The cooling system has also been improved. There are also numerous other modifications that, combined, represent a significant upgrading.
Health and safety issues are impacting all aspects of the construction industry. Several initiatives are to be implemented to try and reduce the high number of fatalities and injuries that occur. Plant theft continues to be a major problem with more equipment being fitted with tracking devices. An ongoing complaint from project managers is the acute shortage of skilled operatives and site workers in general. Ironically, to try and solve the acute shortage of skilled workers in Australia, The Queensland Department for Main Roads is to commence a recruitment campaign throughout several countries here in Europe. This will only add to the skill shortages within Europe’s construction industry, which is already a major problem in some sectors. However, the attraction of working on road construction projects in more favourable climates is an obvious one.
Also making news is Canadian skid steer company, Thomas, which has gone into administration although it continues to trade while looking for interested buyer.
Roger Lindley, Construction Contractor’s UK-based correspondent, looks at recent international developments that may impact on the Australian market.
Source: Construction Contractor