Asphalt milling, paving & compaction

Intelligent compaction technologies continue to advance in sophistication - Mike Woof writes Ever more sophisticated intelligent compaction technologies are being offered to customers, which can boost working efficiency and help improve construction quality. This is particularly the case for the compaction of asphalt running surfaces. Asphalt cooling leaves only a short time window during which a paved mat can be properly compacted, so intelligent compaction systems offer major gains for contractors and cli

These four-day-long expert knowledge sessions are run at the Ammann International Training Centre (AITC) in Nové Msto nad Metují and, according to after-sales projects manager and training centre boss Martin Sedláek, the idea is, “…to ensure that Ammann has a globally consistent (approach) to presenting, selling and servicing” the company’s fast-developing range of road pavers.

Based in Montana, contractor Century Companies is now benefiting from an updated fleet of asphalt paving machines from Volvo CE. The company has operated Volvo CE’s Blaw-Knox pavers for many years and also has two Blaw-Knox PF510s, two PF3200s and a PF410 as well as Volvo DD70, DD118 and DD25B double drum compactors. However it has now added two of the 3m class P7110 tracked machines to its fleet. These were used on a job some 16km from the North Dakota border on the periphery of the Bakken Formation. This

Major manufacturers have unveiled new paving machines at key events in the US and Europe in recent months - Mike Woof reports The recent World of Asphalt and Intermat exhibitions have seen the introduction of several new asphalt paving machines. Major manufacturers were present at both events, with several new models being unveiled. The focus on World of Asphalt, held in the US city of Baltimore, was understandably on pavers for the North American and Latin American markets. Meanwhile new pavers on show at

A Brazilian extraction operation is using a Rammer 3288 hydraulic hammer in a secondary breaking application The unit is helping maximise production at a facility in Brumadinho. The 2.04tonne hydraulic hammer is being used to increase the production of Itabirite at the FLAPA Mining site. Part of the Top Mix Group, the company operates in the heavy construction, dredging, mining, assembly and operation of processing and ore crushing plants. At the company’s Fábrica Mine, Jangada Mine, Capão Xavier Mine

In the US state of Iowa, tough paving specifications are resulting in contractors delivering road surfaces that will last longer. The Iowa Department of Transportation (I-DOT) expects to see a highway road surface last 20 years and recently let the contract for a 25.7km road resurfacing project for Highway 92 between Winterset and Greenfield. The 40km link between the two towns sees an average 1,365 cars/day travel on the highway, which was last worked on in 1994 and its surface was due for replacement.

Bitumen plant manufacturer EmulBitume unveiled at the major Pavement Preservation and Recycling Summit (PPRS) in Paris the company’s first storable cold mix-mini plant specifically for pothole repair work. The semi-automated plant has been designed for small batches suitable for efficient pothole maintenance, making the plant an important product for today’s asset management companies, said EmulBitume. EmulBitume’s mini-plant eliminates the cost of handling large quantities of cold mix in bags becaus