Asphalt milling, paving & compaction

A wide range of new models is being introduced for the asphalt equipment compaction market – Mike Woof reports. The asphalt compaction equipment market is seeing the introduction of new machines from an array of major manufacturers. Manufacturers have introduced both steel drum and rubber tyred rollers to meet customer demands in specific markets as well as globally, and have also developed innovative new compaction practices. Competition in the asphalt compaction market is increasingly tough, with many of

Maintenance of roads in historic districts is a challenge for communities around the world. The sanctity of the surroundings limits the amount of re-engineering and widening that can be considered. Improvement options typically are limited to repairs. Yet repairs also have an impact. The historic areas usually attract tourists and their crucial economic contributions. If the street repairs create too much of an inconvenience, tourists are likely to avoid the area and a negative economic impact and a loss of

Rising energy costs and increased awareness of safety and environmental issues have encouraged the development of Warm Mix Asphalts (WMA), which are typically produced at temperatures of between 130°C and 145°C, compared with around 175°C for traditional Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). WMAs are regularly used in many European countries, as well as both North and South America. The three most common ways to lower the working temperature of asphalt are: a) foaming technologies; b) wax additives; and c) chemical (surfa

The rural roads near Brandýs nad Labem, in the heart of the Czech Republic, may not be as heavily travelled as their counterparts in Prague, about 25km (15.5 miles) to the southwest, but they are nevertheless crucial pipelines to the rural and agricultural areas of the country. An assessment by regional authorities indicated that these roads are in need of repair. That led to cold planing and paving work on a series of rural roads near Brandýs nad Labem. Regional authorities have two key requirements: The r

Early evaluation of surfacing work on the M90 at Rosyth – the first major application of Scotland’s new TS2010 specification – has earned positive praise. Transport Scotland’s determination to obtain pavement that is durable, long lasting and safe (especially in early life) is clearly apparent on the M90 just north of the Forth Road Bridge. Here surfacing has been carried out this spring to TS2010, a tough new specification designed to ensure thin surfacing pavements that work. And the initial prognosis is

Chinese firm Zhejiang Metong Road Construction Machinery hopes to take a share of the market for road repair equipment in China as well as in developing nations. The company’s LMT5160TYHB heat insulation road maintenance truck is designed for versatility, to carry out quick repairs on asphalt roads. It can be used to repair shallow cracks by breaking out the damaged surface, removing waste material, then spraying and filling the crack for compaction of the repaired area. The equipment suits duties on major

Caterpillar paving products are in demand worldwide, with the firm placing great importance on its offering to Africa and Middle East customers, as Guy Woodford reports. Caterpillar’s new CW34 pneumatic compactor, first exhibited at Intermat 2012 in Paris, is a valued machine in some of the company’s key regional markets, according to Gianluca Lombardi, Cat’s EAME (Europe, Africa and Middle East) paving products regional sales support consultant. It’s an important machine for the Africa and Middle East mark

German paver specialist Vögele is taking a global view of the construction equipment market, with machines developed for very different markets. A prime example of this is with the Dash 3 models now coming to market. The new SUPER 2100-3 paver is also available as the SUPER 2100-3i, a highly sophisticated machine that meets the European emissions requirements while offering high productivity and performance. At the same time, the company is also offering a heavy duty (HD) version of its proven SUPER 1800-2

New developments will broaden the asphalt paving market - Mike Woof reports. A new approach to materials could help address rising bitumen costs. Increased use of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) in road construction can cut a major chunk from paving costs, with an array of technologies now available. In the US, RAP is one of the most widely recycled materials and current techniques allow roads built with this material to perform well for all traffic conditions. Some European countries are also making widesp