Skip to main content

Caterpillar is revamping its mid-range paver line with the launch of the AP500E and AP555E

Key improvements for Caterpillar’s mid-sized pavers are more screed options and improved fumes extraction systems. Wheeled and tracked models are available and the AP500E and AP555E pavers are designed for global use and in a wide array of jobsite applications. The machines are available with both vibratory screeds and tamper bar screeds with vibration, suiting them to both US and European style paving applications. Independent researchers recently concluded that as much as 92% of fumes are redirected from
January 6, 2017 Read time: 4 mins
Caterpillar Paving's AP500E paver LIVE at INTERMAT 2012
%$Linker: 2 Internal 2 4802 0 oLinkInternal <span class="oLinkInternal"><span class="oLinkInternal">RSS</span></span> Road Paving and Recycling false /event-news/intermat-2012/rss/road-paving-and-recycling/ true false%>Key improvements for 4018 Caterpillar Paving’s mid-sized pavers are more screed options and improved fumes extraction systems. Wheeled and tracked models are available and the AP500E and AP555E pavers are designed for global use and in a wide array of jobsite applications. The machines are available with both vibratory screeds and tamper bar screeds with vibration, suiting them to both US and European style paving applications.

Independent researchers recently concluded that as much as 92% of fumes are redirected from Cat pavers by the new Cat Fumes Management System. The system collects fumes from the auger chamber as well as the conveyor tunnel and routes them through the exhaust stack. In addition, the front-mounted cooling fan is positioned between the operator station and the hopper. It blows fumes away from the hopper and the paver operator. The system is built into the pavers at the factory, eliminating complications such as reduced visibility, and even modified transport sizes that can result from aftermarket installations.

The AP555E is fitted with the reliable Mobil-Trac undercarriage on the AP555E, which is said to offer good mobility on the jobsite as well as when moving between starting points. It provides excellent flotation and limits disturbance on soft base materials, ensuring uniform mat thickness. The AP500E can be used on hard surfaces or soft base materials and features non-directional, radial drive tyres of the AP500E. These are said to provide a large ground contact area for good flotation, stability and tractive effort while pushing trucks and working on inclines.

The AP500E and AP555E feature a Cat C4.4 engine with ACERT Technology that provides 106kW. A deck-mounted cooling system provides cool intake air to maximise fuel efficiency and minimise emissions.

Dual swing-out operator stations, tilting consoles and a low-profile design of the cooling system are said to provide good forward visibility. The operator can extend the station beyond the machine frame for good visibility when matching joints or monitoring the auger chamber. The advanced material handling system features automated controls with four individual pumps that enable each conveyor and each auger to deliver the exact amount of mix to the screed.

Cat pavers can be equipped with the Cat Grade and Slope control system. The system is factory-integrated and removes irregularities from the surface while controlling mat thickness for increased production, lower operating costs, and higher profitability.

The AP500E is available with three screeds: The AS2252C, AS3251C—and the tamper bar screed, the AS4252C. The AS2252C vibratory screed features narrow front-mounted extenders. The extenders have 229mm wide screed plates, enabling it to work close to obstacles and making it a perfect fit for urban applications by reducing the need for handwork when changing paving widths. The AS3251C vibratory screed features hydraulically driven, rear-mounted extenders.

Heavy-duty support tubes stabilize the extenders, providing rigidity for even material flow when paving wider widths. This screed performs well on highways and streets as well as urban applications. The AP555E also offers the AS4251C tamper bar screed with two double-width hydraulically driven extenders for excellent stability on wide-width paving applications. Fitted with extensions, the AS4252C screed can pave widths up to 7m on the wheeled AP500E and up to 8m when used with the tracked AP555E. The standard, extendable paving range is 2.5 - 5m.

When equipped with the AS2252C screed the AP500E has an operating weight of 15.3tonnes. The AP555E has an operating weight of 16tonnes when equipped with the AS2252C screed, and an operating weight of 17.7tonnes with the AS4251C screed.

%$Linker: External 0 0 0 oLinkExternal www.cat.com Caterpillar false http://www.cat.com/?www.cat.com false false%>

%$Linker: 2 Internal 2 4824 0 oLinkInternal <span class="oLinkInternal"><span class="oLinkInternal">View more videos</span></span> Video false /event-news/intermat-2012/video/ true false%>

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Case M Series dozers offer increased productivity
    April 16, 2013
    Case is increasing its presence in the earthmoving sector with the launch of a three-model range of upgraded M Series dozers, up from two models in the previous generation. The 1150M, 1650M and 2050M weigh in at 13-20tonnes and all feature Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB-compliant FPT diesel engines with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology. Case claims that the use of SCR results in lower fuel consumption, up to 10.5% less in the case of these dozers, while the 1150M and 2050M benefit from a 9% power i
  • DX300 and DX340 get stage IIIB engines at INTERMAT
    January 6, 2017
    Doosan’s DX300LC-3 and DX340LC-3 excavators get the Korean maker’s DL08K common rail six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine meeting stage IIIB emission regulations thanks to EGR and DPF technologies.
  • DX300 and DX340 get stage IIIB engines at INTERMAT
    March 7, 2012
    Doosan’s DX300LC-3 and DX340LC-3 excavators get the Korean maker’s DL08K common rail six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine meeting stage IIIB emission regulations thanks to EGR and DPF technologies.
  • A new grader and dozer control system is offered by MOBA
    January 6, 2017
    MOBA is offering a sophisticated control system for use with bulldozers and graders available in both 2D and 3D format. The company says that its 3D-matic package offers precise and versatile levelling control for graders and dozers and which can also be used as a 2D system if necessary. Marketing manager Christine Seidel said, “This system moves the blade. Our mindset is to make it easy to use for the operator. It’s different from the competition which focus on tonnages as this is focussed on the machine a