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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
March 21, 2012 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.

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