Wirtgen showcases Benninghoven’s asphalt giant

The bauma 2016 exhibition marks a major change for the 364 Wirtgen Group with the firm having its biggest ever stand at the show and the second largest at the event itself. A key factor in this is the addition of the 167 Benninghoven asphalt plant business, although the firm has a huge array of equipment in all with no less than 30 new models being launched.

Benninghoven dominates the booth - its large asphalt plant is the highest structure ever seen at the show.

The company is very strong financially, achieving record results in 2015, and developing leading positions in the markets for asphalt pavers and compaction equipment. It has also retained its leadership in milling machinery. Joint president Jürgen Wirtgen said that the Hamm compaction line has raised its profile and commented, “For the past two years we’ve been market leader.”

The addition of the Benninghoven business to the group has seen the firm reorganise, Wirtgen added. He explained that the company now has two separate divisions, Road Technologies and Mineral Technologies. The former includes the Wirtgen road recycling and concrete paving units, the Vögele asphalt pavers and the Hamm compaction equipment.

Meanwhile the Mineral Technologies division incorporates the crushing and screening equipment from Kleemann and the asphalt production machines from Benninghoven. Since the Kleemann business was bought by Wirtgen some years ago it has increased its turnover by a factor of five and the group has similar growth plans for Benninghoven.

The company is focusing too on new technology as well as corporate growth, with a higher level of sophistication for its equipment. Operator aids ensure greater working efficiency and quality than before.