Skip to main content

MOBA develops new automated levelling tool

A new automated levelling tool from MOBA is available that can help improve paving quality. The system is designed to deliver a smooth and even asphalt surface, by ensuring that the height and slope of the screed on the paver is accurately maintained. This is particularly important when the machine is moving in the vertical plane due to uneven ground or sub base conditions. Achieving smoothness is important to the paving contractor. In many countries, highways authorities will pay more for smoother roads
October 9, 2015 Read time: 3 mins
MOBA claims its new system offers improved paving surface quality
A new automated levelling tool from MOBA is available that can help improve paving quality

The system is designed to deliver a smooth and even asphalt surface, by ensuring that the height and slope of the screed on the paver is accurately maintained. This is particularly important when the machine is moving in the vertical plane due to uneven ground or sub-base conditions.

Achieving smoothness is important to the paving contractor. In many countries, highways authorities will pay more for smoother roads and also penalise contractors that do not meet smoothness specifications.

Durability is a key factor in the need for smoother roads as these will last longer, improve fuel consumption (by 3-5%) and be quieter and safer to drive on. Levelling systems can help meet tight specifications and eliminate issues of poor smoothness in paved surfaces, improving efficiency for the contractor and quickly paying for the cost of the technology.

Levelling systems can be preset to pave a specific grade and slope and as the paver progresses the technology ensures the correct gradient is maintained, without any action from the operator. Levelling systems also remove the need for an operator to manually adjust the screed, providing significant savings in the cost of materials.

According to 1228 MOBA, its technology can be fitted to any paver (as well as milling machines, compactors or graders). The technology has a number of key features and its grade control is crucial, managing the height of the paver against a reference level. The system can compensate for irregularities at the sub-base level as well as height movements of the paver during driving. Meanwhile effective slope control ensures that the transverse inclination of the paver is maintained on a defined level.

The real-time control loop continually measures and corrects the screed and the grade and slope controller uses sophisticated algorithms to maintain smoothness as well as the grade and cross slope. In use, the controllers continuously make small corrections to any transitions, while also maintaining elevation and cross slope set-points.

The improved MOBA-MATIC II levelling control system now has a larger screen and backlit keypad. And with a single control panel, both sides of the screed can now be controlled from one screen. Another major upgrade has been made to MOBA’s Sonic Ski sensor, which now has five sensors that more accurately determine the distance to the reference point.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Manufacturers have developed key innovations in recycling machines
    March 4, 2015
    Manufacturers are making advances in stabiliser/reclaimers and milling machines - Mike Woof reports. The market for milling equipment is a competitive one, with a range of companies from around the globe now offering machines for this segment: BOMAG, Caterpillar, Dynapac, Roadtec, Volvo CE and Wirtgen. In recent years a number of Chinese firms have entered this segment and determining the number of machines these companies manufacture is difficult, although most of their units are sold in China. But interna
  • GPS control delivers more accurate compaction performance
    July 13, 2012
    The latest compaction technology offers users the benefits of more accurate performance by combining heat detection and compaction metering with GPS In Europe several leading manufacturers now offer more accurate compaction technology, with Ammann, BOMAG, Dynapac and Hamm all having developed advanced control packages. The technologies vary widely but the advantages are broadly similar, with smart compaction allowing the user a greater degree of control over the compaction process and delivering major reduc
  • Vögele sets paving record in German capital
    September 16, 2015
    Material transfer vehicles and remixing systems are crucial to delivering quality paving. Using material transfer vehicles (MTVs) can play a major role in delivering high quality road surfaces. These units can help boost quality by minimising the risk of material or thermal segregation. A major road paving project has been carried out in Germany using innovative paving methods. For the first time ever, binder and surface courses were paved over a width of 15.5m. This paving job was carried out on a 4.2km st
  • Innovative asphalt paver advances for 2015
    April 8, 2015
    Pressure on asphalt paver manufacturers to develop new and more efficient machines is bringing results - Mike Woof writes. For all the key manufacturers in the asphalt paving segment, pressure is being brought to bear with regard to the development of new and more efficient machines. Both for US and European style of pavers, incremental improvements are being seen in machines. In keeping with regulations for Europe and North America, many of the new generation machines are now being powered by the latest lo