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

  • Developments in the concrete pavers market
    February 20, 2012
    The market for concrete pavers continues to fuel research and development into new models writes Mike Woof. The range and breadth of concrete slipforming and paving equipment on the market continues to grow as firms develop new and improved models. Prior to the recent CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 construction equipment show in Las Vegas, some of the best known manufacturers had already announced their new and improved slipforming machines. GOMACO, Guntert & Zimmermann, Power Curbers and Wirtgen all had recent or ne
  • Trends in compaction machine technology
    February 20, 2012
    More efficient and productive compaction solutions are coming to market shortly, Mike Woof reports. Several key trends are emerging in the asphalt compaction market with the development of the latest generation machines. Performance and productivity remain key issues for compactor manufacturers with firms keen to maximise output from their latest units.
  • Paving a Japanese airport within strict time constraints
    September 19, 2012
    In Japan, major efforts are being made to both conserve energy and materials, while also delivering high quality airport runways. At Haneda Airport, as well as at the Fukuoka, Chitose and Sendai airports, innovative use is being made of asphalt paving equipment from Sumitomo. The latest model HA60W J paver from Sumitomo is being used to lay warm mix asphalt, while the contractors is also using sophisticated control technology. To minimise disruption to flight schedules, construction work at Haneda has been
  • Western Sydney Airport Bulk Earthworks
    November 7, 2023
    The massive Bulk Earthworks project, under development by the federal government-owned Western Sydney Airport (WSA), entails construction of an international airport on the western side of Sydney, Australia.