Skip to main content

Thermal Road Repairs heats up the pavement surfacing market

UK-based company Thermal Road Repairs says it has developed a paver-mounted system that enhances pavement surfacing. The unit eliminates joints in asphalt repair so extends the life of the pavement, resulting in significant cost savings and less disruption to the road network, according to Thermal Road,
November 28, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Thermal Road Repairs says it has developed a paver-mounted system

UK-based company 8543 Thermal Road Repairs says it has developed a paver-mounted system that enhances pavement surfacing.

The unit eliminates joints in asphalt repair so extends the life of the pavement, resulting in significant cost savings and less disruption to the road network, according to Thermal Road.

Asphalt lasts for around 20 years before effective deterioration but joints begin to fail after about seven years.

With TRR’s paver-mounted thermal technology, carriageways and other surfaces are seamless from the start of the asphalt laying process so require much less maintenance.

“Our paver-mounted heater allows our clients to replicate echelon paving,” said Aidan Conway, managing director at Thermal Road Repairs.

“They can pave seamlessly, using virgin material or by hot-matching new material with existing asphalt, without inhibiting output from the paving crew. There are other thermal asphalt repair systems in the market but with our technology, clients can operate far more efficiently and cost effectively and deliver a more resilient and superior surface finish, adding significantly to road lifespan.”

A heater, weighing 70kg and measuring 2000mm x 320mm, is mounted onto the side of the paver and controlled heat is pulsed into the joints. Material is heated in front of the screed and the treatment area is compacted across the joint.

“There are hundreds of miles of roads across the country where joints have failed, and continue to do so because the underlying joint is not completely eradicated.

This is a huge inconvenience to drivers and councils who are struggling to maintain good quality surfaces on their limited budgets. Enhanced with our thermal technology, pavers can now permanently eliminate joints so road surfaces can stay better for longer.” 

Pat McKay, plant general manager with 2340 Lagan Plant in the UK, was upbeat about the unit’s finishing work. “We installed the paver heaters on our Vogele machines for our [London] City Airport contract in July. The team are very happy with the kit and the performance of the heaters. This has improved the quality of the finish for our client”.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • In the fast lane at Indian F1 track
    June 21, 2012
    India’s new Formula 1 motor racing circuit, with its tight construction tolerances, demands considerable driving skill. More than 500 million people worldwide watched the first Formula 1 motor race in India's history. The drivers were thrilled by the new asphalt circuit with its numerous bends and the peripheral area around the new race track at Greater Noida near the capital New Delhi, which were built by machinery from German company Vögele (a member of the Wirtgen Group). Working with four Super 1800-
  • Warm asphalt - emission and energy saving
    February 28, 2012
    Warm mix asphalt is said to offer many benefits including fewer emissions and energy savings, but further research is needed to "validate its expected performance and added value" claims one organisation. Patrick Smith reports
  • Heat scanning system for asphalt paving work
    October 1, 2014
    A road construction project in Minnesota has benefited from improved quality control by using the new PAVE-IR heat scanning technology developed by German firm MOBA. Resurfacing work on Highway 29 near Alexandria, Minnesota called for around 50km of the road surface to be repaved. The contractor, Central Specialities, opted to optimise quality by employing the sophisticated PAVE-IR control package from MOBA. The system monitors mat temperature during paving, providing an accurate picture of work quality
  • Hitex speeds surface repairs
    June 24, 2014
    Hitex surfacings have been developed for export markets and have approval for use in different territories. The firm is now exporting the products for use in South East Asia and Latin America and has contracts to use the materials for repairs on a busy highway in India. The Hitex products are suitable for permanent repairs and use recycled materials, with applications including use on wider joints and cracks as a preventative treatment method. A spokesperson for the firm said, “We try to get councils to