June 2002
New Road Machines
New power equipment for the road market
by Kirk Landers, VP/Editorial Director

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Hypac has rolled out a new line of single-drum soil compactors. The C820C series features operating weights of more than 11,000 pounds, 56.1-inch drum widths, and gradeability ratings of 47 to 55%. The 8-ton C830C series features 66.4-inch drums, 45 to 55% gradeability, and produces a maximum centrifugal force of 28,350 pounds. The C850C series machines weigh between 26,850 and 28,285 pounds and have 84-inch drums. They produce a maximum centrifugal force of 62,825 pounds. All models have dual amplitudes and frequencies.

High vibes and joystick controls

Bomag’s entry in the high-vibration asphalt roller market is the BW205, an 84-inch, 26,500-pound tandem-wheel unit with operating frequencies of 3,400 and 4,000 vibrations per minute. The 205-horsepower machine is controlled by two joysticks, one for steering and the other for travel control. Button switches on the tips of the joysticks control drum vibration and provide manual control of the water spray system.

Vibratory soil compactor

LeeBoy’s compact 440 Vibratory Soil Compactor is designed for medium-sized compaction jobs on granular or cohesive soils. The 63-horsepower, 5-ton machine has a 74-inch compaction width, hydrostatic drive, and can produce a centrifugal force of up to 20,000 pounds. It has one of the widest drums in its horsepower class. A padfoot drum option is available.

Temporary track pads

Artliner-BLS removable rubber track pads are quick to install and remove when track pads are needed for limited periods of time. The temporary pads need to be mounted on clean steel grousers, but do not require specialized knowledge of drive chains or the removal of the grousers from the track chain.

Bigger all-wheel-steer loader

Bobcat has extended its line of all-wheel-steer loaders with the introduction of the 3,000-pound rated A-300, the most powerful model in the line. The A-300 features vertical lift path loader-arm linkage and the ability to move between skid-steer and all-wheel-drive work modes at the flip of a switch. Bobcat says the machine combines the maneuverability and versatility of a skid-steer with the low ground disturbance, reduced tire wear, and faster travel speed of a small wheel loader.

Economy backhoe attachment

Bobcat’s new low-cost Bob-Tach backhoe attachment has a dig depth of 6 feet and mounts directly to the standard Bob-Tach mounting system so it does not require a backhoe mounting kit or stabilizers. Backhoe boom functions are powered by the loader arm’s lift and tilt functions; backhoe dipper swing and bucket rollout and curl functions are powered by the auxiliary hydraulic control switches on the loader steering levers. Unlike other direct mount systems, the Bob-Tach Backhoe can swing the dipper left or right 48 degrees.

Telescoping jib cuts set-up time

Liebherr’s new TT cranes self-erect in minutes and feature a unique telescoping jib which allows the operator to find the ideal crane configuration in the shortest possible time. The largest TT crane, the 32 TT, has a maximum working radius of 98 feet, 5 inches and a flexible load moment range from 30 to 57 mt. Maximum load capacity is 8,820 pounds; load capacity at jib end is 2,425 pounds.

New mini for government applications

Cat says it is aiming its new 3,687-pound mini excavator at the government market, among others. The 17-horsepower, rubber-track machine is said to move lightly over lawns and curbs but can climb 30% grades. It has a maximum digging depth of just under 7 feet.

Fast, safe road repairs

Wildcat’s self-powered, self-contained Roadpatcher allows a single operator working from the truck cab to fill pot holes quickly and safely with quality materials. Aggregate is controlled through a positive-flow conveyor system and emulsion is uniformly applied through a unique spray ring. A patented front-mounted boom lets the operator precisely place the patching materials.

Moves and grinds simultaneously

The mid-size Model 4600 Track Wood Hog from Morbark can move and grind simultaneously. It features a Cat 325L undercarriage and engine options from 475 to 630 horsepower. It handles green waste, logs, brush, stumps, and other wood waste. Its remote control feature allows it to be operated from the cab of the machine feeding material into the grinder.

Thomas goes small

Thomas Equipment has introduced its first mini skid-steer loader. The 25G weighs 1,500 pounds and measures just under 40-inches wide. It has a rated lift capacity of 475 pounds and a substantial 1,450 pounds of breakout force.

One-man portable silo

The self-erecting silo series from Asphalt Drum Mixers can be set up by one person without a crane in 15 minutes, according to the company. Three models make up the SES line, ranging in storage capacity size from 30 to 75 tons.

Production loader refinements

Cat has issued Series II upgrades to the 311-horsepower 980G wheel loader. Its new Tier-2 compliant engine is more fuel efficient than the previous one, and a new torque converter also enhances fuel efficiency. A new Integrated Braking System reduces axle temperatures and improves operating smoothness. The operator station has improved sightlines and access to routine maintenance points has been enhanced.

Pavement saw cuts deep, close

The Alitec PS9 pavement saw from Woods Equipment is adaptable to all high-flow skid-steer loaders and is designed to replace self-propelled saws. It has a 9-inch cutting depth for cutting patches and expansion joints, and an electronic side-shift feature helps it cut close to walls, curbs, and other obstacles.

Material transfer vehicle cuts operating costs

Cedarapids claims its new MS4 Mat Smoothness machine delivers the same non-stop paving and asphalt reblending capabilities as other material transfer vehicles but at an operating cost of less than $0.10 per ton. The company says the MS4 purchase price is less than half that of competing machines, and that it uses less fuel, has fewer moving parts, and does not require an additional operator because it connects to the paver. The machine has a 10-foot-wide, 7-ton hopper, a 60-inch-wide discharge conveyor, and 39-inch in-hopper augers to reblend the asphalt mix.

Stealth crusher

Eagle Crusher’s Ultra-Stealth 1400-45 portable impactor plant employs an exclusive reverse plant configuration to optimize weight distribution so the plant can be transported without removal of the feed hopper when equipped with a tandem-axle jeep. In this configuration, the unit moves material from the hopper at the front of the plant to the rear.

Safe crane selection and lift planning

Compu-Crane 3.6 is the newest version of lift planning and crane selection software offered by PAT America. It includes upgraded graphics and is simpler to use. Dimensioning tools have been enhanced and collision detection has been added for boom, jib, and tail swing. Crane selection features fast listing of appropriate cranes and configurations, including specifications, capacity charts, and site views.

Precise paver control system

Thermo Ramsey’s new Grad-Line HS300 Level Control System has a sonic sensor that can be used for grade or auger control. With the unit’s dual display, grade can be controlled in the top display while slope is monitored in the bottom one.

Track-mounted heavy duty paver

ABG, a business unit of Ingersoll-Rand, has introduced a track-mounted version of its heavy-duty paver, the Titan 525. With a maximum lift depth of 14 inches, the unit can place base materials, asphalt, or concrete in widths up to 52 feet, reducing the number of passes and labor necessary to complete the job.

Load lifting system

The X-Tra-Lift loading system fits inside a pickup bed and has a 1,300-pound lifting capacity. It loads and unloads parallel to the ground and is equipped with heavy duty casters so it can be rolled where needed. The system was developed by Stellar Industries and a Swiss engineering firm.

Smarter, stronger excavators

Hitachi’s new Zaxis series of excavators feature improved performance specifications, quieter operation, a cab design that is twice as strong as in previous models, and a new on-board information system. The latter system, Zaxis@site, monitors and stores operational data such as error records, hours of operation, fuel levels, and average pump pressure distribution for digging and travel; all data can be downloaded into a hand-held computer and uploaded into an office PC for analysis.

Interchangeable cold milling drums

Wirtgen has introduced a unique Flexible Cutter System for its milling drums. The system allows operators to change drums of different working widths — with tool holders fitted — on the job site in less than three hours. Wirtgen offers 13 different milling drum sizes and configurations that can be used in the system.

Front-spreading option

A front center discharge option is now available on Henderson Manufacturing’s MUNIbody II. The option allows granular materials to be discharged in the center-front of the vehicle or spread in front of drive tires. It also has conventional rear spreading and dumping capabilities.