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Our team uncovered more than 100 product introductions
at the industry’s largest trade show. All will be covered in the coming
months in our new product departments, but here are some of the
highlights...
Liebherr
New earthmoving models
 Liebherr America used Conexpo-Con/Agg to introduce
new models in its wheel loader, excavator, and crawler dozer lines.
Complimenting the company’s production loaders is the new 2.6-yard L 524, a
110-horsepower, 22,270-pound machine. Also new are two Series 4 dozers, the
160-horsepower, 35,264-pound PR 724, and the 200-horsepower, 48,500-pound PR
734. The excavator line gets a new 35,000-pound wheeled excavator, the A 900
C, and Liebherr’s proprietary, patented Likufix, quick-coupler system
combined with an automatic hydraulic coupling system.
Click 39 on
ROADFAX card
Topcon
Millimeter GPS for machine control systems
Topcon’s Millimeter GPS expands the capabilities of
3D-GPS machine control systems to building roads with near-flat slopes and
other features where vertical tolerances are less than 0.1 feet. LazerZone
technology enables this new level of precision and can be combined with any
Topcon 3D-GPS system to bring vertical accuracy to within a few millimeters.
LazerZone technology incorporates a zone-beam laser transmitter, the PZL-I,
that sweeps a 2,000-foot-diameter area with a 33-foot-high wall of laser
light. The PZS-MC sensing unit is mounted on the machine’s vibration pole.
Setup and configuration is simple and can be completed in less than a day.
Click 31 on
ROADFAX card
Caterpillar Paving
Two new pavers unveiled
 Caterpillar Paving introduced two new asphalt pavers
at Conexpo-Con/Agg. The 10-foot, track-mounted AP-1055D features a
167-horsepower Tier 3 engine, an 8-cubic-yard hopper, dual operator
stations, and Cat’s proprietary material handling system with independent
feeder and auger controls. Its high-capacity cooling system varies fan speed
according to demand, reducing noise and fuel consumption.
Also new is the AP-800D, an 8-foot, 130-horsepower
rubber-tire paver with a four-speed hydrostatic drive system. Anti-slip
control is a unique feature of the drive system; if one drive wheel slips,
it allows the other to propel the paver.
Click 45 on
ROADFAX card
John Deere
Redefining the motor grader
 John Deere has made more than 100 changes in its new
D-Series motor graders, unveiled at Conexpo-Con/Agg. A new cab features 26%
more space and 40% more glass than previous models, as well as improved
heating and cooling. The six-model lineup features six-wheel-drive and
tandem-drive models, with engines ranging from 185 to 245 horsepower. The
new engines feature 25 to 40% torque rise for better lugging, according to
the company, and they work with John Deere’s exclusive “event-based”
transmission which senses the load and automatically adjusts the clutch-pack
engagement accordingly.
Other features include a longer wheelbase for
improved fine-grading and ride, additional operating weight for balance and
traction, and a more efficient moldboard design.
Click 36 on
ROADFAX card
International
Higher payload capacity trucks
 The International Truck and Engine Corporation
launched a three-model line of new severe service trucks at Conexpo-Con/Agg,
its new International(r) 7700 series. The new line includes the 7700 SFA 4x2
and 6x4 models and the 7700 SBA 6x4 model. In addition to a new axle
location on two of the models and more chassis packaging options, an updated
frame system includes a single 12.25-inch frame that is 400 pounds lighter
than typical double 10-inch frames. The company says that the new features
will not only increase payloads, but also meet federal bridge formula
limits.
Click 34 on
ROADFAX card
TransTech
Road shoulder wedge maker
TransTech unveiled its new Safety Edge road shoulder
wedge maker at Conexpo-Con/Agg. It addresses the problem of road edge drop
off by placing a ramped surface on the side of the paved roadway during the
paving process with an element of compaction that other devices don’t
provide. The device consists of a mounting plate that easily attaches to all
varieties of paving machine; a self-adjusting spring that allows the device
to follow the roadside surface; the adjusting screw that allows for setting
the initial height; and the edge-making component itself that includes a
radius edge that helps the device adapt to obstacles it may encounter.
The wedge component provides a compound angled
surface that pre-compacts the asphalt as it enters the device. As the
asphalt continues under the 30-degree edge, it is smoothed as it would be
under the screed bottom, to create a better surface finish on the angled
mat. The resulting angled road edge is less that 45 degrees, which allows a
vehicle to leave and enter the roadway with no loss of control.
Click 32 on
ROADFAX card
Bell Equipment/ATI
Track-drive scraper tractor
Bell Equipment has introduced a track-mounted
version of its 4206 wheel tractor for pulling scrapers and other towable
attachments over all types of terrain. The new Model 4206D/T uses four ATI
6,000-pound, rubber-track modules in place of wheels and a 422-horsepower
engine to create 62,000 pounds of drawbar pull. Bell claims the unit can
pull up to three fully loaded 18-yard pull scrapers in tandem over rough
terrain. The rubber tracks are 36-inches wide and ride on rubberized idlers
and bogies for a smooth ride.
Click 44 on
ROADFAX card
Carlson
Smaller screed
 Carlson’s new RoadMaster screed is designed to
better fit the smaller highway class paver. The smaller screed is capable of
paving highway class jobs, as well as driveways and parking lots.
The unit
is easy to operate, simple to adjust and service, has a full electric screed
heat system, weighs 4,000 pounds, and comes in 8- to 15-foot standard paving
widths.
Click 35 on
ROADFAX card
MSA
Hard hat innovation
MSA calls its new “1-Touch Suspension” the first
real innovation in suspension adjustment for hard hats in 20 years. The new
system features a one-hand squeeze opening, and one-hand slide adjustment
and snap closure. It is available with a variety of new MSA V-Gard hats and
caps, and it can be purchased separately to replace a hard hat’s current
suspension system.
Click 42 on
ROADFAX card
Freightliner
New business-class vehicle
 Freightliner Trucks new Business Class M2 V vehicle
was unveiled late last year. The M2 106V and 112V offer heavy-duty options
such as front frame extensions to provide a solid mounting point for
hydraulic pumps, winches, front stabilizers, and snowplows; more durable
bumpers; and a front engine power take-off provision for increased
versatility and performance, to power snow plows, cranes, utility equipment,
and more.
Click 33 on
ROADFAX card
Trimble
Mobile equipment tracker
Trimble’s new Construction Asset Management System
combines the company’s proprietary management software and GPS technology to
allow managers to track the locations of their trucks and other mobile
equipment in real time. Applications include managing truck hauling and
dumping cycles for efficiency, and theft recovery. Trimble says it reduces
project costs through enhanced asset utilization, and makes it possible to
manage multiple work sites simultaneously.
Click 41 on
ROADFAX card
Hamm
Oscillating soil compactor
 Hamm, the compaction division of Wirtgen, used
Conexpo-Con/Agg to introduce the first oscillating-drum soil compactor in
North America. The Hamm 3412 VIO combines oscillating technology with
conventional vibration technology in a single 84-inch drum. In oscillation
mode, the 26,433-pound machine imparts side-to-side horizontal force into
the base; in conventional mode the drum moves up and down.
Click 38 on
ROADFAX card
John Deere
New player in the 7-yard loader class
John Deere has entered the 7-yard loader class with
the all-new 844J. Designed and manufactured by Deere, the machine features a
12.5-liter, 380-horsepower (net) engine with wet sleeve cylinder liners for
enhanced cooling. The company claims the 844J has best-in-class cooling and
maintenance access to cooling apparatus. The 69,300-pound machine also
features a smooth-shifting proprietary transmission, a ride control system,
excavator-style hydraulics, and an optional joystick steering control
system.
Click 50 on
ROADFAX card
Caterpillar
31-ton ejector truck
 After introducing dozens of new models in the months
leading up to Conexpo-Con/Agg, Caterpillar used the show itself to launch a
31-ton version of its ejector-body articulated hauler. The 317-horsepower
730 Ejector has a 22.1-cubic-yard body capacity and uses a self-cleaning
ejector mechanism to spread and dump material on the go, without raising the
body. It has the features of the conventional 730 Articulated Truck, while
the ejector technology incorporates features from Cat’s 769D off-highway
truck and its wheel scrapers.
Click 40 on
ROADFAX card
Bomag
High production roller unveiled
 Bomag continued the rollout of its Dash-4 asphalt
roller series with the debut of the top-of-the-line, 79-inch BW190AD-4 HF at
Conexpo-Con/Agg. Like the previously introduced 66-inch BW161AD-4 HF, the
new machine features slanted drum support legs, high curb clearance, and a
clear view of the entire drum surface. The 131-horsepower unit can deliver
28,800 pounds of centrifugal force in low-amplitude/high-frequency (3,600
vpm), and 40,950 pounds in high-amplitude/low frequency (2,880 vpm). Bomag’s
high-tech Asphalt Manager technology is available as an option; the system
automatically measures and controls the compaction performance of the roller
to ensure continuously optimized compaction results.
Click 49 on
ROADFAX card
Volvo Construction Equipment
High-production excavator debuts
 Conexpo-Con/Agg provided the first North American
viewing of Volvo’s new 70-ton excavator, the EC700B. Designed to “re-define
performance” in the 70-ton class, according to Volvo, the new machine
features the highest-capacity engine in the class at 464-horsepower, and
weighs between 149,000 and 155,000 pounds, depending on boom, arm, and track
selections. Volvo says the main pump, swing motor and bearing, and the track
rollers are of higher capacities than those normally found in the 70-ton
class. Designed for mass excavation and quarry loading, production models of
the EC700B are being field tested worldwide, with full-scale production
planned for late 2005.
Click 43 on
ROADFAX card
Wirtgen/Vogele
Next generation paver line
 Vogele America, Wirtgen’s asphalt paver subsidiary,
has updated its five-lane-width pavers with new models that are said to be
easier to maintain and more durable. The new line consists of two 8-foot,
rubber-tire machines (the 2111W and 2116W); one 10-foot, rubber-tire machine
(the 2219W); and two rubber-track units (the 8-foot 2116T and the 10-foot
2219T). The company has also introduced four new screeds, including an
electric-heated unit.
Paver improvements include ground-level access to
daily maintenance items and 50% stronger rubber track bands. Vogele is the
only paver company that mounts its drive motors on the outside end of the
torque hub — so that if a leak develops, the paving crew can see it before
the paving mat or the machine is harmed.
Vogele has installed two hydraulic motors on the
final drive of the 10-foot crawler-mounted 2219T (competing models use one
motor) to provide smoother, more efficient shifting, including
shift-on-the-fly at any speed.
Click 37 on
ROADFAX card
LeeBoy
First commercial-class electric screed
 LeeBoy has unveiled what it calls the first
electrically-heated screed for commercial-class asphalt pavers. The new
Legend Electric Screed System is available on the company’s 8500, 8515, and
8816 pavers. Available in an 8 to 15-foot paving width of the 8500 and 8515,
and in an 8- to 15.5-foot model for the 8816, the new unit incorporates the
traditional Legend construction features like bull-nose, heavy-duty
replaceable screed plates, angle of attack controls, front-mounted screed
extensions, and crown/invert control. It is powered by an on-board electric
generator and has timed heating controls that provide consistent temperature
control of the heating elements across the width of the screed plate and
extensions.
Click 48 on
ROADFAX card
Astec
New burner and RAP solutions
 Astec used Conexpo-Con/Agg to reintroduce its
Phoenix Talon aggregate drying burner, and to tout the RAP applications of
it Double Barrel dryer/mixer and its multi-bin RAP systems.
The Phoenix Talon employs a premix gas design and
air-atomized, oil-burning technology to achieve high efficiency without
special equipment. It is equipped with Astec’s Variable Frequency Drives,
eliminating dampers and improving noise and energy and fuel efficiency.
The company says its Double Barrel dryer mixer can
run clean, handling up to 50% RAP content by drying virgin material in the
main chamber and injecting RAP in the second chamber, so it never has direct
contact with the hot gas stream of the dryer.
Astec says its multi-bin RAP storage systems allow
producers to separate and screen RAP just like virgin aggregate, creating
stronger, more consistent high-RAP-content mixes than single-bin units.
Click 46 on
ROADFAX card
Bobcat
Serious cutting and mulching option
 Bobcat has added a flail cutter attachment to the
arsenal of attachments for its family of skid-steer and compact loaders. The
flail cutter is designed to cut and mulch the thickest grass and brush along
ditches, power line access roads, trails, and other overgrown areas. It has
a cutting width of 79 inches and can mulch small branches and saplings up to
3 inches in diameter. Its hammers cut vertically, so debris is thrown down
on the ground and not out to the side.
Click 47 on
ROADFAX card
Terex Roadbuilding
Crossing a paver and a material transfer vehicle
 No doubt the most unique paving product debuting at
Conexpo-Con/Agg was Terex/Cedarapids’ new RoadMix Machine. The unit combines
the company’s Remix Anti-Segregation System — a feature previously only
available on Terex/ Cedarapids asphalt pavers that prevents thermal and
material segregation — with the concept of a material transfer vehicle —
non-contact, continuous paving with a high-capacity receiving hopper and
off-set paving.
The company says the resulting RoadMix machine
offers paving contractors a versatile machine that can achieve high
utilization rates because it can be used both as a traditional Remix paver
and as a material transfer device.
While material transfer devices were originally
developed to eliminate truck “bumping” on the truck/paver exchange, Bill
Rieken, paver application specialist for Terex Roadbuilding’s Asphalt Mobile
Equipment Group says continuous paving isn’t the only issue in creating a
smooth road. “More often, irregularities in mat smoothness occur with mixes
that are more prone to segregation,” says Rieken. “These undulations are a
result of truck-end segregation.
The company claims that its new RoadMix machine is
the first to be developed to address both segregation and continuous paving
needs simultaneously.
Built around Terex/Cedarapids’ proprietary remix
system, the machine has a receiving hopper with two sets of two
counter-rotating augers that equally pull and reblend material from all
areas of the hopper. The augers feature a constant-diameter, variable pitch
design that delivers a more thorough reblending of material than other
methods, according to the company.
“In our new RoadMix machine, 100% of the mix will be
reblended, says Mark Hunt, general manager of the company’s Asphalt Mobile
Equipment Group. In other transfer vehicles currently available, only about
half of the material is reblended.”
Another advantage Hunt and Rieken claim for the
RoadMix unit is better temperature retention than rival machines. Material
is dumped directly into the unit’s receiving hopper and the reblending
begins immediately, in contrast to traditional designs that convey the
material to a mixing chamber. In the RoadMix system, the augers channel the
material back to a short conveyor which then transfers it to a swiveling
conveyor for discharge into the paver’s hopper.
RoadMix is designed to meet all current state
specifications for interstate paving, according to Terex Roadbuilding. It
has a lower gross weight and transport height than competing models and will
be offered initially with a rubber-track drive system, giving it low ground
pressures to allow its use on a first lift in new road construction. “Other
transfer vehicles are too heavy to be used on the first lift and are not
required to be used until subsequent lifts,” says application specialist
Rieken. “However, road smoothness and durability is established with the
first lift, and it is critical that this lift be devoid of segregation.”
When contractors don’t need the RoadMix’s
transferring capabilities, the swivel conveyor assembly can be replaced with
one of three Terex/Cedarapids screeds and deployed as a paver.
Click 30 on
ROADFAX card
Reprinted from Better Roads Magazine
May2005 |
