Compaction Equipment

Double-axle vibratory pneumatic roller debuts

Sakai introduced the market’s first double-axle vibratory pneumatic-tired roller at the 2003 World of Asphalt show in Nashville. Sakai says its GW750 combines the consolidation benefits of a vibratory roller with the kneading effects of a rubber-tired roller at both axles. The 77-inch-wide machine develops 17,637 pounds of centrifugal force over each axle; along with the static components of the machine, says Sakai, the total force output of the GW750 is equal to that of a 55,000-pound pneumatic roller. 

The new machine has three tires that vibrate and drive on the front axle and four tires that vibrate and drive on the rear. Other features include a 158-gallon tire spray system and Sakai’s shock isolation system.

New high-performance highway-class rollers

Bomag has upgraded its top-of-the-line tandem drum asphalt rollers. The 66-inch BW266 and the 78-inch BW278 share a 130-horsepower diesel engine and an independently variable front- and rear-drum vibratory system that has a maximum vibration frequency of 3,800 vpm. With a static weight of 20,600 pounds, the BW266 generates up to 32,950 pounds of centrifugal force, while the 23,500-pound BW278 generates up to 37,099 pounds of centrifugal force. Both models also feature a mat temperature sensing system and Bomag’s exclusive multi-system performance indicator which lets the operator program the machine for maximum working speed, automatic vibration start/stop speeds, and vibration frequency and amplitude for the front and rear drums.

High vibration or high amplitude in one machine

Caterpillar Paving’s new 67-inch CB-534D and 79-inch CB-534D XW tandem rollers are available with the company’s optional “Versa Vibe” vibratory system which allows the machine to operate in a high-vibration-frequency (3,800 vpm)/low-amplitude mode for fast compaction of easy pavements, or high-amplitude/low-vibration-frequency (2,520 vpm) mode for thick lifts or difficult mixes. Cat says the feature can save fleets the cost of a second machine and gives jobsite managers more flexibility in finding the optimum combination of amplitude and vibration frequency for each job.

Introduced in January, the new D-series asphalt compactors are recommended for breakdown and intermediate rolling because of their high compactive forces, and can be used in the static mode for finish rolling, according to Caterpillar. Cat also recommends the machines for base and sub-base compacting. Typical applications are highways, city streets, county roads, lane additions, overlays, airport runways, and other production-size jobs.

Oscillating steel-drum roller

Hamm’s new HD090V oscillatory/ vibratory roller uses a vibratory drum in front and an oscillating steel drum in the rear to achieve faster, more effective compaction, according to the company. The oscillating system uses dual eccentric weights rotating in the same direction around the drum axis to achieve what Hamm calls “a rocking motion.” In contrast to conventional vibratory drums, which move up and down, the company says its oscillating drum creates horizontal and downward shear forces that achieve greater compaction, even in low temperature ranges. Because the rear drum does not “bounce” like a vibratory drum, says Hamm, the surface of the mat is smooth and flat. Hamm is the compaction division of Wirtgen.

Grader-mounted pneumatic compactor

The PR30-8 Pneumatic Compactor attachment from Mountain West Attachments mounts quickly on the outside ripper shank pockets of a motor grader to provide kneading-action compaction for maintaining gravel roads and in compacting asphalt overlays in applications where it is cost prohibitive to transport a self-propelled pneumatic roller.

Weighing about 2,700 pounds, the unit has eight foam-filled, 14-ply, 30-inch paving tires mounted on alloy axle segments. The host machine’s ripper hydraulics provide down-pressure during compaction and lift the attachment off the ground when it is not needed. The unit rotates on two dust-sealed, extreme-service flange bearings.

Measuring and Instrumentation

Bridge/road monitor

K&K Systems, Inc. has developed a new programmable voice synthesizer bridge/road monitor. The monitor reads air temperature, road/bridge temperature, and road/bridge surface conditions; has a programmable clock, data recorder, and voice synthesizer; and has adjustable settings for the temperature threshold. The unit mounts on a 3- or 4-pound U-channel post, a 2- by 2-inch square steel post, or a custom designed mount.

Bridge Inspection

Spectronics Corporation's exclusive UV viewing system allows inspectors to quickly check concrete for alkali-silica reactivity in the field. The Spectroline model ASR-260 kit is a portable darkroom that uses shortwave UV light and a chemical reagent to instantly reveal the presence of ASR gel with a bright flourescent glow. Any cracks can be quickly repaired before they cause serious damage. The ASR-260 kit is used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration.

Traffic sensors for gravel roads

RoadRamp Systems’ rural sensors are specifically designed to be used for accurate, short-term data collection on unpaved, gravel or dirt roads and similar off-highway sites. The new RoadRamp Rural Axle Sensors consist of a tough, low-profile rubber ramp which protects an integrated road tube. They are covered along their entire length by a wear-resistant tape for even more protection against impact and abrasion from gravel and sharp stones. The 24- or 36-foot sensors are installed by stretching across the road and securing the unit between spikes driven into both shoulders, and can be repaired and reused many times. The sensors are suitable for volume, speed, and classification studies and can be used with all existing pneumatic traffic counters.

Retroreflectometer

Flint Trading’s recently introduced LTL-X 30-meter geometry retroreflectometer for pavement markings provides public agencies and private contractors with an efficient instrument for certification of construction and maintenance jobs. The graphic display on the retractable handle shows the retroreflectivity reading as well as the identification of the road, type of line, user, date and time, individual measurements, averages, instrument status, and more. The built-in memory stores a complete data set for 1,500 readings which can be printed from the built-in printer or communicated to a personal computer using the unit’s Road Sensor Control software. The LTL-X has attachable wheels, weighs less than the LTL 2000, takes readings in less than one second, has optional GPS capabilities, has enhanced profile marking capabilities, and is capable of doing wet night measurements.

Concrete evaluating equipment

Impact-Echo Instruments, LLC has two basic models of pavement-testing equipment — impact-echo testing and wave speed measurement. Impact-echo equipment is ideal for rapid measurement of the thickness of concrete, locating voids, faults, rusted rebar, and unfilled tendon ducts in roadways, bridge decks, and tunnels. The principal components are hand-held transducer units, a set of spherical impactors, a high-speed analog-to-digital data acquisition system, a notebook computer, and a software system that guides and controls the tests and displays the results in graphical and numerical form.

Concrete strength/quality measurement system

The intelliRock system from Nomadics Construction Labs uses an embedded microprocessor and high-precision temperature sensors to determine real-time, in-place concrete strength, profile temperature, and provide quality-control data. This system allows contractors to conveniently use the maturity method to non-destructively determine in-place concrete strength. The system consists of three components: a logger, an intelligent sensor that calculates maturity within the structure where it is placed; a handheld reader used to communicate with and download maturity and temperature data from the loggers; and software that downloads the data from the reader into secure, unalterable electronic files for subsequent distribution, documentation, and/or analysis. The information provided by the system can accelerate the construction process and can function as a quality-control tool.

Earthmoving & Material Handling

New utility work machine concept

Bobcat has introduced a new utility work machine concept. The 5600 Toolcat blends the worksite versatility of a skid-steer loader with the mobility of a four-wheel utility vehicle. Its features include four-wheel steer, full-time four-wheel drive, and a front-loader arm assembly that can wield dozens of different buckets and attachments from the Bobcat line of loader attachments.

The 5600 Toolcat Utility Work Machine is powered by a 44-horsepower diesel engine and has a two-speed hydrostatic drive system that can propel the vehicle as fast as 18 miles per hour. A suspension system that includes front coil springs and rear leaf springs enhances the Toolcat’s load-carrying ability and its pushing force.

In the rear, the Toolcat sports a tilting dump bed and a hitch platform that can accommodate towable accessories like chippers and utility trailers. The bed has a payload capacity of 2,000 pounds.

Cab appointments include an automotive-style steering wheel, as well as a joystick for loader functions. The cab provides full roll-over protection.

The loaders hydraulic system provides a 17-gallon-per-minute hydraulic flow, and 3,000-psi of hydraulic pressure to run attachments. The current fleet of attachments includes a mower, snow blade, V-plow, snow blower, angle broom, box blade, and auger, among many others.

Unique tractor works both ways

New Holland says its TV145 Bidirectional tractor is unlike anything else on the market. It is designed to be operated engine-end first or cab-end first via its exclusive Turnabout console, which rotates the seat and primary controls 180 degrees.

When the operator works facing the engine, the TV145 functions like a traditional tractor for mowing or pulling implements. When the operator faces the rear, the machine functions as a wheel loader or forklift. The unit can also function as a tool carrier for a stump grinder, chipper, snow blower, trencher, backhoe or other attachment.

The turbocharged, 105-horsepower TV145 features a PTO and three-point hitch at both ends, allowing it to push and pull implements simultaneously. Maximum hydraulic flow is 65 gallons per minute, best in its horsepower class, according to New Holland. The tractor has a clutchless three-speed hydrostatic drive and a top speed of 18 miles per hour.

Redesigned crane/work platform

Elliott Equipment has redesigned its ECH-4-90, a 90-foot aerial work platform and crane.

 The unit now features continuous rotation for easier operation, turret-mounted lower controls for better line of sight in crane operations, 40% fewer, fittings and the use of O-ring face seals for lower maintenance. 

The unit’s self-leveling platform has been improved; it offers 95 feet of working height and a 14,000-pound crane capacity.

Skid-steer loader line debuts

Volvo’s new line of skid-steer loaders debuted in 2003, with an initial offering of five models with operating capacities ranging from 1,350 to 2,450 pounds. Volvo says the line has been engineered for ruggedness and long life, with a one-piece mainframe structure, heavy-duty drive chains, and high ground clearance. Production features include double-acting bucket cylinders with hardened rods for exceptional breakout force, a high lifting capacity, and a universal quick-attach system. High-flow hydraulics are an option on three models.

New processor performs better

Stanley LaBounty has replaced its UP 50 Universal Processor model with the new series UP 45SV. The new model is said to increase power by 10% and allow the jaws to align more evenly on material. Its new pivot design cuts jaw change-out times by up to 50%. A new spool-type speed valve delivers faster cycle times. Recommended for road and bridge reconstruction as well as general demolition, the UP 45SV has four jaw options — concrete pulverizer jaw, shear jaw, concrete cracking jaw, and plate shear jaw.

One engine, more power

The newest generation of Gradall’s 46,000-pound XL 4100 truck-mounted excavator gets more power and productivity from its single-engine design than the previous model got from two engines, one to power the excavator, the other for the truck chassis. The XL 4100-II has roomy new cabs for the carrier and upperstructure, an aerodynamic profile that enhances operator visibility, and Gradall’s new gray and red color scheme. The six-wheel chassis is available with four-wheel or six-wheel drive. Maximum boom reach at ground line is 30 feet, 1 inch for the 6 x 4 model, and 2 inches less for the 6 x 6. Maximum digging depth is 20 feet, 10 inches for the 6 x 4 and 20 feet, 6 inches for the 6 x 6. Power comes from a 250 horsepower diesel. With high-pressure hydraulics and a telescoping, tilting boom, the new machine is recommended for fine finishing and grading as well as pavement removal, ditching, and excavating.

New backhoe-loader line enters North America

Volvo’s much heralded new line of backhoe loaders became available in North America last January, a few months after their initial introduction in Europe. The line was designed from a blank sheet of paper based on input from backhoe loader users around the world.

The 90-horsepower BL70 is the first model available in North America. The unit has a standard dig depth of 14 feet, 9 inches and features a narrow, S-style boom and 13,310 pounds of bucket dig force. The boom’s narrow profile enhances visibility in trenching and loading operations, and Volvo says its closed-box construction is stronger and requires fewer components and fewer welds than other designs. Cushioned boom, swing, and dipper cylinders deliver excavator-like smoothness and precision to digging operations.

Two quick-coupler options are available — one mechanical, the other hydraulic.

At the other end of the machine, the loader features a patented self-leveling bucket system and a return-to-dig function for productivity. It uses a single, center-mounted dump cylinder to enhance visibility and shorten dump times. With a 1.3-cubic yard general-purpose bucket, the loader has 12,038 pounds of breakout force, tops in its class, according to Volvo.

Operator comfort items include one of the plushest cabs in the field, with a fully adjustable suspension seat, joystick digging controls, and separate air conditioning and heating systems. The one-piece floor-to-ceiling rear window swings easily to its overhead storage position.

Vegetation Management

Rugged mower cuts wide

Designed for productivity and durability, the new Stingray Flex-Wing Mower from Alamo Industrial is available in 10- and 15-foot cutting widths. It features a continuously welded seven-gauge steel deck construction from 0.1875-inch steel. Its round skid pan is said to allow for easy mowing over obstacles and helps prevent blade damage. Standard features include deck rings and double chain guards with cable intertwined for extra safety. Automatically adjusting floating wing frames are said to reduce wear and tear. Mower height can be adjusted hydraulically.

Long arm makes for lower risk

Schulte’s new Flex Arm allows a tractor operator to travel on the road while his Schulte 10- or 15-foot rotary cutter mows the ditch slope. By keeping the tractor off the slope, says the company, the chance of a rollover is minimized and wear and tear on the tractor is reduced. The Flex Arm also enhances operator’s view of obstacles in front of the cutter. The Flex Arm’s two-point attachment to the cutter includes a strut that prevents the cutter from pivoting in relation to the arm; this allows the arm and rotary cutter to be easily backed up to cut around approaches and other obstacles.

Schulte says the Flex Arm is especially valuable when dealing with wet slopes, where the risk of rollover is highest. In addition to safety benefits, the arm keeps the tractor tires from packing down the wet grass in front of the cutters.

Winter Equipment

Plow balance system

Component Technology's PlowGuard plow balance system provides numerous features that benefit snow removal managers, service providers, and equipment operators.  The system offers control of the hydraulically operated plow and the weight that its cutting edge bears on the road surface.  The system can be operated by means of a simple switch in the truck cab, or integrated into any of the StormGuard control consoles.

Faster, more powerful snowblower

The new High-Flow SnowBlower line from FFC Attachments converts high-flow skid-steer loaders into high-performance snow removal machines, throwing snow as far as 45 feet while traveling at higher ground speeds. Designed to work efficiently with hydraulic system flows of 18 to 42 gallons per minute, the new line comes in five models, ranging from 72- to 96-inch cutting widths, and does not require a case drain. Other features include hydraulic, direct-drive chute rotation that increases productivity while eliminating cables and chains; a two-stage hydraulic blower; and dual auger motors for increased torque.

Safety Products

Portable freestanding barrier

The new SafeGuard Link System by Barrier Systems Inc. uses a reinforced steel design to create a highly portable freestanding barrier for work zones that can be easily moved as the work zone moves. The barrier system consists of 28-foot sections that are linked together with a unique hinging system. The system can form a freestanding longitudinal barrier or be installed as flexible elements in conventional portable concrete barrier to provide a gate where access is needed. Individual sections can be loaded or unloaded without heavy equipment, and each has integrated wheel assemblies that can be lowered and raised by a built-in hand crank or optional compressed air system. With the wheels down, individual sections can be moved easily and linked sections can be towed or pulled down the roadway. The new system has been tested and approved to NCHRP Report 350 Test Levels 2 and 3.

Cone handling system

Industrial Automation Supply has released the CSR 3000, a cone handling system that sets cones in a consistent manner and retrieves them as well. One worker in the truck bed feeds the cones into the setter while the driver triggers the release of the cones. The machine can retrieve cones that are standing or laying down, as well as facing in any direction. 

The retrieved cones are stacked in a vertical position so the worker can then stack the cones in the bed of the truck. An optional timing system is available for setting the spacing of the cones automatically.

Cone setter/retriever

According to A.W.D., LLC, their new ABJ-7 cone setter automatically places and retrieves highway cones with less danger to the operator than current methods. Safely seated inside a truck bed, the operator simply loads or unloads the conveyor, reducing exposure to oncoming traffic. The self-contained unit can be easily transported to the worksite by a two-man crew and set up in five minutes or less. The cone setter is cost effective, low maintenance, adaptable to most trucks, weighs 250 pounds, and has an estimated speed of 3 to 5 miles per hour.

Wet reflective tapes

3M’s Traffic Control Materials Division has developed technology that keeps pavement markings bright, even on wet roadways. According to the company, their 3M Stamark Wet Reflective Tapes provide superior reflective performance under wet or dry conditions. The tapes feature innovative optics — the reflective lenses are encapsulated to ensure a high level of continuous reflective performance. The reflective tapes are designed for temporary applications in work zones, as well as durable applications.

Road weather information

The Road/Runway Weather Information System from Quixote Transportation Safety, Inc. gathers weather data and, when conditions warrant, automatically activates a deicing function that dispenses a deicing agent on roadways, bridges, runways, and other areas. Each RWIS site contains surface sensors embedded in the pavement that measure both pavement and atmospheric conditions present, including temperature, freeze point, form of moisture (snow/ice), and amount of deicing chemical present. The sensors also determine air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and visibility. All sensors connect to a remote processing unit that transmits the sensor data to activate a six-spray FreezeFree component engineered into the system.

Cone shooter

Worldwide Safety, LLC unveiled its new collapsible cone and dispenser, affectionately known as the Cone Shooter. The new product can dispense collapsed cones of various heights from a 15-inch square metal box, which can be either mounted onto a vehicle’s rear frame or inserted inside a car’s trunk. 

Made of a fluorescent vinyl mesh fabric with a 500-candlelight reflective collar and an inner-coiled spring, the collapsible cone doesn’t blow over in normal traffic wind gusts. Because the new cone collapses and is lightweight, it transports easily and efficiently, using less space than the standard cone made of molded plastic. Accessories for the cone, including a collection device, are being developed.

Traffic control safety system

International Road Dynamics, Inc. has introduced the Travel Messenger, a real-time travel information system for traffic control zones. The portable system monitors traffic conditions and provides real-time messaging to drivers, informing them of the expected travel times through an upcoming traffic zone. The system provides the information through roadside message signs for approaching drivers and on the Internet for drivers wanting to check routes before travel. The Travel Messenger has been used at construction work sites in Michigan, and will be used in North Carolina this spring.

Paving Equipment and Materials

New production-class paver

LeeBoy has expanded its line of asphalt pavers with the introduction of the 8816, a 25,000-pound, 130-horsepower, track-mounted paver designed for road and large commercial applications. The new machine employs LeeBoy’s vibrating, heated Legend Screed system and a 10-ton receiving hopper. 

Standard features include independent auger and conveyor control, patented under-auger cut-off plates, and 14-inch variable- speed augers. The screed is hydraulically extendible from 8 to 15 feet. Operator features include dual operator stations, electric-over-hydraulic controls, and proportional electronic steering.

Slipforms new lane additions

Power Pavers’ new SF 2700 two-track paver is shown here on an interstate highway project last summer in Little Rock, Arkansas. The paver was used to slipform five 24-foot-wide lane additions and two 8-foot shoulders. The project called for 11 inches of concrete pavement; the unit has the ability to pour up to 16 inches.

The 2500 features an independently controlled, split, dual-auger system that Power Pavers says gives it the ability to spread concrete mix quickly and evenly. It can pour roads up to 32-feet wide with extensions, and the company says it changes width quickly.

High-production 8-foot paver

Cat calls its new rubber-track-mounted AP-655C a high-production 8-foot paver capable of paving large parking lots by day and streets and highways by night. Weighing 40,800 pounds, the new machine features a 174-horsepower turbo-charged engine, Cat’s Mobil-trac undercarriage, and an advanced material handling system. The material handling system uses a controller to independently control left and right augers and left and right feeders, eliminating the need for feeder gates and enhancing the machine’s productivity potential. 

The paver has two operator stations, each with a fully equipped console, and each capable of swinging out to the side of the machine for greater visibility. The new cooling system features an electronically controlled, variable-speed, on-demand fan which uses less engine power and reduces noise.

New pavers get a power boost

The new 500 Series Tier 2 pavers from Terex Roadbuilding’s Cedarapids Paving feature a 40% increase in horsepower for more efficiency in driving Remix systems, electric screeds, drive systems, and full-width paving applications up to 30 feet. The series includes the 552 rubber tire model, and the 562 rubber-track and steel track models.

In addition, hopper load bearing capabilities have been boosted on the 552, giving it the same 25-ton capacity available in the 562 models. Cedarapids says the 552 has the largest rear drive tire in the industry, giving it exceptional tractive effort, flotation, and stability.

Combines milling and cold recycling

Wirtgen says the 2200 CR offers road agencies and contractors the best of both worlds in that it is both a cold-in-place recycler and a milling machine in one robust unit. It performs in-situ processing of pavements with an integral paving unit, and also serves as a high-performance cold-milling machine which can remove asphalt courses to a depth of nearly 14 inches.

The 2200 CR can be used as a cold recycler without time-consuming conversions. It is capable of mixing water-cement slurry, asphalt emulsion, or foamed asphalt base materials to a depth of 10 inches.

It has a working width of 7.2 feet and an engine output of 800 horsepower. Its operating weight is over 109,000 pounds which is distributed over four crawlers. It has a mechanical milling-drum drive, while the travel system is all hydraulic.

High-value compact paver

Gilcrest Equipment introduced the new ProPaver 4420 in 2003, a 12,000-pound machine capable of paving widths from 3 to 13 feet. Powered by a 56-horsepower water-cooled diesel, the paver features Gilcrest’s new adjustable, vibratory Unimat screed. The full-width floating screed has two propane burners on the main screed and one on each hydraulic extension. Other features include hopper-mounted material feed augurs and dual 24-inch conveyors.

Versatile miller works on three or four tracks

Roadtec’s new RX-500 half-lane cold planer is available as a four- or three-track machine. The 500-horsepower machine has a maximum cutting depth of 13 inches and a choice of three cutting widths: 75 inches, 79 inches, and 86 inches. Roadtec designed the machine to be light and maneuverable for use on city streets, parking lots, and county roads. The three-track version weighs 54,000 pounds; the four-track, 58,000 pounds. The two-stage, front-load-out conveyor system has a 60-degree swing to either side.

New compact paver for small jobs

IR-Blaw-Knox has introduced a new asphalt paver for the driveway/parking lot market. The PF-875L is powered by a 73 horsepower diesel engine and it comes standard with the 8-foot V3 screed which is extendible to 13 feet. The company’s new Liberty screed is an option which is capable of full lane-width paving with extension plates.

Load material is distributed from the 8-ton hopper by two independently operated 31-inch conveyors and two 10-foot augers; they can be operated in automatic or manual mode. Optional grade controls allow the operator to automatically change the angle of attack, resulting in a smoother mat, according to Blaw-Knox.

Upgraded center-mount recycler

Bomag has replaced its center-mount MPH 121 recycler/stabilizer with the new MPH 122 which features a wider rotor, greater cutting depth, and a more powerful engine. The new machine has a 442-horsepower engine, 92-inch-wide rotor with 194 cutting teeth, and a maximum cutting depth of 19.7 inches. The up-cut style rotor has turning speeds of 100 to 170 rpm. Other features include hydrostatic all-wheel drive, and articulated and rear-wheel steering. Bomag also fields three rear-mounted rotor models.

Joint maker improves density

TransTech has introduced a device that mounts on the end of any paver screed to shape the edge of the mat for a durable wedge-shaped joint with the second lane. TransTech says the Notched Wedge Joint Maker produces a clearly defined beveled edge that easily interlocks with the adjacent lane to provide a dense, highly permeable closure that lasts far beyond the life of the traditional butt joint. Both the notch and the wedge can be easily adjusted on site and on the fly, according to the company.

Heavy-duty screed has height-adjustable extensions

The new Liberty screed from IR Blaw-Knox lets the operator lay a mat at variable paving widths and depths. The 8-foot screed is extendible to 15 feet, and the extensions are height adjustable. Maximum paving depth is 6 inches. Blaw-Knox says structural stiffness has been engineered into the screed to minimize screed deflection when paving wide widths, and enhancing screed life. The company claims service life is also enhanced by the use of the industry’s largest-diameter extension-guide tubes. The heavy-duty screed weighs 2,600 pounds and vibrates at 2,800 vpm. It is currently available only on the Blaw-Knox PF875L track-mounted paver/finisher.

Powerful new 10-foot rubber-track paver

Roadtec’s new highway-class RP175-horsepower, 10-foot-wide, rubber-track asphalt paver is designed to work in all types of subgrades and paving applications. It rides on a friction-drive undercarriage with seven sets of roller wheels and three oscillating bogies, and can travel at speeds up to 8 miles per hour. The 14-inch auger can be hydraulically raised and tilted by the operator to stay level with the screed bottom. The unit has full counter-rotation ability and its 18-inch-wide tracks provide a light footprint without sacrificing tractive effort or pushing power.

The RP175 is equipped with the new Eagle 10 heated, vibratory screed. The 10-foot, rear-extendible screed has a maximum paving width of 19 feet, 6 inches. It features an electronic heating system, which the company claims provides more even heat distribution than diesel or propane-fueled heaters, and requires less maintenance.

Options include hydraulic strike-off extensions, automatic grade control, and automatic slope control.

Bridge reinforcement system

Cintec America, Inc. is offering the Archtec bridge reinforcement system, a complete diagnostic design and installation service using sophisticated technology and drilling methods specially designed to strengthen masonry arch bridges while maintaining the historical integrity of the bridge. The Cintec Anchor System, fashioned out of a steel bar enclosed in a mesh fabric sleeve, is inserted into small holes bored into the bridge. Then, a specially developed grout is slowly injected, fusing with the mesh, expanding, and shaping to fit the spaces within the walls. This system has no impact on the natural environment and can be completed with little or no traffic delays.

Texturing/curing machine does it all

Bid-Well says its new TC-360 is capable of longitudinal and transverse texturing/curing,

and longitudinal curing. It is designed for paving projects from 24- to 60-feet wide, adjusting to different widths through the addition of 3-, 4-, 6-, 12-, or 15-foot sections. For transverse texturing and curing, the machine is equipped with a 10-foot comb and spray bar. For longitudinal work, the comb and spray bar are available to match the width of the machine. The 58-horsepower TC-360 has automatic steering and elevation control, and can be driven with two- or four-track drive, or with four puncture-proof pneumatic tires.

Measures smoothness of wet concrete

GOMACO says its new GSI Smoothness Indicator is the first instrument that lets paving crews measure the smoothness of wet concrete, as well as cured concrete and asphalt slabs. The non-contact instrument features simple operation and the data it gathers can be used to reference commercial profilograph indexes. Because it provides immediate data on wet concrete, the contractor can make on-the-go adjustments as needed and irregularities can be repaired while the concrete is in a plastic state.

GSI incorporates both sonic and slope sensors mounted to the machine frame. The sensors read the smoothness data of the wheel tracks on up to eight traces or four lanes in one pass. It can be mounted directly to the back of the paving pan for instant readings of the paved surface, or it can be mounted on a separate machine.

The device can also be used to measure the smoothness of the subgrade.

Street Cleaning Equipment

High-tech sweeper in compact size

Tennant says its new Sentinel street sweeper brings to the market the high-tech advantages of its award-winning Centurion in a smaller and lower-priced package. Together, the two models form Tennant’s StreetMaster series of outdoor sweepers.

The Sentinel is an 83-horsepower, highly automated four-season sweeper. In addition to one-button sweeping, Tennant claims it has exceptional debris removal abilities, and minimizes dust. A new option, the operator-adjustable Vario Sweeping Brush, permits sweeping around obstacles and on top-of-curb areas not accessible to other sweepers. Its center-suspended floating main broom automatically adjusts to road surface variations.

In addition to push-button sweeping mode selection, the Sentinel’s sweeping system self-adjusts to brush wear levels. The unit meets PM10 dust requirements with a dry filtering system that controls dust generated by the main brush, even in sub-freezing temperatures. The unit’s cab is insulated, soundproofed, and pressurized with air filtered to 3 microns for easy breathing

The combination of a short wheelbase and four-wheel power steering gives the unit a turning radius of 13 feet.

Dustless sweeping in any weather

Tymco says its new DST-4 sweeper removes the smallest dust particles before they can be washed into a storm drain or become airborne, thanks to the company’s patented self-contained Regenerative Air filtration system. The machine removes dirt, dust, and debris, and it cleans the exhausted air of 99.999% of 0.5-micron particles. The sweeper has a pickup head and Duo-Skids, allowing a full 82-inch sweeping path. Dual 36-inch gutter brooms clear debris along curbs and medians. Because it is built on a standard truck chassis, the DST-4 travels to and from the job site at legal speed limits.

Waterless street sweeper

Elgin Sweeper has rolled out their first waterless dust control sweeper. The Pelican maintains all the popular features and sweep quality while offering dustless, waterless, all-temperature sweeping. 

The 100-horsepower three-wheel sweeper meets all California fugitive dust control standards in water and waterless dust control modes.

Pavement Maintenance

All-in-one trailer/melter

Cimline’s new ServicePro line of trailer/melters features a large storage area and the company’s 115-gallon HeatWave direct-fire melter. The melter’s tube-fired heating system uses two 7-inch-diameter single-pass flues that are 0.1875-inches thick and run 4 inches from the bottom of the kettle. Cimline says the technology provides superior strength and maximum heating surface, so sealant is heated quickly and evenly. 

The large, lockable storage cabinet on the trailer can house all the tools needed for a crack-sealing job and provides access from either side of the unit.

Pavement Sealer

SealMaster PMB makes pavement maintenance quick and easy. The polymer-modified sealer dries in about a third of the time of conventional sealers, which allows the contractor to apply additional coats sooner. PMB contains 60 to 65% solids, compared to 40% solids in conventional sealers. The high level of aggregate improves the pavement's slip resistance, allowing for a safer surface for both vehicles and pedestrians in wet and dry conditions.

Pothole repair

Hy-Speed 500 from Garon Products, Inc. repairs potholes without costly downtime. Simply add water, then pour this “instant concrete in a can” like syrup, and it becomes a concrete-hard mass ready for traffic in one hour. The product expands as it sets, locking in a permanent patch three times the strength of ordinary concrete. It’s easy to apply and needs no priming, leveling, or troweling. Hy-Speed 500 has been specified for and used by state highway departments to repair high-traffic bridge decks and toll lanes.

Better Roads Top Rollouts Awards
by Kirk Landers, Editorial Director and Kerry Clines, Associate Editor

Every year, Better Roads editors receive information about nearly 1,000 new products. Of these announcements, about 500 are judged to be relevant to highway professionals, the contractors, agencies, and consulting engineers who comprise our audience.

All 500 are covered in Better Roads in the course of the year, and our editors keep track of them in a database. The products range from heavy equipment such as pavers and compactors, to road safety items such as signs and signals, to materials like asphalt and concrete additives, and chemicals for everything from vegetation management to snow removal.

At the end of the year, our editors review the products they have covered and select the 50 that seem most significant to the road construction and maintenance industry.

Although the editors consult reader service data and various expert sources in making their selections, our judgments are ultimately subjective. We seek out products that either advance technology in a particular niche, or intensify competition by providing an important alternative to existing products. We also try to identify products that represent new or unusual concepts, and some of them are usually off beat.

The intent of our Top Rollout Awards is to recognize and celebrate product advancement and innovation in a way that rewards the companies and individuals who invest in advancement and innovation. Inevitably, we miss deserving products, and we apologize in advance for that shortcoming.

To request information on these products, open one of the RoadFax links - the online card will appear in a new window.  You can then check off all the numbers you want in that new window - complete the address information and click submit.

Click here to open RoadFax Form Window
(open once and keep it opened until you are done)

Click here to open RoadFax Form Window
(open once and keep it opened until you are done)

Click here to open RoadFax Form Window
(open once and keep it opened until you are done)

Click here to open RoadFax Form Window
(open once and keep it opened until you are done)

Click here to open RoadFax Form Window
(open once and keep it opened until you are done)

Click here to open RoadFax Form Window
(open once and keep it opened until you are done)

Click here to open RoadFax Form Window
(open once and keep it opened until you are done)

Click here to open RoadFax Form Window
(open once and keep it opened until you are done)

Click here to open RoadFax Form Window
(open once and keep it opened until you are done)