What’s New in Paving Equipment

The new CB66B from Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Illinois, features 84-inch drums for highway class compaction. The B-Series includes Cat’s auto-adjustable compaction, pass-count and temperature mapping, machine-to-machine communication and compaction meter value (CMV) intelligent compaction technology.

AsphaltPro begins the new calendar year with a product gallery focused on the new technology and equipment that assists contractors in the paving and pavement preservation/pavement maintenance arenas. With the passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Dec. 3, 2015, contractors are going to see an increase in state and MPO long-term planning. That means it’s time to find the accountant’s contact information and figure out how to update the paving train to give your crews their best chance at bonus-worthy projects during the 2016 paving season—and beyond. One of the most recent technologies introduced to the marketplace came from Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Illinois, alongside its three newest rollers in November 2015.
Ranging from 12 to 14 metric tons, the CB64B, CB66B and CB68B feature wide drum widths. They include high-flow water spray systems and Cat’s auto-adjustable compaction, pass-count and temperature mapping, machine-to-machine communication and compaction meter value (CMV).

Auto-adjustable compaction is designed to deliver the highest available amplitude without decoupling or over-compaction. Within a few seconds, the new B-Series rollers adjust through their full range of amplitude for uniform compaction throughout the mat, according to the manufacturer. A Cat exclusive, this technology is included on both the front and rear drums.
To eliminate mistakes during rolling, Cat’s B-Series machines also feature pass-count and temperature mapping to give operators a visual reference at the operator station; this can be synced across rollers.

“When multiple rollers are performing as one, we can actually share pass count and mapping data between those machines,” Bryan Downing, sales support consultant for Cat said. “This enables those operators to fully function as one unit. The way it looks for an operator is he sees a machine icon—that’s himself—and the other machine shows up as a green dot. And they will draw their passes onto each others’ screen.”

Depending on desired pass count, each pass will paint the affected area on the screen a different color, with the final pass painting the screen green.

Lastly, CMV uses a drum-mounted accelerometer to measure and record forces of the vibrating drum to create a unit-less value that provides an indication of stiffness, according to the manufacturer. The value calculation is referred to as a “composite stiffness value” that indicates stiffness of the current and supporting layers beneath the drum.

“Basically, energy from the vibratory system goes into asphalt sub-layers and base layers, and how those layers respond back gives us a CMV,” Downing said.

The CB64B has 79-inch drums, and the CB66B and CB68B have 84-inch drums. All B-Series tandem rollers offer dual amplitude, dual frequency, five amplitude systems and Versa Vibe™ to assist with thin lift compaction. The B-Series includes a center-articulating hitch with 6 degrees of oscillation and an offset hitch option for compaction near obstacles or for pinching long joints in one pass. All three rollers have the Cat C4.4 ACERT™ engine, which meets U.S.EPA Tier 4 Final standards and provides 142 horsepower and Cat’s Eco-mode operation for variable engine speeds.
•    Use this for asphalt paving.
•    For more information, contact www.cat.com/requestCatinfo.

ATLAS OF EQUIPMENT
It’s not new iron, but it’s a way to see the iron Atlas Copco, Commerce City, Colorado, offers. The company launched a redesigned website for its road construction equipment December 2015 at http://Dynapac.com. The new site gives contractors and dealers a one-stop source for information and support for Atlas Copco’s complete line of compaction and paving equipment.
•    Use this as a paving-related service.
•    For more information, visit http://Dynapac.com.

LIGHT WORK ZONE FOR 50 HOURS
Chicago Pneumatic Construction Equipment added a new light tower to its lineup Nov. 5, 2015, with the launch of the CPLT V15 in the North American market. It’s the company’s first model to feature a heavy-duty polyethylene canopy. With a 28-gallon fuel tank, the light tower features a long fuel autonomy that allows it to run for 50 hours of operation without the need to refuel. A Kubota EPA Tier 4 engine powers four 1,000-watt metal halide lamps that offer up to seven acres. The design allows operators to transport the unit with the mast in the vertical position.

“Light towers are crucial to many industries and often have to deal with the changing temperatures and conditions, including high wind speeds and ice,” Jim Siffring, product manager for portable energy, said. “The CPLT V15 offers an incredibly rugged durability in a compact package and the heavy-duty polyethylene canopy makes it unflappable in any of extreme outdoor condition.”
•    Use this for work zone safety.
•    For more information, visit www.cp.com

The new model GXL 4021 fixed-position LED work light from GoLight, Inc., Culbertson, Nebraska, is expected to attract attention across a wide variety of work truck-related markets, including oilfield, railroad, municipal, and public and private utility.

LIGHT UP THE SITUATION
Golight, Inc., Culbertson, Nebraska, has introduced the new model GXL 4021 fixed-position LED work light. The new light’s fascia measures 4.5 inches wide by 4 inches tall, has a depth of 3.5 inches and comes with a 2-inch stainless steel mounting bracket. The GXL 4021 represents the company’s expansion of its permanently mounted, manually adjustable LED work lights and is the smallest of the four lights it now offers in that category.

The light’s small size and illumination power is a byproduct of its space-saving “LED cluster” design, combining four clusters of four high-powered LEDs to generate a maximum output of 4,500 lumens. The raw power of the light’s 16 LEDs is controlled through the use of three polycarbonate lenses. Users can switch lenses between spot, flood and combination as the need arises.

The new LED work light has been condensed into a small format that makes it a versatile light source to mount on a vehicle, according to the manufacturer. The light offers a hardened aluminum housing. It has been engineered for extreme super-duty service with an impact g-force survivability rating of 40 Gs. The 12-volt light draws 4.2 amps, features over-voltage and reverse polarity protection, and comes with a five-year unlimited warranty.
•    Use this in work zone safety.
•    For more information, contact Rick Ashley at (317) 920-6105 or visit www.golight.com.

The new Prolong 15W-40 oil for diesel engines and commercial use is available in sizes from one-quart bottles to 55-gallon drums.

OIL THE ENGINE
Prolong® Super Lubricants of Pomona, California, offers a new premium diesel engine oil featuring the company’s proprietary Anti-Friction Metal Treatment™. This technology bonds to metal surfaces and creates a protective layer to reduce friction and provide wear protection to increase fuel efficiency. The Prolong’s 15W-40 diesel motor oil is designed to exceed API service classifications CJ-4/SN/SM. It is available now in one-quart and one-gallon bottle, five-gallon pails and fifty-five-gallon drums.
•    Use this in the mechanic’s shop.
•    For more information, visit www.Prolong.com.

The new automatic feed control system for the Shuttle Buggy® MTV is designed to monitor the material pile height within the paver hopper insert.

MONITOR INCOMING MIX
Contractors know very well what a Shuttle Buggy® material transfer vehicle is by now. Personnel from Roadtec in Chattanooga announced enhancements to the SB-2500e at CONEXPO-CON/AGG, but there’s something new to share as of November 2015. The manufacturer announced the new automatic feed control system for the SB-2500e monitors the material pile height within the paver hopper insert. Once the material height is set by the crew, the system maintains this material level inside the insert by adjusting the feed conveyor, according to the manufacturer.

Through use of this system, it is possible to prevent over-filling or starving the insert so that an ideal amount of mix is available to the head of material.
•    Use this for asphalt paving.
•    For more information, contact Roadtec at

TOP YOUR QUALITY WITH TRAINING
During the off season, Proprietor of Top Quality Paving and Training (T.Q.P.) in Manchester, New Hampshire, John S. Ball III reminds contractors to plan ahead for on-site training in the spring and summer months. After a successful 26-year career with Pike Industries in which he developed a training program for 67 roller operators, Ball established T.Q.P. in 1996. Since then, he has built a rewarding consulting and training business with large and small contractors around the United States. Having worked in Canada, England, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and more, Ball has helped crew after crew follow best practices for top quality paving at all times.
“Everyone learns at his or her own pace and in his or her own way,” Ball said.

To accommodate different learning styles of asphalt industry members during the week-long bookings he provides to paving contractors, Ball uses on-the-job direction as well as classroom/office instruction with video and one-on-one explanation. His unique approach of recording and capturing both good and not-best performances while directing and guiding crew members comes into play during final discussions with individuals, teams and management. Everyone on the team benefits from on-site, personalized training when Ball brings his complete-paving-train expertise to the job.

While readers are probably familiar with Ball and his expertise already, what’s new about this announcement is the immediacy of the bookings for the 2016 calendar year. He is taking appointments for one-week and two-week training/consulting at this time, but few slots remain. To guarantee a top quality training opportunity for your crew(s), or to get on the “reserve” list for any last-minute cancellations, savvy asphalt contractors are encouraged to contact T.Q.P. immediately.
•    Use this as a consulting service.
•    For more information, contact John Ball at (603) 493-1458 or tqpaving@yahoo.com or visit www.tqpaving.com.

Toro introduces the Dingo® TX 1000 to use at the paving site with over 20 attachments for pavement maintenance or a bucket for carrying mix.

PICK UP PILES WITH THE DINGO®
The Toro Company, Bloomington, Minnesota, introduces the all-new Dingo® TX 1000 tracked skid steer. It has a rated operating capacity exceeding 1,000 pounds. With loader arms fully extended, the hinge pin measures 81 inches from the ground. The machine includes Toro’s vertical lift loader arm to keep the load close to the machine. The vertical path of the lift arms is ideal for vertical applications with the auger or concrete breaker. Another exclusive feature on the new TX 1000 is the power-to-weight ratio. The narrow-track model is 2,610 pounds, and the wide-track model is 2,790 pounds. The wide-track model can lift more than any compact utility loader in the category at 1,075 pounds, according to the manufacturer.

Josh Beddow, marketing manager for Toro Company, said, “We know having one machine that can perform a variety of functions on the jobsite is of the utmost importance, and the Dingo TX 1000 has over 20 attachments that make this an incredibly versatile piece of equipment.”
•    Use this at the paving site.
•    For more information, visit www.toro.com/dingo.

The PQI 380 gets on the job faster for select international distributors with its new calibration allowance.

CALIBRATE AROUND THE WORLD
Readers are familiar with the PQI 380 non-nuclear gauge from TransTech Systems, Inc., Schenectady, New York, which is designed and built to provide quick and accurate readings of density. Now the company offers a new convenience with the device: TransTech Systems now allows select international distributors to calibrate the PQI 380 in their home countries, which saves time and shipping expense for many international customers. Unlike nuclear gauges, the PQI 380 takes readings in about three seconds, allowing the test technician time to run a series of tests, then get out of the way of the roller. Over the past 15 years, the PQI has been used by contractors, QC/QA facilities and highway officials. Being non-nuclear means less hassles—no badges, no licensing fees, no transport restrictions, no hazardous materials on the job site.
•    Use this for QC/QA.
•    For more information, contact TransTech Systems at tapkarian@transtechsys.com or visit www.transtechsys.com.

Two conical augers in the MT 3000-2i’s receiving hopper provide the first active remixing for material.

VÖGELE TRANSFERS MATERIAL
Wirtgen America, Inc., of Nashville, offers the compact MT 3000-2i material transfer vehicle with a low profile for a low center of gravity. While this machine has been in use in Europe, Wirtgen has introduced it to the North American marketplace recently. Here’s how to use this newly designed technology.

First, the haul truck backs to the MTV, eliminating the possibility of bumping the paver. The haul truck driver lifts the body to charge the MT 3000-2i’s receiving hopper, which has a capacity of 18 tons and a rear-tilting front. Two conical augers, which are each 16 inches in diameter, are located in the receiving hopper and actively remix and move 1,300 tons of material per hour to a heated primary conveyor belt, and then to a heated secondary conveyor belt. Each conveyor belt is 43 inches wide; the second can swing 55 degrees to left or right, allowing the MTV to be set directly in front or to the side of the paver it feeds.

The 17-ton (or 22-ton) receiving insert placed in the paver’s hopper includes a grate system for passive remixing, which entails breaking up any crusted material as it enters the insert, allowing smaller clumps to absorb heat from surrounding mix. As the paver hopper nears capacity, the MTV’s auto feed function automatically slows down feeding, and will shut down when the hopper is full.

A propel system featuring an auto-distance control keeps the feeder at a pre-set distance from the paver, essentially allowing the paver to electronically push the feeder. A collision bar on the paver insert will halt Vögele pavers if they get too close to the MTV.
•    Use this for asphalt paving.
•    For more information, contact Wirtgen America, Inc., at bhutchins@wirtgenamerica.com.

NJPA WORKS WITH VOLVO
While it’s not new iron, the partnership announced in Q4 2015 can help contractors bring new iron to the paving site. The National Joint Powers Alliance® (NJPA) awarded a heavy equipment contract to Volvo Construction Equipment, headquartered in Goteborg, Sweden, which will allow Volvo to streamline access to its equipment to state and municipal customers.

The NJPA is a public agency that serves as a member-focused cooperative for more than 50,000 member agencies throughout the United States, as well as Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, Canada. The agency administers cooperative purchasing contracts that allow states and municipalities to purchase equipment without having to go through their own solicitation process. The contract comes as Volvo increasingly serves government customers, seeing its government business through buying contracts more than double year-to-year since 2012.
•    Use this information when estimating your projects.
•    For more information, visit www.njpacoop.org.