international
construction
november 2013
ROAD BUILDING
36
Technological advantages
The top layer of asphalt is porous,
and will later be filled with a concrete
slurry to create a stable and rut-resistant
surface known generically as grouted
macadam. The area will be used to handle
containerised freight and other goods.
Helping hand
One of Peab’s operators said of the DCA-A
system, “It is very helpful for keeping
track of where I have been, especially on
a big job area like this. Not only does it
help me not miss any areas/passes before
they have gone too cold, but the temperature meter itself helps
with the cold rolling because I can keep track of when the asphalt
is cold enough for static rolling in order to get rid of the marks
in the mat.”
Clark Construction, based in San Antonio, US won the bid to
repair and resurface a 15-mile (24 km) stretch of U.S. Highway
281 that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
identified for significant maintenance.
Having milled to a depth of 2" (51 mm) using a Roadtec RX-
700 milling machine from its fleet and a newly acquired Roadtec
RX-600e milling machine, Clark set about the paving work using
its Roadtec SP-200 spray paver.
“The Roadtec SP-200 spray paver has an innovative design that’s
been extremely helpful to us,” said Corey S. Clark, director of
asphalt and fleet operations for Clark Construction. “On previous
jobs we have experienced a significant amount of savings in time,
number of employees required, and materials cost.”
Differing from a conventional paver, the machine sprays a
tack coat seconds before laying the asphalt mix. The tack coat is
designed to ensure a good bond to the existing pavement.
“This is the second SP-200 paver we’ve owned since 2004,” Mr
Clark said, “The big benefit for us is the machine provides superior
bonding to the existing pavement. The TxDOT inspectors were
impressed to see that within seconds of the oil spray that the
asphalt was placed.”
He concluded, “I’m happy with the finished results on our
Highway 281 project. We achieved a great ride, good quality,
and the finished road looks great…and we expect it to last
10-plus years.”
Equipment advantage
Meanwhile Clearspan Technology Middle East has bought a
Guntert & Zimmerman (G&Z) S850 concrete slipform paver
and used it to complete two fast-track projects for Qatar Airways
at Doha International Airport (DIA) in the form of six bay and a
two bay apron expansion contracts.
“The schedules were so tight that without our G&Z machinery
the programme would not have been possible,” said Joe Sarlak,
owner and managing director of Clearspan.
The projects totalled US$ 7 million. The 500m x 138m six bay
apron was the first project to tackle while the 132 m x 66 m two
bay was the second to be completed. CMTE paved the aprons
at 6 m wide with a thickness of 375 mm in alternating lanes
and finished with fill-in lanes. “The machine is outstanding; we
have experienced no downtime and no mechanical failures,” said
Mr Sarlak.
He added, “With the acquisition of our G&Z paver, we can
offer an added advantage to project owners who have tight
schedules and high quality requirements.”
This all goes to show that investing in new equipment and
technology can provide a significant competitive edge for
contractors.
iC
Milling century
Bomag passes production milestone
B
omag has celebrated the production of its 100th BM 500 compact milling machine at
the company’s headquarters in Boppard, Germany.
Jean-Claude Fayat, general manager of parent company, the Fayat Group said,
“In the two and half years since market launch, one in three milling machines sold in the
130 HP class is now made by Bomag – an achievement which makes me very pleased and
of which we can be proud.”
Bomag said it has sold the machine all over the world, but to date Germany has been the
largest market for the compact planer. “I believe that global success can only be achieved
if you are also successful in the domestic market. The German sales figures are extremely
important to us,” emphasised Mr Fayat.
Bomag managing director for production, Ralf Junker, said the company would build on
the success of the BM 500 and BM 600, with larger classes of milling machines. “We are
currently in the trial phase with our new milling machine, the BM 1000/35, and will begin
series production shortly. And of course we will be looking for a similar result as we have
achieved with the compact milling machines,” he said.
MP Paver Hire & Surfacing says its
new Caterpillar AP300D asphalt paver
is productive, quiet, versatile and
provides exceptional fuel efficiency.
