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IRNAPRIL-MAY 2014
JCB says that “significant enhancements”
have been made to the compaction criteria,
including amplitude, frequency, centrifugal
force, static linear load and weight
distribution, resulting in fewer passes
being required to meet the material density
requirements.
JCB’s Automatic Vibration Control (AVC)
automatic compaction control system, which
avoids over-compaction at the end of each
pass, isastandard featureof both theVM117D
and theVM137D.
Likemany other suppliers, an ECO Mode is
available, anoption that JCB sayswill reduce
fuel consumptionby 16% fuel.With theTier2
engine, an optional variable fan kit provides
up to5% fuel savings.
More power, greater efficiency
Volvo CE’’s latest soil compactors are the SD75,
SD115 and SD135, all offering more power, greater
efficiency and up to a 30% reduction in fuel
consumptionover previousmodels.
The three new models are Stage IIIB emission
compliant and are fitted with the new turbocharged
4-cylinder VolvoD4diesel engineproducingbetween
75and 110 kW.
Volvo CE Road Machinery product manager for
sales region EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa),
Paul Johnson, says the new SD soil compactors “put
performance and operator comfort at the heart of
the process with shock absorbing cab mounts and
highly effective sound-insulation throughout the
Volvocabensuringnew levelsofwell-being. Vibration
is essential for efficient material compaction so
distancing and protecting the operator from this
represents a significant step.”
He says all three SD compactors have high and low
amplitude and frequency as standard, while a five-
frequency selector is available as an option for even
greater optimisationwhenmatchingdrum frequency
tomaterial type.
Volvo Smart Power mode is available as an option
onboth the SD115 and SD135, whichhelps reduce fuel
consumption without having any adverse effect of
compactionperformance.
A further benefit of the new SD compactors is the
ease with which the smooth drum can be converted
range and its large CC asphalt rollers, as well as the
new CG2300. It claims all the rollers consume 15 to
20% less diesel than the previous range without ECO
Mode.
The engine is Stage IV/Tier 4 Final ready and claims
low emissions. Advancedoptions that are available,
include an edge presser/cutter (left and right),
anda chip spreader.
Ulility compactors
Caterpillar is also promising lower fuel use
with its latest compaction products, with the
new B-Series utility compactors in the 1.8-5 t
classes comprising eightmodels: the CB22B,
CB24B, CB24B XT, CB32B, CB34B, CB34B XW
(extrawidth), CC24BandCC34B.
These machines, which will typically
be used for smaller applications such as
streets, bike paths, courtyards, patchwork,
parking lots, driveways and town centre work,
have several improvementsover previousmodels.
Designed for rental, they have an ECO mode
that makes a “significant” difference to fuel use,
the seating areas has more legroom, and the new
dashboard design includes “intuitive controls and
easyviewingLCDdisplay fordayandnightoperation”.
Other improvements include amore robust, reliable
water spraying system with a larger capacity tank
allowingup to 10hoursoperation. The3Xmodelshave
300 litre tanks and the2Xhave235 litre tanks.
The rollers can also be fitted with up to
400 kg of additional ballast to increase linear loads,
making the rollers more versatile. Drum diameter
increases from 700 to 720 mm, which reduces the
rolling resistance. The 3X models have two vibration
frequencies, while the2Xunitshave three.
Meanwhile, JCB, in addition to adding several new
compactors to its range, has also announced some
changes to its manufacturing strategy. It is to close
¬
its factory in Gatersleben, Germany, which it has
operated since the2005acquisitionof Vibromax.
Production of its compaction range will shift
to JCB factories in the UK and India, reflecting
increased demand from emerging countries. Ninety
jobswill becreated in theUKand India, although 145
will be lost inGermany.
JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said, “The decision
to relocate production of compaction equipment
to factories in the UK and India is right for our
business. The decision wasn’t taken lightly and the
impact onour employees inGermany is regrettable.
This will improve competitiveness of JCB in the
compaction sector. It will also create a far more
sustainable position on which we can build as we
growbusiness in the future.”
Walk-behind compactors and the two smallest
tandem rollers in the range will be built at the
JCB Attachments factory in Uttoxeter, UK, while
production of all soil compactors and two larger
models of tandem roller will be moved to Pune,
India.
JCB soil compactors
In that soil compactor range, JCB has launched the
first twoof what it sayswill be a new and improved
range. TheVM117DandVM137DarepoweredbyStage
IIIB/Tier 4 Interim JCB Ecomax engines delivering
93 kW (125hp).
The VM117 and VM137machines will be offered for
sale globally andwill bemanufactured in India and
Brazil, available with Tier 2, BS3 and Tier 4i/Stage
3Bengines.
The VM117D has an operating weight of
11 t, while the VM137D weighs in at 12.2 t.
Both come with a smooth drum as standard,
although for cohesive soils both compactors
areavailablewithpad foot drums as anoption.
Wacker Neuson’s new version
of its RD27 roller.
Weber MT’s SRV590 rammer is one of two new tampers
being introduced by the Germanmanufacturer.
Chicago Pneumatic's
new SR130PD.
COMPACTION
