Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/489028
April 2015 | EquipmentWorld.com 86 World of Asphalt roundup | continued CATERPILLAR Caterpillar's two new pavers are equipped with its quick- heating screed system that cuts heating times by more than half. New screed platforms are available for the pavers includ- ing the vibratory only SE50 V and SE60 V as well as the SE50 VT which offers vibration and tamper bars. The SE50 V offers a maximum paving range of 21.3 feet, while the SE50 VT offers 26.3 feet and the SE60 V 25 feet. Cat says the en- gine, a now-standard Eco mode and an integrated generator in the machines' new screed heating system combine for substantial fuel savings over previous pavers of the same size. Introduced last year with the AP1000F paver, the generator is connected directly to the machines' engine and, in combina- tion with the heat distribution of the SE50 and SE60, heats to the appropriate temperature in only 15 minutes, down from 30 to 45 minutes. While heating, the pavers run at 1,300 rpm rather than the 2,200 rpm at which Cat says competing machines run. Beyond fuel economy, the lower rpm means a quieter jobsite and therefore allows earlier start times in residential areas. The pavers are equipped with touchscreen control displays, though the most frequently used functions are still controlled by switches. Control features include a new single-switch auto-fill feeder system, the ability to set ratio control for the conveyors from the screed, adjustable mix height by the tractor operator, an available pendant control that enables the screed operator to stand alongside the machine, propel and feeder system set- tings that transfer between stations at the touch of a switch, the ability to operate Cat Grade Control from the tractor consoles and a warm-up/cleanout mode that runs the feeder system at a reduced speed.