Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/953148
EquipmentWorld.com | March 2018 47 individual wheels. The tracked machine gives you better traction so you don't tear up the base, especially when the machine's full of asphalt, Holland explains. Trend toward a combo approach Some contractors use both tracked and wheeled ma- chines. A tracked machine may be used for placing a leveling course on softer material, for example. And for the surface courses, they may use a wheeled machine, Holland says. A case in point is Florida, which is primarily a wheeled machine market, though some contractors use a combination. There's a trend, Holland says, toward contractors buying an 8-foot tracked machine, for example, to do shoulder work, such as road widening, while wanting better traction on that base material. They might use the same machine to pave the base material in a lane and then use a wheeled ma- chine to come back with the surface course in a wider width. Considerations for buy- ing tracked machines include whether you need a tight turning radius or face steep grades. Tracked machines can be more ef- fective with tractive efforts and stability than wheeled machines, even with front- wheel assist. Contractors often choose tracks if they have grade issues and need more stability and tractive power to push their big trucks. Vögele The Super 2003-3i is a 10-foot highway-class rubber-tired paver that can be used for a variety of work. It accepts Leica, Trimble and Topcon 3D systems. The 10-foot Super 2000- 3i is the tracked version. Both machines offer a maximum paving width of 19 feet, 6 inch- es with the front-mounted VF 500 extending screed and hydraulic bolt-on extensions. The ErgoPlus 3, the company says, allows the screed to be adjusted from 8 feet up to 15 feet, 6 inches without bolt-on extensions. The new Super 1800-3i SprayJet is a special class paver particularly useful for putting down thinner layers. Operation of the SprayJet module has been integrated into the ErgoPlus 3 operating concept, using a color touchscreen. Volvo (Blaw-Knox) The P7110B and P7170B Blaw-Knox wheeled and tracked pavers improve fuel effi ciency by up to 5 percent, relying on the Volvo D8 235-horse- power engine. Volvo says the track footprint provides the highest contact surface area in the paving industry. Automatic track tensioning ensures optimal track performance and long life. With a 10-foot basic width, these models feature a maxi- mum paving width of 26 feet. There's front-wheel assist, with two-wheel- or four-wheel-drive versions of the P7170B available for improved tractive effort and gradeability. Weiler The 19,500-pound P385B tracked ma- chine is powered by a 100-horsepow- er Cat C3.4 Tier 4 engine. Indepen- dent control of the left- and right-side feeder system enables variable-width paving. The Weiler-designed electric screed is hydraulically extendable from 8 feet to 15 feet, 8 inches and features sonic feed sensors, angle of attack, height and crown adjustments. The P385B features an undercarriage with 68 inches of ground contact. XCMG The RP603L is XCMG's fi rst full medium 3 series asphalt concrete paver. It adopts full hydraulic drive and electro-hydraulic automatic control, with advanced technology and reliable performance, the company says. It's used for paving highways, roads, paths and other construction. The RP603L's paving width is 8.3 feet to 19.7 feet and it is step- less adjustable, says the company, which ex- ports to North America from China. Standard details include a sliding console with horizontal rotation, rotary double seat, and rubber tires in the front, nylon in the back. It has a manual adjust distribution height, analog level- ing instrument, ultrasonic dosing level meter and hydraulic stretching screed. screed to be adjusted from 8 feet up to 15 feet, 6 inches without bolt-on extensions. The new