EXECUTIVE REPORT
Lighting up compaction
Nick Johnson reports from Bomag’s factory in Germany on the manufacturer’s latest compaction products.
Bomag recently showed off its latest products at its Boppard factory in Germany during a series of Innovation Days. At the smaller end of the company’s extensive range were new LPG-powered rammers and additional, lighter weight rollers equipped with the manufacturer’s Economizer compaction measurement system.
As Nick Johnson demonstrates, the new gas rammer is powered by two LPG canisters.
Having previously launched a new generation of updated rammers, Bomag is now introducing two additional models with greener credentials. The newcomers are the BT60G and BT65G, with foot widths of 230mm and 280mm, and both have had their Honda GXR120
petrol engines converted to run on LPG. Operation of the BT60G is similar to that of the standard BT60. Where the new ‘G’ version scores is during compaction in deep trenches or indoors, as its use of LPG cuts carbon emissions to virtually zero.
The BT60G takes two gas canisters that provide up to four hours’ running time. They are protected by a hinge-up cover that enables easy removal for replacement or re-filling from a larger cylinder. Bomag GB will be use the Executive Hire Show in February for the UK hire industry launch of this model.
Also being highlighted at the Show will be rollers fitted with the Economizer compaction measurement system. Having been proven on Bomag reversing plates, the technology is now available as an option on the manufacturer’s lightweight tandem vibrating rollers, from the BW80AD-5 to the BW138AD-5, with drum widths from 800mm to 1380mm. Able to be retro-fitted onto all Dash 5 Bomag tandems, the Economizer has a visual display which can take much of the guesswork out of compaction. A transducer on the front drum sends data to the circular display unit on the left of the roller’s dashboard. This has a series of LED lights around its edge to indicate progress.
I tried out a BW80AD-5 equipped with an Economizer on Bomag’s test ground at Boppard. After switching on the roller, I discovered that the system runs a self-test to check whether it is functioning
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correctly. During this process, all ten of the orange LEDs and the final red LED are progressively illuminated to show that they are all working. When rolling starts, the initial illumination of the lights can be a little erratic, but, the system soon settles down and the orange lights then indicate the current level of material stiffness under the front drum in real time. With increasing compaction more orange LEDs become illuminated, so it was easy to monitor progress.
Once the number of illuminated orange LEDs stopped increasing, I could immediately see that compaction was complete and I could move onto the next section. Soft spots are highlighted when the number of orange lights reduces, and additional compaction can then be applied to that area. If all ten LEDs are lit, then the red light at the end also comes on to warn of over-compaction. To achieve a particular material density, a ‘proof’ roll should be undertaken with a site engineer who will test the material and advise on the number of lights that need to be illuminated at an agreed rolling speed. The additional use of a temperature display aids more accurate asphalt compaction.
Somerset-based YHC Hire Solutions has recently added 30 new Economizer-equipped Bomags to its hire fleet, supplied by local dealer, CBL, comprising BW80AD-5s and BW120AD-5s. MD Andrew Parker told EHN, “The added benefit of the Economizer will save our customers time and money by preventing over or under- compaction.”
Bomag has recently introduced the
Economizer as an
option on its 1595kg BMP8500 articulated trench roller, with 850mm
The Economizer enables compaction progress to be monitored via the LED display.
or 610mm wide padfoot drums. As this machine is cable or radio remote-controlled, the LEDs are prominently arranged in a line on each side. Check it out at the Show.
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