Capable of grinding shoulder and centerline rumble strips, Thomas Grinding’s towable TR-2000-SC can be a versatile, cost-effective addition to the equipment fleet of any road building contractor aiming to keep a lid on project finish tasks, according to the manufacturer. The TR-2000-SC “high-production” rumble strip machine allows road-builders to complete increasingly popular rumble strip requirements, instead of contracting out the work. The ability to churn at up to 130 feet per minute or 1.5 miles per hour (production rate is affected by the hardness of the surface) suits the new Thomas Grinding rumble strip machine for larger projects. A skip option is available, and the machine easily detaches from the tow vehicle. For more information, visit www.thomasgrinding.com/tr2000/.

Concrete on the fly

As part of the growing Cemen Tech offering of mobile and stationary concrete dispensers, the new MCD10-150 mobile model produces 60 cubic yards of high-strength concrete per hour. The volumetric mixer carries the materials necessary for concrete production in separate bins, and those materials are measured out at the jobsite where the concrete is produced in the machine’s exclusive pump master mix auger. Mix designs can also be changed per specifications with a simple, fast resetting of the aggregate bin gates. A polycarbonate window allows on-site staff to monitor the level of cement, and a resettable counter shows the exact amount of concrete produced, providing an accurate tracking of sales. For more information, visit www.cementech.com/dev/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=22&Itemid=29.

Winter workability

With its ability to self-heal via expansion and contraction through freeze-thaw cycles, the duraPATCH liquid asphalt cold patch material from Tri-Products has been formulated for workability during winter months. Available in bulk quantities or shipped in 50-pound bags, the specially-designed asphalt formula’s coating and adhesion properties allow for application in wet or dry conditions. The asphalt formulation has been tested to meet ASTM Standards, in order to maintain the qualities needed for optimal performance including withstanding the stress and strain of traffic abuse. For more information on the manufacturer, visit www.hudsoncompanies.com/hag/triproducts.asp.

Smoothing bridge design

As the designed-in safety of bridges across the United States elicits public scrutiny, software programs increasingly provide the answers. The newest version of the plane-frame (2D) Bridge Designer II program from Interactive Design Systems was conceived specifically to provide a time simulation of construction stages for concrete pre/post-tensioned structures, using basic matrix structural analysis formulation combined with time-dependent material properties. The advanced design and analysis provided by the BD2 v4 software enables engineers to design a complete bridge model for concrete segmental bridges built in cantilever or span by span, as well as for concrete cable-stayed bridges and composite structures. During the process, all stress conditions are checked at every construction step, as well as in service. The BD2 Assistant Wizard enables the user to take advantage of the program’s high level of embedded intelligence to quickly populate the project database with a parametric bridge model. The user can subsequently modify the model if needed to meet design-specific requirements. For more information, visit www.ids-soft.com/solutions/products/2danalysis.html.

North-American-only pavers

For this country’s asphalt paving sector, the year opened with a newly-focused mainline paver to consider. With an official unveiling a few months later at World of Asphalt 2010, Dynapac kicked off the year by introducing its new line of highway-class asphalt pavers designed specifically for the North American market. Production of the 10-foot-class F1000T paver began the first of January, followed in the spring by the sister F1000W wheeled unit. New product features include a high-performance outboard auger drive and a conveyor design that eliminates center-line segregation. Operator jobsite vision is improved with dual swing-out operation stations, a flat operator’s area, and a clear view of both the auger and asphalt, as reported by Kerry Clines, senior editor of sister publication Aggregates Manager, who attended a sneak peak at Dynapac’s Garland, Texas, facility. Simple to operate and grouped for convenience, machine controls including a single lever for forward and reverse are supported by a multi-function display. According to Dynapac, no daily maintenance or lubrication is required for the new asphalt pavers. For more information, visit www.dynapac.com/en/products/?cat=18.

Fresh look for stabilizer/reclaimer

When is a new product not exactly a new product? Well, when a leading equipment manufacturer rolls up its proverbial sleeves and significantly transforms a product it had only recently launched, that product is certainly worthy of consideration as a new market player. Roadtec has done exactly that with its 700-horsepower soil stabilizer/reclaimer, the SX-7, resulting in a very different-looking machine compared to the initial 2007 prototype. The changes in the body of the machine, with a redesigned front and rear, are mostly related to maximizing visibility. The optional cab can slide right or left, past the frame of the machine. With the SX-7, water and emulsion are handled by one system. Any single nozzle or set of nozzles in the spray bar can be turned off individually to precisely control how much liquid material is put down. The new Roadnet central control and diagnostic system provides operator feedback on virtually every function of the machine, supported by troubleshooting screens for all systems accessed with the touch of a button. Capable of a cut 102 inches wide, the Roadtec SX-7 is sized ideally for three-pass processing of a 24-foot roadway. Roadtec’s zero-turn-radius steering mode maximizes machine maneuverability. For more information, visit http://www.roadtec.com/www/docs/103/soil-stabilizer-reclaimer/.

Compact planers work BIG

Working compact milling machines doesn’t have to mean giving up performance and operating efficiencies. So says Dynapac, which introduced a new generation of 20-inch (500-millimeter) cold planers at the World of Asphalt 2010 Show and Conference. At 110 and 130 horsepower, the three- and four-wheeled PL500T and PL500TD cold planers leverage increased output from their Cummins QSB 4.5-diesel engines for improved performance with maximum cutting depths of 6.3 and 7.9 inches, respectively. Dynapac’s hydraulically-operated front moldboard on the cutter housing cuts down on the accumulation of milled material and, thus, the amount of labor time required at the end of a cut. Special drums for demarcation work and fine-spaced cutting drums are easy to change. Smaller drums with an adapted scraper blade, a side cutting wheel, a loading conveyor and the Dynapac-designed parallelogram front axle are additionally available as options on the new compact cold planers, which feature a vibration-reduced operator’s platform with repositioned controls. For more information, visit www.dynapac.com/en/products/?product=110&cat=50.

Laser-guided borer

In response to what Vermeer describes as the “tedious, labor-intensive and expensive” task of installing or replacing water and sewer lines precisely on-grade, the company has introduced the AXIS GB812 guided boring system. Introduced to a worldwide market at BAUMA 2010 in Germany, the pit-launched trenchless installation method comes with a laser-guided system for accuracy in the trenchless installation of 10- to 14-inch pipe for on-grade water and sewer projects. Suited for manhole-to-manhole installations, AXIS can install up to 350 feet of rigid constructed, as well as fusible and restrained joint product pipe. Spoil is removed from the cutter head via a vacuum excavation system, eliminating the need to manually handle it within the pit. Furthermore, says Vermeer, the guided boring system requires a relatively low amount of thrust/pullback force to efficiently bore compared to other pit-launched trenchless systems. Construction of a structural backstop or shaft within the launch pit is not required. For more information, visit www2.vermeer.com/vermeer/equipment/axis_guided_boring_systems.

Mini ice control systems

Once again, holding to the modern mantra of doing more with less, a new line of ESI Spray Mini Systems from EnviroTech Services is noteworthy for its ability to provide advanced anti-icing and de-icing road treatment for bridges, parking decks, garages and roadways, but in smaller, self-contained units. The systems are similar to the existing systems offered by EnviroTech’s ESI Spray division, offering spray coverage of 500 feet in each direction, push-button activation, an automatic low tank level shut-off feature, compatibility with most anti-icing and de-icing products, and spread spectrum radio remote control with line-of-sight of 1,500 feet. As an option, the mini systems can be controlled and monitored through remote Internet access via the secure server, providing notifications for lack of pressure, automatic shutdown and containment area flooding. For more information, visit envirotech.squarespace.com/storage/Mini System brochure.pdf.