Another low cost option, although more rare, is to use the engine exhaust as a way to heat the screed. “It allows the engine do all the work,” Gehl’s Rau says. You can keep it going down to the screed the entire time you are paving and it will not cost you a dime.” Propane systems still dominate the market, but require some maintenance on the seals, gaskets and torches. BR

Tom Jackson is executive editor for Equipment World magazine, a sister publication to Better Roads. 

BOMAG

With the introduction of its newest paver the BF6615, BOMAG brought electric screed heat to its lineup. And electric heat will become an option on some of its 85-horsepower pavers by the end of the year, says BOMAG’s John Hood. The new screed heating designs use a cycling system to reduce the load on the genset and thus the engine. The BF6615 also offers fume extraction. All of BOMAG’s pavers put material feed augers on the hydraulic screed extensions (rather than the hopper). As you move the hydraulic extension out you move the auger with it, reducing the need to shovel material out to the ends of the extensions. The new BF6615 has both hopper-mounted augers and the extendable screed-mounted augers. BOMAG has fully electro-hydraulic controls with manual backups to over-ride the electronics in case of a short or electric system problem.

Gehl

Gehl offers two gravity feed models. They feature a no-frills design to keep acquisition costs low for smaller paving companies. Easy access to service points reduces the time required for maintenance and equal visibility to the right and left edges of the paving edge make it easier to achieve quality results. Gehl also designs its pavers with sufficient clearance for the undercarriage to avoid problems with obstacles caused by soft base material, manholes and water boxes.

Vögele

Although Vögele builds several commercial class pavers that can be purchased as special orders in the United States, the Super 700 is its main offering in this country for track-driven commercial class pavers. The Super 700’s primary attributes are that it is maneuverable, versatile and rebuildable, says Vögele’s Brodie Hutchins. “It’s really a highway design put into a smaller package. It has the same conveyor chain and componentry and drive motors, just in smaller dimensions.” The Super 700 is also guided by the company’s proprietary Niveltronic SC system for grade and slope control. The push rollers fold in with the hopper sides and the conveyor is reversible to prevent spilled mix when transferring to new jobsites. The Super 700 is also a one-man machine, adds Hutchins: “The way the operator is stationed, you can run and operate everything.” In the larger sizes Vögele offers two rubber tire commercial class pavers, the Super 1103-2 and Super 1303-2, and track versions – Super 1100-2 and Super 1300-2.

LeeBoy

From the entry level 1000F tilt-hopper paver to the 8816B, 8515B and 8510B conveyor pavers, LeeBoy offers a wide range of commercial class pavers. All LeeBoy pavers feature the Legend Screed System for producing mats up to 15 feet in width. The LeeBoy Legend Electric Screed system gives contractors the choice between propane fired and economical, efficient electric heating systems.

Mauldin

One of the distinctive features of a Mauldin commercial class paver is the weight of the screed, in some cases as much as twice as heavy as others, says Mauldin’s Trevor Thielbar. “The heavier screed leads to benefits similar to those found in highway class pavers. These include higher mat density, uniform mat texture and uniform mat color. Mauldin offers an electrically heated screed on its 1750-C paver and also offers the option of choosing tracks or tires on its 550E and 690F models. Foam fill on the tires eliminates the danger of going flat. Mauldin’s Freedom vibratory screed incorporates extending, reversing augers.