JCB has introduced two new tandem roller compaction machines, the CT160 and CT260, to the North American market. At 3,770 to 6,041 lbs., these machines can be trailered for transportation.
The CT160 offers a choice of either a 31.5-in. (800 mm) or a 39.3-in. (1000 mm) drum. The CT260 comes with a 47.2-in. (1200 mm) drum.
“We are re-entering the North American market with a strong, proven product,” said James Gill, product manager - backhoe loaders, site dumper and compaction equipment at JCB North America. “The models have been available in markets outside of North America for some time. They have proven to be a great success, and the durability has been truly tried and tested.”
“The CT160 and CT260 are market leaders in their sector with well over 25 percent of market in some regions,” said Gill. “By re-entering the North American market with a product that we have confidence in, it paves the way for the rollout of an extensive portfolio of compaction equipment.”
The machines will be branded once again with ‘Vibromax,’ after the German company JCB acquired in 2005. “The Vibromax was a well-respected product, with the North American arm of the original company being based out of Racine, Wisconsin,” said Gill.
The JCB Vibromax soil compaction machinery line is used globally. JCB has put the engineering expertise acquired from Vibromax into the development of these new compaction products.
With this expansion of the Vibromax line comes a variety of features. On both machines, the responsive directional drive lever enables fore and aft movements. From a bird’s eye view the CT160 and CT260 have an hourglass profile, a shape that enables operators to see the drum edges. On the CTs’ control panels, work modes are visible and the switches are sized to create tactile feedback even with gloved hands. Anti-vibration mounts isolate the operator from drum vibrations.
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Automatic vibration control is standard. The CT160 and CT260 feature simple vibration settings that include:
- Vibration for both drums
- Vibration for the rear drum only or
- Vibration for the front drum only
The manually adjustable offset on the front drum enables the operator to avoid damage to curbs and ironwork. The rear drum is flush with the rear chassis so operators can work close to walls or obstacles. Chamfered edges on the drums support finishing phases, a pressurized water spray system keeps the drums clean during operation and the drum scraper bars (two per drum) are adjustable whether working with stone or asphalt.
All engine service points are accessible at ground level and a high lift, tilt up engine hood gives operators access to daily maintenance checks. The CT160 uses a three cylinder, 19.8-hp engine and the CT260 models get a three cylinder 24.4-hp engine. All engines are Tier 4 Final compliant and do not require a diesel particular filter (DPF) or diesel exhaust fluid (DEF or Ad Blue).
The radiator sits at the center of the machines for protection and cleaning. This also facilitates access to the battery and other service points. The water spray systems are equipped with replaceable bayonet nozzles with filters. Additionally, rust is minimized thanks to stainless steel spray bars.
The new central articulation joint is maintenance-free. For daily maintenance, the CTs’ water tanks are embossed with “WATER ONLY” lettering and have a white cap. This prevents any confusion that might occur with other machines that have a blue cap for the DEF or Ad Blue filler tank.
JCB’s LiveLink telematics system is standard, providing customers with real-time location and geofencing, utilization monitoring and operational data, including when the vibration system is in use. Additionally, JCB LiveLink critical machine alerts can pre-empt unscheduled maintenance and help with maintenance planning. Remote access to JCB LiveLink historical data and maintenance records can further support machine and fleet management.
