Roadbuilding: What’s New from CONEXPO & Beyond

With CONEXPO-CON/AGG (CONEXPO) launches at the forefront, new equipment and technological enhancements have ruled 2023 as we reach midyear. New roadbuilding equipment was prominently featured during CONEXPO, and other machines have been released since. From traditional diesel to electric to new reclaimers and stabilizers, roadbuilding has experienced a boost this year. This includes new equipment from Astec Industries, BOMAG, Caterpillar, LeeBoy and Wirtgen. Here are some examples:

• Astec Industries launched eight brand new, redesigned models during CONEXPO, including the RP175/195 track pavers, RX405 mill, and the 5710E grinder. These new machines also boast technology enhancements. More on this later.
• BOMAG featured new electric-powered equipment including the BP 18/45 direction plate, BW 100 AD e-5 tandem roller and BW 20 SLC-5 combination roller. All three have added technological enhancements.
• The new Caterpillar RM600 and RM800 reclaimer/stabilizers offer the power and performance needed to complete full-depth reclamation and soil stabilization projects. These machines are at the high end of the reclaimer/stabilizer size class with an all-new adjustable height design capable of cross-slope cutting.
• LeeBoy introduced its first prototype electric—the 8520C E-Paver. It was created in collaboration with General Motors (GM) and Powertrain Control Systems.
• Wirtgen featured the W 120 Fi Compact Milling Machine, W 210 Fi Large Milling Machine, the WR 250i Cold Recycler, and the HD 12e VV and HD+ 120i VV HF Tandem Rollers. The new features for these machines involved enhanced technology to improve how operators perform their work on the jobsite. New technology also adds to these featured machines.Wirtgen's two cold milling machines (W 120 Fi and W210 F1) are available with the Mill Assist machine control system and WPT.

Electric Power

Battery-electric power has been among the trends during CONEXPO and with many new equipment launches since. The construction industry is still exploring all the ways that it can benefit from using electric power. Answering concerns from end users about power and battery life continues to be a priority for manufacturers. This is true for roadbuilding equipment … that electric machines lack the power of diesel-driven ones. Maybe that was once true, but it isn't anymore. The new generation of electrified construction machines is every bit as powerful and durable as their petrol-powered forbearers.

During the 2023 event, several equipment providers introduced battery-electric models or prototypes. Three new models from the BOMAG e-PERFORMANCE line include a tamper, a single direction plate, and a tandem ride-on roller. The tamper features plug-and-play designs and optional rapid chargers that allow for full operational potential in as little as 2 hours.

The new BP 18/45 direction plate is a climate friendly, all-purpose compactor that uses the same battery as the tamper and can be used in deep trenches, buildings or tunnels to compact up to 10-inch lifts of gravel/sand.

The new BW 100 AD e-5 tandem roller doubles its battery capacity with two rechargeable units that provide enough power for a typical workday. Its two high-efficiency motors work independently to control drum vibration as well as handling. This conserves power across the two batteries.

The LeeBoy prototype 8520C E-Paver was designed to be electric but controlled like traditional machines.LeeBoyLeeBoy’s prototype 8520C E-Paver provides the power and capabilities of a traditionally fueled paver. If an electric paver can deliver all that the traditionally fueled pavers can but it includes the additional benefits of reduced noise levels and emissions, why wouldn't someone make the switch? One answer to that question as mentioned above is contractor concerns about battery life and rechargeability. LeeBoy has heard from consumers, and part of the answer is seeing a charge the same way they see diesel. They are both fuels, and while diesel is more familiar to the industry, it has drawbacks of its own that electrically fueled vehicles might even improve upon.

“We know that the industry is making a move towards electric machines,” Chris Broome, senior product manager at LeeBoy said. “What we wanted to do with the E-Paver is take an automotive grade electric drive system and match it with established LeeBoy components. The hydraulic systems on the E-Paver are a mirror image of the 8520C that operators are used to, we replaced the diesel engine and LeeBoy integrated a compatible electric drive system.”

“On the electric paver, contractors won’t be wasting fuel while idling,” Broome said. “Any time you put the machine in neutral, the paver powers down so you're not wasting energy waiting on trucks.”

Technology

The new BOMAG BW 20 SLC-5 combination roller boasts the Intelligent Vibration Control to alert operators in real time when the optimum compaction level is reached. This saves passes, decreases fuel consumption, and eliminates uncertainty. It comes with four rear smooth tires that provide additional kneading action for optimum compaction.

During the event, the BOMAG previewed its vision for autonomous compaction ROBOMAG 2, a concept roller on display based on the BW177 D. Combining GPS, Lidar and state-of-the-art position sensors to offer safe, fully autonomous operation, it offers remote control operation for loading/unloading as well as to complete manually entered movement patterns.

According to Broome, the LeeBoy prototype 8520C E-Paver was designed to be electric but controlled like traditional machines.

“The controls feature our ‘LeeBoy Family Feel’ and style,” Broome said. “They are standard to our electric over hydraulic controls, so there won’t be a learning curve to jump in from an 8520 to this electric machine.” LeeBoy was able to maintain some of the familiar control style using the control development expertise of Engine Power Source.

Astec Industries launched eight brand new, redesigned models during CONEXPO.Astec IndustriesAstec has made great strides to shore-up its technological offerings, which includes expansion through acquisition. The team estimates that recent investments of at least $20-$25 million in purchasing companies like MINDS Inc. have been made.

“Connectivity and the utilization of the cloud [are] very important to our customers,” said Eric Baker, the newly appointed V.P. of Astec Digital. “Our technology can help customers leverage their tools in ways that previously weren’t possible.”

The two cold milling machines (W 120 Fi and W210 F1) featured at the Wirtgen booth during CONEXPO are available with the Mill Assist machine control system and the Wirtgen Performance Tracker (WPT), and the WR 250i Cold Recycler features WTP and Autotrac. The two tandem rollers (HD 12e VV and HD+ 120i VV HF) feature Smart Doc.

Wirtgen’s Mill Assist and WTP enable precise and reliable digital documentation of the work performed on the site. The Mill Assist machine control systems always adjust the most favorable relationship between performance and cost when operating in automatic mode.

“WPT continuously documents all construction site information without any intervention on the part of the machine operator,” Matt Graves, director of marketing for Wirtgen, said. “Milling performance data is transmitted to a data server via a cellular connection, allowing for quick and efficient decisions to be made while on the jobsite.”

WPT continuously documents all construction site information without any intervention on the part of the machine operator.WirtgenThe Mill Assist control system automatically adjusts the speed of the diesel engine and milling drum, the traction drive, the water system, and the machine’s advance rate. These capabilities relieve the machine operator of a tremendous part of his workload. At the same time, the system improves the machine’s performance and decreases diesel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, pick consumption and noise emissions, according to Graves.

Autotrac, featured on Wirtgen’s WR Series, is an automatic, satellite-based steering system for precision control of optimum overlapping. This technology for cold recycling steers the machine accurately within the tolerances of a few centimeters based on a previously calculated reference strip and a specified overlap of adjacent strips. This allows for the consistent use of the machine’s ideal working width.

Smart Doc from HAMM is a free Android app for transparent compaction documentation and self-monitoring. This allows construction companies to achieve high-quality compaction while documenting the most important compaction parameters. It uses a simple connection via Bluetooth Low Energy and a precise GPS display. The app is available for the machines in Wirtgen’s H CompactLine series, HC CompactLine series, H series, HC series, HD+ series, DV+ series and HX series.Autotrac is an automatic, satellite-based steering system.Wirtgen

Cab Tech

Technology can involve more than data and performance. Some technology provides comfort, ease of use and a cool factor to the operator. For the Caterpillar RM600 and RM800 the controls are grouped by function for quick and easy access. A small handwheel provides precise steering, removing the larger wheel and steering column, which could obstruct the operator’s view. The operator can easily match machine speed and functions to gradation specification via the large, 25-centimeter (10-inch) color touchscreen displays and pushbutton controls.

“Beyond our power, we have a new cabin and controls for these machines really taken from our RM400 with the latest cat electronics, user-friendly controls, very easy to learn and very easy to operate,” said Mark Eiden, global sales consultant, Cat Paving. “A caterpillar exclusive feature is our fully left to right sliding cab, which really helps the operator find that comfortable visibility whether they're working from the right side of the machine or the left side of the machine.”The RM600 provides up to 17% more power than the RM500B. The RM800 delivers up to 42% more power than the RM500B and up to 23% more power than the RM600.Caterpillar

Cool cab technology makes a difference in many ways. One is helping recruit and retain talent. During a virtual event to announce the two new machines, Scott Reynolds, CEO of ARS Companies, talked about his company’s experience with the first two RM800 reclaimer/stabilizers. He said that some of the more useful features were in the cab. The design and ergonomics are attractive to younger operators, which is a benefit when facing the workforce shortages that the construction industry does. He also added that creature comforts in a cab allow operators to work longer and increase productivity.        

Editor's Note: Special thanks to to Brandon Noel, editor, Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction, for his help with and information for this article.