22 minute read
Paving Technologies Impact Industry in 2022
BY EMILY NEWTON
The last two years have been challenging for members of the construction industry. While this might seem frustrating, the environment has provided a platform for invention and innovation. Here’s an overview of six paving technologies that are sure to continue their impact on the industry in 2022 and beyond.
3D PAVING CONTROL
While the goal of any paving project is to provide an even and smooth surface, that isn’t always easy when the underlying surface is rough and uneven. Instead of placing an initial leveling course, then assessing the surface and seeing where problems are occurring, 3D paving control systems give the operator the tools to easily match the planned design and make adjustments in real-time as necessary through variable depth paving.
In addition to these real-time controls, there is the option to download additional apps or install other third-party programs to give the 3D paving controls more flexibility and usability. Using these control programs can reduce the amount of asphalt used during the first layer, which can reduce waste and make it easier for companies to finish their projects faster and more efficiently than ever before.
One of these programs, a product created by Trimble Roadworks, is proving its effectiveness in the paving industry and will likely continue to do so in 2022 and beyond.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Traditionally, most paving projects were planned out in spreadsheets. While this is functional, it isn’t always efficient—especially for larger projects. Instead of trying to do everything manually, opting for project management software can make an enormous difference in project efficiency. Project management software has already found a home in the construction industry, but it’s also beginning to make an impact in the paving industry as well.
Project management software takes multiple planning tools and consolidates them into a single, easy-to-access location. In addition, these programs make it easier to keep track of all the complex details that accompany these projects, making it easy to fix problems or make adjustments on the fly.
Many cloud-based programs also give project managers the option and ability to access their data from a mobile app or website, so it’s easier to keep things running smoothly while on the go. These programs are beginning to emerge as an invaluable tool for every construction-adjacent industry, and will likely be a valuable asset for paving contractors moving forward.
SMART PAVEMENT AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
It’s easy to think big when it comes to new technologies, but in some cases, it’s important to think small—and in this case, the innovations are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
The mill operator can input and monitor his project parameters such as cut depth, slope and speed from this panel. Such systems at the operator’s platform typically have matching stations at the groundman’s station. These technologies allow milling crews to achieve perfect surfaces for the paving train to follow, maximizing paving efficiency from the first lift. Photo courtesy of John Ball of Top Quality Paving & Training, Manchester, New Hampshire
Nanotechnology is beginning to make its mark on the paving industry in a variety of applications, including the adhesive damping technology discussed in the 2018 article from Newtonoid Technologies. Smart pavement is now being explored as a tool to continuously monitor infrastructure health, by equipping the pavement with “weigh in motion” capabilities. Infusing this technology into the pavement when it’s put down allows the piezoelectric sensors to collect data about the cars and trucks traversing a stretch of highway, as well as the overall health of the pavement.
Smart pavement that can remotely charge electric vehicles is also in the prototyping phase. These wireless chargers—similar to the chargers that might power a phone—may be able to top off EV batteries as the car drives over them. The Indiana Department of Transportation is working on a quarter-mile-long testing track with concrete, but you can see the world’s first smart road built in Sweden at the Green Car Reports website.
PAVER-MOUNTED THERMAL PROFILING
A road may look perfectly paved to the naked eye, but that smooth surface could be hiding problems that may manifest once the road is in use. Quality control technicians can use thermal cameras, infrared sensors, or a combination of the two to ensure the temperature of the asphalt mix being placed is within acceptable margins. While it is possible to monitor surface temperatures using a handheld IR thermometer, it isn’t possible to measure more than one spot at a time with the industry’s preferred accuracy.
Paver-mounted thermal profiling (PMTP) setups can scan the entire section being paved, often beyond the width of the paver. In general, these scanners will break up the entire project into 30 x 30 cm grids, monitoring the temperature automatically. If there is an issue detected anywhere, it’s easy for these systems to flag them so they can be addressed, either immediately or once the paving is complete.
This temperature monitoring could also be valuable once self-healing asphalt becomes more common, especially for designs that incorporate iron filings that will heat up and melt the bitumen in the asphalt as a tool for healing small cracks and crevices in the pavement.
INTELLIGENT COMPACTION
First, let us understand that intelligent compaction (IC) applies to both soil compaction—to provide a solid and stable surface for paving—and to asphalt pavement compaction to provide a smooth and optimally dense surface. Drum rollers and other tools for compaction have been a staple within the industry for decades. Until recently, achieving compaction relied primarily on operator experience and manual monitoring. After success in European paving markets, IC is a technology that has found its niche in the U.S. paving industry.
The goal of IC is to improve the compaction process. In general, though, IC is defined as hardware, software, and analysis programs that are installed on rollers and other compacting technology to assess the densification of the material. These additions allow rollers to actively monitor the soil or asphalt layer they are compacting, and even make adjustments to the rolling pattern or compactive forces on the fly.
AUTONOMOUS PAVERS
The buzz right now is about autonomous or self-driving cars, but these tools are good for more than just navigating someone’s morning commute. Autonomous vehicles are beginning to showcase their usefulness and viability in a number of different industries, including paving. SANY recently debuted a small fleet of autonomous rollers and pavers in the Xiong’an New Area of China where seven machines were remote-controlled from a mobile base station and control room.
When paired with automatic levels and other automatic tools and sensors that can monitor the land under construction in real-time, these autonomous pavers could potentially reshape the way paving companies approach these projects. In the United States, where there are thousands of miles of highways in need of refurbishment, self-driving pavers could help pick up some of the slack and make it easier for paving contractors to handle the growing demand. While autonomous paving may prove to be a valuable tool in the future, it hasn’t been tested in active work zones and its safety parameters have yet to be defined in these settings.
LOOKING BEYOND 2022
2020 and 2021 have been challenging for everyone, but from that challenge have sprung remarkable innovations that will continue to shape the paving industry for years to come. With the infrastructure bill now a reality, the paving industry has its next few years of work already laid out.
In the pages to follow, please check out an assortment of immediately available paving and pavement maintenance-related products and services.
Emily Newton is an industrial writer with over five years of experience covering stories in the industrial sector.
Astec Industries offers its Astec Service Schools and Paving Professionals Workshops.
ASTEC
Astec hosts instructor-led and hands-on training in road construction in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Technical Service Schools are designed for mechanics, field technicians and service technicians who have previous knowledge of electrical and hydraulics schematics. Technicians benefit from valuable learning opportunities to develop technical skills for diagnostics and repair of paving, milling and MTV operations by expert instructors in the field.
PPW is a comprehensive, hands-on training covering all aspects of paving, from preparing a surface to achieving optimal smoothness. For all classes, attendees receive personalized and detailed education from skilled and experienced paving professionals in the industry.
To register, visit astecindustries.com/service/training.
BLUETAPE
BlueTape, San Francisco, California, launched in November its Buy Now Pay Later financing tool that enables construction professionals to buy their building materials now and pay back over time.
According to the company, the feature, “allows builders and contractors all around the United States to start using BlueTape to finance their building supplies invoices and improve their cash flow. BlueTape partners with building material suppliers to offer their customers a wide range of payment options, including risk-free, flexible financing with simple terms. Their customers can access 30-, 60- or 90-day financing with a fast online process.”
Benefits of BlueTape's Buy Now Pay Later feature include no risk for building suppliers, better qualification rates for builders, low fees and ease of use, according to the company.
For more information, visit the BlueTape website.
BOMAG
BOMAG Americas Inc., headquartered in Ridgeway S.C., and owned by the FAYAT Group, is pleased to announce the ever-expanding partnership with CMW Equipment in Missouri. “Joining with BOMAG Americas to provide their equipment to our customers makes for a great fit for us and our customers. We are very excited to tell the BOMAG story and how the Fayat family has combined great asphalt equipment lines such as pavers, soil stabilizers, milling equipment and of course BOMAG signature Asphalt Compaction Rollers to create the current offering. Adding these products to our current product lines creates even more value for our customers.” – Larry Glynn, President
For more information, visit www.bomag.com/us
CATERPILLAR
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Illinois, announced in November, that it will be adding a new compact line of asphalt pavers and screeds to its paving products family. These standard 8-foot size paver and screed combinations include the AP400, AP455, AP500, and AP555 asphalt pavers as well as the SE47 V and SE47 FM asphalt screeds. They come equipped with features for both urban and rural applications to fit the needs of both large and small contractors.
The compact size and small footprint combine with maneuverability for more opportunity to pave in confined areas such as narrow streets, small parking lots, and other urban-type applications. The standard paving range using the SE47 V screed is 8 feet to 15 feet, 6 inches (2.4 to 4.7 meters) with a maximum width of 20 feet (6.1 m), while the standard paving range of the SE47 FM screed is 8 feet to 15 feet, 6 inches (2.4 to 4.7 m) with a maximum width of 20 feet, 6 inches (6.2 m). Paving depths up to 10 inches (254 mm) support aggregate paving applications.
For more information, contact your local Cat dealer.
CRAFCO
Crafco Inc., Chandler, Arizona, offers the HP ER Asphalt Cold Patch™. The company states this product is a high performance, ready to use, permanent pavement patching material. It is specially formulated with a proprietary blend of rejuvenating and adhesion promoting additives to improve a repair’s longevity for long-term performance. Produced with no VOCs, the product is designed to deliver optimum performance with a smaller footprint.
For more information, visit the Crafco website.
DYNAPAC
Dynapac North America LLC, Fort Mill, South Carolina, announced the appointment of Jamie Roush to president/general manager, effective Oct. 1, 2021. Roush is a long-time industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in the equipment industry. He has been with Dynapac North America since the transition in 2017 and held various management positions at Atlas Copco LLC since 2007.
The company also announced in November that National Equipment Dealers LLC (NED) will be expanding its current footprint for Dynapac products into North and South Carolina. This will add to their already existing footprint in Florida. For customers of NED, the expanded partnership with Dynapac creates access to new, used, and rental equipment along with a commitment to product support in their region.
For more information, visit www.dynapac.us.
ELEMENT SIX
Back in August, Element Six, Burghaun, Germany, part of the De Beers Group, launched the HD™ Series, a new range of heavy-duty tools specially designed to provide extended tool life and improved reliability for milling and reclaiming operations.
The HD™ Series, which will be fully available in 2022, combines a new larger body and washer disc with Element Six’s premium MasterGrade™ carbide. The tools’ larger body has by design more steel, which leads to extended tool life and increased wear resistance, improving performance in highly abrasive conditions where the steel body typically wears quickly.
With its HD™ Series, Element Six will provide operators with a choice of four new MasterGrade™ tips, enabling them to select the tool that best meets the need of their application.
Element Six’s MasterGrade™ carbide uses the company’s proprietary “Nanotechnology” to enhance the cobalt binder matrix and optimize wear without impacting the bit’s toughness. These innovative carbides result in a versatile bit with increased operating efficiency, according to the manufacturer.
Markus Bening, sales director for Mining, Road, & Wear Parts at Element Six, said: “The HD™ Series will provide milling and reclaiming operations with improved overall performance and flexibility to ensure that the tool matches the application in question. The tool’s increased size makes it suitable for highly abrasive conditions and enables operators working in those conditions to utilize the toughness of MasterGrade™.”
For more information, contact Wesley Shoff at wesley.shoff@e6.com.
Dynapac North America announced Jamie Roush as its president/ general manager effective Oct. 1, 2021. This illustration shows the new HD Series tool from Element Six.
EQUIPMENTSHARE
Takeuchi-US has added EquipmentShare locations in the Las Vegas, Nevada, and San Diego, California, metropolitan areas to its growing North American dealer network. The EquipmentShare location at 412 E. Gowan Road in North Las Vegas will now carry Takeuchi’s full line of compact excavators, wheel loaders and track loaders for sale and rental. The San Diego area location at 2590 Main Street in Chula Vista will focus primarily on compact excavators and track loaders. Both locations will offer replacement parts and serve as authorized Takeuchi equipment repair centers for customers throughout Clark County, Nevada and Imperial County, California.
Founded by construction and equipment industry veterans in 2014, EquipmentShare offers and supports various heavy equipment product lines. EquipmentShare began carrying the Takeuchi line at its headquarters location in Columbia, Missouri, in July 2020, then added Takeuchi equipment to its North Salt Lake, Utah, location in January 2021.
GSSI
Geophysical Survey Systems Inc., will feature its PaveScan® RDM 2.0 asphalt density assessment tool at the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) 101st Annual Meeting, which takes place Jan. 9-13, 2022, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Drop by Booth #831 to see a demonstration of PaveScan RDM 2.0, which uses the dielectric measurements of new pavement to determine pavement quality and uniformity. GSSI’s PaveScan RDM system, initially unveiled at the 2016 TRB meeting, was used on the Hwy. 8 project in Dickinson County, North Dakota. PaveScan RDM 2.0 automatically measures the dielectric value to identify anomalies in real-time. In addition, the dielectric values can be used to correlate percent voids and density in new pavement.
For more information, stop by Booth #831 at the TRB event.
NAVISTAR
Navistar Inc., Lisle, Illinois, announced in October updates to the International® A26 engine, which are designed to now allow fleets to achieve 10% improved fuel economy since the engine’s initial launch. Here’s the math on that: According to the manufacturer, previous design and system updates account for a 6% fuel efficiency improvement, while the latest engine enhancements to the A26 (2021 GHG) provide an additional 4% fuel economy benefit. The previous updates contributing to the 6% fuel efficiency improvement include more optimized engine and transmission calibrations mated with the Eaton Endurant automated manual transmission, a direct drive 2.15 ratio, and aerodynamic improvements to wheel coverings on drive axle wheels and the chassis.
The latest engine enhancements to the A26 (2021 GHG) include combustion enhancements, optimized engine temperature control, air management system updates and reduced engine speed while optimizing fuel consumption.
The A26 engine is available for order in the International® LT® Series of long-haul vehicles, RH™ Series of regional haul vehicles, the HX® Series for heavy-haul and various construction applications and the HV™ Series for select vocational applications.
NED
Since its establishment in early 2018, National Equipment Dealers LLC has grown to 14 locations across five states. Over the last few years, a few of those locations have continued to operate under their original legacy company names. Those are Four Seasons Equipment located in Texas; MAY-RHI in the Carolinas; Richardson Service 1991, Inc in South Carolina; Earthmovers Construction Equipment in Florida; and recently acquired Grove River Machinery in Richmond Hill-Savannah, Georgia. With future growth through mergers and acquisitions on the horizon, NED LLC decided to re-brand all the legacy companies under one name—National Equipment Dealers LLC (NED).
NED serves customers across multiple industries throughout their footprint, including earthmoving, forestry, mining, oil and gas, scrap and material handling, road construction, landscaping, government, municipalities, and more.
For more information, visit the NED dealer website.
ASPHALT PLANTS AND COMPONENTS
www.tarmacinc.com
ROAD WIDENER
Road Widener LLC, Delafield, Wisconsin, offers the offset vibratory attachment patented to allow the host machine to drive safely on flat ground while compacting sloping shoulders, ditches and other hard-toreach areas alongside the road.
See the Here’s How it Works feature in the September 2021 issue of AsphaltPro for details.
SRIPATH
Sripath Technologies®, Mahwah, New Jersey, manufactures and markets ReLIXER®, an elixir of green bio-based oils, used for the rejuvenation of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in asphalt mixes and for pavement repair and maintenance applications. ReLIXER® is a user-friendly rejuvenator for use in hot mix applications, allowing for the use of high levels of RAP, to create asphalt mixes for base course, surface wear layers, shoulders, and other roadway paving applications. For pavement maintenance applications, ReLIXER® is added in small doses to bitumen to create rejuvenating emulsions. A ReLIXER® emulsion helps rejuvenate and soften the aged bitumen within the old pavement surfaces, improves the bonding of aggregates to the road surface, for better durability and performance of roadways, according to the manufacturer. ReLIXER® emulsions are designed to be easy to use and incorporate, result in less frequent maintenance, and reduce overall cost for the contractors.
ReLIXER® emulsions are used for a variety of maintenance techniques, such as: chip seal, microesurfacing, slurry seal, scrub seal and fog seal. ReLIXER® emulsions are popular for cold in-place recycling, cold central plant recycling and full depth reclamation applications. For pothole repair applications, ReLIXER® can be mixed with 100% RAP, or with RAP and aggregate, to create either hot patch or cold patch mixes. Such ReLIXER® patch mixes are effective in patching potholes on roadways during off-season months.
Established in 2006, Sripath Technologies® is a global company, based out of Mahwah, New Jersey, USA. Sripath develops, manufactures and markets innovative additives such as rejuvenators (ReLIXER®), modifier oils (NuMIXER® & ReNUBIT®), polymers (PGXpand®), and anti-strip agents (SriCote®) to enhance the performance of bitumen for paving and roofing applications.
For more information, visit https://sripath.com/.
TOPCON
Topcon Positioning Group, Livermore, California, has announced its MC-Max machine control solution. Based on its MC-X machine control platform, and backed by Sitelink3D—the company’s real-time, cloudbased data management ecosystem—MC-Max is a scalable solution for mixed-fleet heavy equipment environments. It is designed to adapt to owners’ machine control and data integration needs as their fleets and workflows expand. MC-Max is designed to provide project managers a real-time view of machine positions, activities and onsite progress, and is compatible with a wide range of site communications systems.
For more information, visit the Topcon Positioning website.
TQP
Top Quality Paving and Training, Manchester, New Hampshire, offers week-long, onsite training and instruction for paving crews throughout the paving season. Owner John S. Ball III, began his career with Pike Industries, ultimately running the training program there before setting out to head up his own consulting service for the asphalt industry. He has led courses at multiple state asphalt pavement associations and the Roadtec Paving Professionals Workshop in Chattanooga.
TQP spends multiple days in the field with the paving crew, photographing and videotaping elements of the crew’s operation while offering guidance and correction for the project in progress. At the end of the week, Ball provides a thorough report to management and the workforce of the areas that are in tip-top shape and areas for improvement. The images and video are provided to management, along with a copy of the report, for reference after the week is complete.
For more information, contact Ball at (603) 493-1458 or tqpaving@ yahoo.com.
In 2017, Ball worked with AsphaltPro magazine to create Asphalt Paving 101, which is an online training course to give paving contractors an always-available, back-to-basics program for new hires. This web-based course includes eight modules that explain the vital roles of the asphalt crew, offer safety information, describe best practices for preparing the paver for the paving shift, share how to deliver material to the hopper to eliminate segregation, and more.
The elementary course is designed for the new hire being introduced to the industry or for veteran workers who need a refresher after a winter season away. It’s available as a one-time purchase that is accessed whenever the contractor needs it, as often as they need it, from any device that can access the internet.
For more information, visit https://training.theasphaltpro.com/
TRIMBLE
Trimble, Sunnyvale, California, and Microsoft announced in October a strategic partnership to develop, build and deliver industry cloud platforms and solutions that connect people, technology, tasks, data, processes and industry lifecycles. Trimble writes: “This partnership expands Trimble and Microsoft’s existing relationship to combine the Microsoft cloud with Trimble’s construction solutions and industry domain knowledge. Trimble’s construction solutions include on-machine and field technology, modeling and collaboration software, project and resource management, and all underlying analytics. The companies will deliver the Trimble Construction Cloud, an innovative connected platform powered by Microsoft Azure, which is fully enabled for 3D constructible models that will reduce risks, drive speed, and increase efficiency and accuracy across the entire construction project lifecycle, in 2022.”
For more information, visit the Trimble website.
WERK-BRAU
New pavement removal buckets from Werk-Brau, Findlay, Ohio, are designed to easily wedge under pavement, maximizing the force of the excavator to remove pavement slabs. The unique C-type profile and inclined sides aid the prying action and expedite the removal of broken concrete and pavement slabs. Bottom wear straps provide extra protection and allow a long service life. Standard designed buckets sized from 18 inches to 54 inches are available to fit all classes and sizes of backhoes and excavators, with special designs and capacities available upon request. Werk-Brau pavement removal buckets allow one person to dig up, remove, handle and load concrete streets and sidewalks as well as asphalt pavement. T-1 steel is used in all critical or high wear components to ensure that the pavement removal bucket has a long service life.
For more information, contact Dale DeWeese at (800) 537-9561.
WUORI CONSULTING
Wuori Consulting LLC is a paving consulting firm that was developed to assist contractors with achieving specific paving goals. Training operators with best practices and equipment setup, Wuori Consulting strives to support paving contractors dealing with difficult specifications or wanting to improve quality in the field. By implementing technology tools, such as the ground penetrating radar and thermal cameras, the Wuori team can ensure the paving equipment and operators are in the best position possible to achieve the greatest success on every project.
The team recognizes every paving project has a set of goals that must be satisfied to produce a successful outcome. Whether these goals are density or ride, understanding these objectives and how to achieve them accurately could be the difference in having a good project and a great project. Equipment and technology have come a long way in the asphalt industry over the past few decades. Using these tools to develop successful projects should and can be done.
Paver setup, roller patterns and many other simple steps can be the difference in achieving that incredible ride or passing all density requirements on a project and possibly even with an incentive or bonus. Every project is unique and has unique variables that must be evaluated for success. Questions must be asked to achieve success, questions such as what the design lift thickness is, what type of AC is in the asphalt mix, how the paver screed and augers should be adjusted, what rollers should be utilized for compaction and on what settings for vibratory rolling will produce best density are examples of just a few common paving questions. Understanding project variables and what needs to be done can be overwhelming at times for contractors.
For more information, contact Bryce Wuori at (701) 426-7873 or Bryce.w.wuori@gmail.com.
ZEUS
Zeus Electric Chassis Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, and EAVX announced in October that they will join forces to develop and commercialize all-electric vocational work truck solutions. Joint development efforts will focus on integration of the JB Poindexter & Co (JBPCO) commercial truck bodies, utility truck bodies, and vehicle cargo management systems with the Zeus Power Platform, an all-electric cab chassis. Zeus will leverage JBPCO’s North American operational footprint to help establish a nationwide service and support network for the Zeus products.
The non-exclusive collaboration agreement will initially focus on the Zeus Z-19 (Class 5, 19,500 LB GVWR) and Z-22 (Class 6, 22,300 LB GVWR), and will expand quickly to the Z-26 (Class 6, 26,000 LB GVWR). Initial market penetration will utilize current and next-generation JBPCO body designs and will be available for commercial fleet pilot programs in 2022.
Zeus offers a fully configurable class 4-6 all-electric vocational work truck cab-chassis. The core of their business model is to align with market leading vocational work truck body manufacturers and enable them to bring highly effective EV solutions to industry fleets that can out-perform diesel counterparts.
See the December AsphaltPro article “Asphalt Industry Seeks Efficiency in Electric Construction Equipment” for more insight. For more information, visit the Zeus Electric Chassis website.
