CUSTOM-DESIGNED MACHINERY, MADE FOR
AUSTRALIAN ROADS MATTHEWS BROTHERS ENGINEERING’S CUSTOM-BUILT MACHINERY HAS SERVICED THE AUSTRALIAN ROADMAKING INDUSTRY FOR OVER A CENTURY. AS OWNER PAUL MATTHEWS TELLS ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE, THE BUSINESS CONTINUES TO BE AN INNOVATOR IN THE MARKET.
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s a third-generation family owner of Matthews Brothers Engineering (MBE), Paul Matthews is proud of his family’s legacy of producing affordable and durable road making machinery. This commitment was highlighted last year as the company celebrated its centenary. Founded by Vic Bradley and Roy Matthews in 1921, MBE was a key supplier of bitumen spraying gear and bitumen kettles to the Victorian Country Roads Board during the peak road-building era in the early 20th century. Over the years, the company has built a reputation for manufacturing affordable and highly customised roadmaking equipment, including bitumen sprayers, dog trailers, melting tanks, spreader boxes and multipurpose asphalt vehicles. MBE’s bitumen sprayer units fit on existing truck chassis and are made to order as per the requirements of each client. The sprayers, which are manufactured in-house by MBE at its workshop in Altona North in Melbourne, feature an optional Guaranteed Target Application Rate, or G-TAR system, that helps operators achieve precision and consistency in bitumen application. “Over the years, we have grown from making small trailer-mounted bitumen sprayers to manufacturing 14,000 litre, twin-bar bitumen spraying units with all the bells and whistles. Our products are known for their reliability and the fact they are specifically designed for Australian conditions,” says Matthews. Today, MBE continues to grow its equipment offerings, with its bespoke bitumen tankers and spray sealing equipment forming the cornerstone of the company’s product range. MBE designs a range of bitumen sprayers, 78
ROADS APRIL 2022
Matthews Brothers Engineering has been manufacturing affordable roadmaking equipment for over 100 years. Pictured: custom-made bitumen sprayer.
including models with 4000, 6000, 10,000 and 14,000 litre tank sizes, all of which are built to comply with Australian Standards and the Transport of Dangerous Goods Act. Matthews says feedback from clients have contributed to safety and efficiency improvements to the classic bitumen sprayer model. “MBE has created a sprayer automation system called G-TAR. This is a computerised spraying control system with spraying tables built in and intuitive operation of the touchscreen allowing for simplified spray bar operation leading to less manual handling and achieving consistency of application rates,” he says. “In 2001, MBE introduced OZIBAR, a premium spray bar system specifically built for Australia’s challenging and wide-ranging conditions. All of these improvements have resulted in a safer
and more efficient equipment.” Feedback from operators has also influenced many safety improvements, some of which were previously optional, to be installed as standard on the classic bitumen sprayer model. This includes provision for safety showers and a pressure shutdown system. MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE Just like its bitumen sprayer, MBE offers a classic model for its range of dog trailers. Available in 14,000, 19,000, 20,000 and 25,000 litre tank sizes, the dog trailers also provide two, three or four axle configurations. This allows operators to customise the trailer to suit their needs. Whether this be a simple mobile storage unit, or to power integrated bitumen pump agitators. All MBE dog trailers also feature air suspension and multi voltage anti-lock braking and electronic braking systems.
