DUAL SPREADING CONTROL
WITH ROAD ANT QUALITY FABRICATION AND ENGINEERING HAS INTRODUCED A DUAL CONTROL FORWARD MOVING AGGREGATE SPREADER FOR AUSTRALIAN ROAD CONSTRUCTION.
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pecialising in innovative solutions for plant and equipment for Australia’s road construction, Quality Fabrication and Engineering (Q-FE) has developed a reputation as a provider of robust and high-quality products. The company’s motto, ‘Producing innovative machinery solutions through collaboration’ reflects its success in delivering specialised designs for trucks and machinery. Such collaboration has also led to the development of the Road Ant, a dual control forward moving aggregate spreader that can be driven from either end. As David Lockwood, Q-FE’s Head of Sales explains, the introduction of state legislation in Victoria necessitated the creation of Road Ant. “Five years ago, the Victorian Government proposed a mandate which required all vehicles that discharge aggregate to become
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ROADS MAY 2022
forward moving. As such, the Victorian Government brought in a five-year plan to introduce forward moving aggregate spreaders, effective from 1 July 2022,” Lockwood says. The amendment to VicRoads Standard 408 clause 408.11 meant the industry needed to find a suitable solution for spreading aggregates that could be designed, approved, and implemented within five years. Luckily, Q-FE General Manager and cocreator of the Road Ant Glenn Hardiman had already thought of a possible solution. He says the idea was sparked during an inconspicuous discussion with the owner of a large spray seal company. “In 2005, I was talking with the company owner, he was a relatively new player at the time, although had extensive prior experience working with and managing other spray seal crews. We were discussing machinery in general when he expressed his concerns
about the risks of reversing while operating on site. It was here that we talked about potential solutions. “When the mandate was mentioned, Q-FE jumped at the opportunity to develop an Australian designed and manufactured product.” ROAD ANT’S FEATURES The Road Ant can be driven independently from both the rear and front ends of the vehicle and has been fitted to a range of cab chassis to date, including Iveco, Isuzu and Daf. With the knowledge gained in varying fit outs, Q-FE are confident they can integrate controlling a wide range of truck makes. Additionally, it is fitted with a Trout River asphalt-compatible body and Trout River automated 10-gate chip spreader, a proven product widely used by most companies nationally according to Hardiman.
