MILLING CUTS
TO THE CHASE
WIRTGEN’S NEWEST GENERATION OF TWO-METRE COLD MILLING MACHINES HAVE LANDED IN AUSTRALIA, FEATURING TECHNOLOGIES TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND OPERABILITY WHILE DECREASING DOWNTIME AND LOWERING OPERATING COSTS.
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ew technology on Wirtgen’s latest cold milling machines is designed to simplify the operator experience and improve efficiency on a range of road works. The F-Series cold milling machines by Wirtgen are brand new to Australia and represent a further leap ahead in milling performance and capability over previous generations. The W200F and W210Fi models present a range of advances in machine technology and features aimed at setting a new benchmark in milling performance. The benefits of these technologies can broadly be broken into three classes: operator assistance, improving machine availability and operational efficiency.
OPERATOR ASSISTANCE Every new feature is aimed at easing the load on operators and equally enabling
them to produce a quality job at the highest level of efficiency. In these machines, Wirtgen has created a balance between operator and machine that aims to hit the sweet spot for results that benefits owners, operators and clients. Wirtgen Product Support Manager Brett Ferris explains that he found that operators were getting secondhand information when they were learning to operate the machines. “Often, operators would have the machine at full revolutions per minutes (RPM) all the time because they thought power was key, so we created the Mill Assist feature to optimise the process and make it easier for them to get the best results,” Mr. Ferris says. The new generation of Wirtgen milling machine comes standard with Mill Assist. Mill Assist is an automated feature that offers the operator a simple choice of three modes: power, economy and pattern. “Operators can choose which element
Operators can select different modes for Mill Assist.
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of the job they would like to focus on by simply pressing the corresponding button,” Mr. Ferris says. “The machine will then automatically adjust operating parameters to optimise performance and deliver that chosen element.” “Mill assist will do everything for you. It changes the drum speed, travel speed, engine RPM and water levels on the go.” Mill Assist can also be optioned with Wirtgen Performance Tracker. This feature measures the width of each cut and automatically adjusts the amount of water and power needed to cut to the selected quality. In addition, Wirtgen’s Level Pro Active levelling system has undergone upgrades to simplify the levelling process for operators. “The upgraded system shows operators icons for each of the levelling components which are easy to understand and adjust,” Mr. Ferris says. “All of the sensors are connected and shown on the Level Pro Active display and it will highlight the sections that need be levelled out.” Level Pro Active is “active” all the time, so when the machine is traversing between cuts or manoeuvring on and off a trailer, it keeps the machine in a level and stable condition. All of these features are fully machine integrated and work together to eliminate inaccurate milling results. “Any discrepancies in the accuracy of your job will end up costing the business because you may have to rip the road up and start again or you may face delays because more asphalt is needed,” Mr. Ferris says. “If the machine doesn’t give accurate results, when the asphalt pavers come through, the asphalt will be uneven and the result is a bumpy road.” To combine all of these systems and make the milling machine simple to operate, Wirtgen has also upgraded the Man-Machine
