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From The Cover
Roll into increased efficiency:
Curb Roller Manufacturing’s equipment offers municipalities a cost-effective solution to independently complete their own concrete work.
Photos courtesy of Curb Roller Manufacturing
How innovative concrete equipment is bringing versatility to municipalities By Seth Ulmer | Sales Manager, Curb Roller Manufacturing
In times when municipal work can be unpredictable, concrete equipment is thankfully evolving to help administrators meet the needs of their population. This can improve a crew’s ability to perform repairs on existing infrastructure and expand the ability to handle new developments. Broader in-house capabilities eliminate the need for long wait times on private contractors, increasing responsiveness and reducing overall costs. Concrete work that once required a lengthy, back-breaking process can now be done quickly and efficiently with the municipality’s own crew if they invest in a few pieces of equipment. The art of curb and gutter work Traditionally, curb and gutter work has been performed through a slow, physically demanding manual process or by large slipform pavers run by highly skilled operators. Walk-behind curbing machines, however, have emerged as an innovative solution for municipal crews to self-perform curb and gutter projects, minimizing outside costs while reducing labor needs by up to 75%. Curb rolling machines are designed with a handle attached to a spinning metal drum that is powered by a hydraulic power source. The compact design makes it easy for crews to move the equipment from street to street, streamlining transportation when completing curb and 10 THE MUNICIPAL | DECEMBER 2021
gutter work in several different locations throughout the day. The equipment is intuitive to use, making it easy to learn and produce quality results, even for users who are less experienced in concrete work. With this single-operator machine, crews can complete curb and gutter work up to twice as fast as with manual methods, pouring and finishing up to 2,000 feet in a single day. The ergonomic design allows it to be operated in an upright position, increasing safety for the crew and reducing physical strain and fatigue. Walk-behind curbing machines, like the Curb Roller from Curb Roller Manufacturing, can be used with more than 31 pre-designed drum profiles as well as custom drum options to meet a municipality’s individual specifications. The Curb Roller features a patented guide ring that runs on the inside of the forms, ensuring a uniform curb every time. The handle has a variable speed and directional control, giving the operator ultimate control of the machine. Additionally, the same technology that brought portability, safety and efficiency to curb and gutter work can also be found in screeds that
