Structured appearance, more powerful undercarriage, decreased sound & & much better presence update 8- and 10-foot designs
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By
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Lee Toop
Astec Industries began a refresh of its Roadtec pavers in 2023 with the intro of 2 upgraded devices, the 8-foot RP-175 and 10-foot RP-195 F-series. The total appearance of these tracked highway-class pavers has actually been upgraded, and style modifications stress uptime and operator security.
Astec acknowledged a number of locations where the highway-class devices might be updated and reinforced, according to Keith Hagy, item supervisor, Paving– Infrastructure Solutions. The general appearance of the pavers ended up being a beginning point.
“Historically, we have actually focused a lot more on enhancing the function of the maker over style– we have not truly altered the try to find several years,” Hagy states. “The very first thing you’ll discover with our F-series pavers is more of a structured appearance when you see the side profile of the maker.”
Style modification includes undercarriage dependability and much easier upkeep gain access to
Astec recognized style chances in the undercarriage that would enhance dependability and decrease client downtime. The undercarriage, at first created as a multi-piece weldment, has actually gone through a transformative shift to a two-piece strong casting track frame, significantly improving the production procedure while reinforcing the general sturdiness of the F-series.
This method substantially lessens weld points throughout the device. “The outcome is a structured undercarriage structure that considerably decreases upkeep requirements, guaranteeing more trustworthy and effective operation for our clients,” Hagy states.
It likewise includes commonness in between the 8-foot and 10-foot platforms, supplying additional production and service effectiveness throughout the F-Series platforms.
The brand-new body style is not simply a visual upgrade, however likewise minimizes weight and offers users much better access to essential parts. Composite products are utilized for the hood and side panels, so operators will no longer require a hydraulic pump and lifts to raise the hood. This makes it much easier for operators to inspect fluid levels daily, while side panels can be quickly opened to gain access to service points and filters.
Greater presence is integrated into the brand-new style. Operators can see straight to the front of the hopper and with swing-out seats can get a complete view of the screed and head of product in the auger. Vibrantly coloured hand rails and staircases assist users rapidly acknowledge where the safe gain access to points are on the device.
Both pavers have actually been upgraded to complete Stage V/ Tier 4 Final Cummins engines. The RP-175 is fitted with a brand-new four-cylinder engine rather than the previous six-cylinder system, a relocation that Hagy anticipates will supply greater fuel performance.
The brand-new paver style offers operators clear sightlines to the hopper, sides, and screed.
Astec Industries
Sound decrease from moved cooling system advantages team health and wellness
A brand-new place for the cooling system belongs to the style overhaul. Formerly installed on one side of the maker to pull air throughout the engine, it has actually now been put on top of the engine, pulling air in from both sides and out the front of the device far from the operator.
While effective, the old style was likewise loud, which clients had actually explained, Hagy states. Employees on the exhaust side of the device were exposed to more sound, and the operator dealt with vibration and noise pressing back. The brand-new method decreases sound substantially, producing a more secure working environment for the operators.
“Learning what our clients need to state about our devices is an essential action in the development procedure at Astec. We listen to our consumers, and what we heard is they desired it to be simpler to hear each other out in the field,” states Hagy.
Astec even more decreased sound levels by moving the generator from the screed to the engine compartment. “If you’re the screed operator or the ground guys, you’re hearing the generator continuously when it’s on,” Hagy states. This moved generator is bigger, to guarantee there is no loss of capability, and has a more effective direct-drive connection to the engine.
In general, those modifications have actually reduced sound from the pavers by about 20 percent, depending upon the area around the maker.
Field screening of the RP-175 and RP-195 F-series pavers has actually shown favorable, and Hagy states he is thrilled for devices to reach specialists in time for the spring.
“We’re delighted about spring start-ups, with all the devices going out,” he states. “We have actually put a great deal of concentrate on operator convenience and security– we’re actually happy about that.”