Astec offers a range of new asphalt equipment, designed to enable the company to offer niche solutions for a variety of projects.
In Australia, oversized vehicle transport restrictions prevent a truck or trailer from carrying equipment more than 2.5 metres in width at any time of the day.
Strict time restrictions around business hours are imposed due to safety, according to state road authority guidelines.
This prompted Astec to create an asphalt paver that is exactly 2.5 metres wide, capable of being transported at any time.
The paver is among a host of new equipment Astec will be showcasing at the Australian Asphalt Pavements Association (AAPA) Conference.
As a major supplier selling new and used equipment, parts, service, maintenance and training support, Astec is continually refining its products to suit the constantly evolving industry needs.
With dedicated teams on the ground in Australia, Astec is able to supply its best equipment from the United States to the Australian market.
Roads & Infrastructure speaks to Jorge Boil, National Sales Manager for Asphalt and Paving, about Astec’s background and the new equipment it has on offer.
Mr. Boil says most importantly, Astec is a dedicated company with a focus on designing, manufacturing and servicing asphalt making and asphalt paving equipment for the asphalt industry.
“We have a dedicated team that looks after asphalt equipment and has been doing so for decades. We like to focus our knowledge on a niche market and ensure that we can provide the best solutions and support,” Mr. Boil says.
He says although Astec has a smaller operation in Australia, it has a large footprint specifically in the asphalt market.
Originally based in Brisbane, Astec has now expanded to have premises in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.
“Astec has a number of asphalt plants, around 28, running with clients across Australia. We are one of the market leaders when it comes to supplying asphalt pavers, shuttle buggies, material transfer vehicles and asphalt plants to the Australian asphalt industry.”
Mr. Boil says the company has well over 220 pieces of Roadtec equipment in use around Australia.
Astec’s latest equipment will be showcased at the AAPA International Flexible Pavements Conference in Sydney in August.
Mr. Boil explains the Carlson CP60/65 Paver, which will be at the conference, is Astec’s first offering of a smaller paver.
He says persistence from customers prompted Astec to design the Astec-Carlson CP60/65 Paver, with Carlson adhering to oversized vehicle restrictions. The paver weighs about 10 tonnes and features a 1.8-metre screed.
“This paver can be transported at any time of the day and is a great example of how Astec listens to industry to offer equipment which fills industry gaps,” Mr. Boil says.
Among its range of new equipment is Astec’s first range of modular batch plants.
Astec is well known in the industry for its supply of continuous drum plants and the popular double barrel plants, but this is the first time the company will offer a modular batch plant in Australia: the BG Batch Plant range.
“In Australia we have big plants in the major capital cities, but the BG Batch Plant range is ideally suited for the smaller satellite towns where the amount of asphalt needed is less, and the asphalt mixes are more variable than in the major cities,” Mr. Boil says.
“In smaller locations, asphalt plants may be required to produce 12 tonnes of one type mix for a particular customer and five tonnes of a different type of mix for another customer. In this case a batch plant is better suited, so we listened to the market and decided to offer both the big and smaller options,” Mr. Boil says.
The new BG Batch Plant range has batch sizes from 1800 to 3200 kilograms which have mix capabilities from 120 to 240 tonnes per hour.
The plant is also capable of producing up to 50 per cent recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) mixes when the RAP is incorporated either via the dryer drum or through the mixer unit.
One of the features of the BG Batch Plant range Mr. Boil points out is the ease of set up and transport.
“The BG Batch Plant range is set up on a steel base, so there is no need for the customer to have foundations. The model is also containerised and can be erected extremely quickly and easily. All of the electrical equipment and ducting are already installed from the factory, so essentially the customer can plug it in and have it working straight away,” Mr. Boil says.
Mr. Boil says Astec prides itself on the level of service it offers to customers after the purchase of its equipment.
“We have dedicated personnel that have extensive knowledge to support customers during the installation process and in continued servicing of the asphalt plants,” Mr. Boil says.
Astec will also be showcasing its new Shuttle Buggy Vehicle SB-2000ex, and its Voyager 140 mobile asphalt plant at the AAPA conference.
Mr. Boil says the new SB-2000ex features major upgrades from the older SB-1500ex in terms of visibility, storage capacity, output, upgraded longer lasting wear components and ease of transport.
The Voyager 140 double barrel mobile asphalt plant is another new offering for Astec and is able to be assembled in just three days. Mr. Boil says this mobile plant is also incredibly easy for customers to transfer between sites.
He says Astec’s range of new products were produced as a result of its close relationships with its customers and the industry.
Mr. Boil says Astec constantly strives to create and supply machines that meet and exceed expectations.
“We don’t spread ourselves thin through multiple industries. Our people are well experienced in specific fields to provide the best equipment and service possible for our customers.”
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