Gulf Construction Online - Volvo electric screeds pave way for large jobs

Roads & Bridges

The electro thermos-controlled fixed screeds provide an expansive paving width of 2.5 m to 13 m.

Volvo electric screeds pave way for large jobs

01 February 2023

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has launched electrically heated fixed screeds to make large-scale paving even more cost-effective and to boost the productivity and efficiency of major road projects.

With the launch of the MB122 and VTD121 electro thermos-controlled fixed screeds for its large tracked pavers, Volvo CE says it is not only growing its range of screeds, but empowering customers to produce the high-quality finish they come to expect and in less time with less effort.

“Thanks to their ability to produce speedy, consistent and evenly spread heating from a single source of power, electrically-heated screeds are an incredibly convenient solution,” says a spokesman for the Sweden-headquartered firm. “Being powered by a 55kVA on-board generator, there is no longer a need for customers to refill gas bottles to heat the screed as would normally be required with gas-heated screeds. The result is a fast start-up, maximum uptime and a more efficient work site.”

These fixed screeds are now available on the Volvo P6820D ABG, P7820D ABG and P8820D ABG models and benefit from an expansive paving width of 2.5 m to 13 m. They have been designed to lay everything from hot asphalt through to dry lean roller-compacted concrete and cement-bound materials, all the way to railway ballast and graded mineral mixes, he says.

The screeds have been designed to lay everything from hot asphalt through to railway ballast and graded mineral mixes.

Elaborating on its operation, the spokesman says: “The new electric heating function enables a start-up in just 40 minutes. When combined with one heated tamper bar and two heating elements per screed section for optimised heat distribution, precise thermo-controlled heating with an automatic temperature adjustment and individual temperature sensors per section, customers can be guaranteed a speedy and efficient screed heating process.”

Screed status and behaviour can also be monitored by the paver operator from the Electronic Paver Management (EPM3) control panel.

Maximised pre-compaction is paramount to achieving a greater density in the finished mat, resulting in a longer-lasting pavement and lower operating costs. The new vibratory and tamping fixed screeds provide just that, delivering the smoothest possible finish for any job, according to the spokesman. Featuring variable vibration speed and tamper stroke, they can be specified with a single or double tamper bar solution.

“Volvo fixed vibratory screeds with double tampers are the best partners for paving thick layers. Its double tamper technology delivers a five to seven per cent higher degree of compaction than with a single tamper and can achieve a 98 per cent Marshall density, substantially reducing rolling work requirements and associated costs. It also provides the best possible even surface due to the feeding effect of the first tamper,” he explains.

With a crown adjustment of +4 to -2 per cent and extension boxes to work across a variety of paving widths, the new screed solutions provide great flexibility for any job at hand, the spokesman adds. Vario extensions, with an extension range of 0.75 m on each side, allow the screed to extend or retract as needed in order to adapt to irregular edges, while manual or hydraulic end gates are an optional feature to control flow of material on either side.

The new on-board diagnostic function helps to check the condition of the heating bars and detect if and where a replacement is needed, ensuring minimised downtime. Uptime is also secured with easy screed assembly and straightforward maintenance. The possibility for an easy lift of screed sections is supplied through two central lifting eyes per section, while an integrated hose and cable routing provides a clear path for assembly. In addition, hydraulic connecting points and easily accessed electric connections, as well as service points and tamper bars that are within easy reach, makes assembly and maintenance quick and easy.

As with all Volvo screeds, these new electrically heated solutions benefit from decades of experience and close collaboration with Volvo customers to best suit their needs. If versatility is required, Volvo offers Variomatic screeds which can be extended to double their basic width.

Among other developments, Volvo CE is set to unveil its latest addition to its growing portfolio of electric machines – and its first for the road segment – with the DD25 Electric asphalt compactor.

The Volvo DD25 Electric will make its debut at this year’s ConExpo-CON/AGG – North America’s largest construction trade show representing asphalt, aggregates, concrete, earthmoving, lifting, mining, utilities and more – which will be held next month (March 14 to 18) in Las Vegas, US. This latest innovation is the first Volvo CE-produced electric machine designed specifically for the asphalt industry and is an important milestone in the company’s ambition to reach net zero value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.