State-of-the-art technology from VÖGELE, can provide absolute power for large jobsites.

As per the Economic Survey 2021, India has the second-largest road network in the world, spanning a total of 6.39 million kilometres (kms). This road network transports 64.5 percent of all goods in the country, and 90 percent of India’s total passenger traffic uses the road network to commute.

The National Infrastructure Pipeline, of which Bharatmala Pariyojna is a part, has also accelerated the construction of several greenfield projects, including the expressways and mega highways. With such humongous ongoing and targeted construction of road infra in the country, it becomes more pertinent for the use of state-of-the-art innovative technologies for cost optimisation and quality results.

Vögele Mobile Power Feeder offers cutting-edge technology that sets standards in modern road construction, both in terms of quality and economic efficiency. This mobile feeder not only continues to gain popularity for use in large highway projects but has also exponentially contributed to delivering excellent paving results.

Since 2006, the VÖGELE Mobile Power Feeders have been in use on various national highway projects in the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Job Site: Delhi-Mumbai Expressway

 The 1350 km Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (DME) project (NH-148N/ NE-4) is an under-construction 8-lane access-controlled road, with a route connecting DND in Delhi with JNPT in Mumbai. It has been designed with a speed limit of 120 km/hr and has the provision to expand to 12 lanes in the future.

This new greenfield expressway was approved for construction under the Bharatmala Pariyojana programme in 2017. This is an ideal project site for the use of a mobile feeder because it is a large green field project, but the following prerequisites were checked and ensured before the machine was physically moved to the job site.

• total amount of asphalt to be laid down;
• current paving methodology for 8-lane carriageways with a width of 18.75 mtr;
• Batch (Hot Mix) Plant Capacity
• The paving front or length is available;
• paving target per day (quantity and length);
• average paving site lead time from plant location;
• The availability and type of trucks used in the transportation of asphalt mix;

It was more interesting to have this jobsite because the opportunity was to use a mobile feeder on one unit of Vogele Asphalt Paver S1800-3, which is working in echelon form with another paver, and also to use the feeder on both machines.

Equipments Used

The paving process was carried out with AB 600-3 TV screeds, paving 18.75m of SMA in a single pass. A MT 3000-2 power feeder was used for continuous and jerk-free feeding.

The post-completion of approx. 9.14 km of paving length and 10,000 tonnes of material paved, the construction company site team from Quality Check & Mechanical reported the following:

• Continuous and more homogeneous mix supply – Uninterrupted paving and avoid feeding segregated material to the paver hopper;
• Free paving operation because of contact-less paving;
• Eliminating the chances of having cold and hot spots in the paving mat, thus eliminating compaction variance;
• Increase in onboard material capacity;
• Higher productivity;
• Reduction in the number of paving stops;

The outcome was excellent ride quality, surface finish and less manpower requirements during paving, thereby reducing the chances of error due to human intervention in the paving process.

There is no direct contact between tippers/lorries and the pavers, which eliminates the jerk transfer from tippers to the pavers and diminishes the chances of bump formation on the mat. Non-contact and continuous paving make the pavement completely undulations free. Homogeneous material being supplied by the conical augers ensures a uniform temperature mix being supplied to the paver, which eliminates chances of thermal segregation throughout the mat. Two infrared heaters present on the conveyor ensure no materials stick to the conveyor belt, which improves the life of the conveyor.

Power feeders are perfectly suited for hot-to-hot paving in which two pavers work side by side, paving a large width in a single pass with the elimination of longitudinal joints.

Paving multiple lanes side-by-side (with adjacent pavers slightly offset) can remove the longitudinal joint between pavers because both mats are hot when initially compacted. Rollers behind the echelon pavers can pass directly over the longitudinal joint while both sides are hot, which results in better compaction.

As per user feedback, “undulation in the paved layer by the power feeder has been reduced significantly.” Surface quality improvement is the utmost advantage of the power feeder. “

Unique features of the VOGELE MT 3000-2 Offset Power Feeder

• Interrupted paving due to a total storage capacity of 45 t with a maximum conveying capacity of 1,200 tph.
• Non-contacting material transfer makes for enhanced pavement quality.
• Homogenised mix in the receiving hopper of the material feeder due to conical augers.
• Interrupted paving due to a total storage capacity of 45 t with a maximum conveying capacity of 1,200 tph.
• Non-contacting material transfer makes for enhanced pavement quality.
• Homogenised mix in the receiving hopper of the material feeder due to conical augers.
• The wide range of applications is due to the pivoting and inclining conveyor.
• Reliable material transfer based on automatic distance control and anti-collision protection.
• Powered by the Deutz Engine with 142 kW at 2000 rpm, supplemented with ECO mode, 139 kW at 1800 rpm.
• Conveyor pivoting angle range of ±55 degrees with two infrared heating panel.
• Optimum visibility and safety due to the convenient and practical ErgoPlus operating concept.
• Ergoplus operating console offering upgraded ergonomics, safety and visibility.

VOGELE introduces a new generation of material feeders 

They guarantee constant, smooth transfer of material and now offer paving teams numerous practical new features: the MT 3000-3 Standard and MT 3000-3Offset Power Feeders from world market leader VÖGELE integrate the latest Dash-3 machine concept and an optimised conveying and maintenance system.

ErgoPlus 3, Autosetplus and PaveDock Assistant are some of the key features which enhance the ergonomics and ease of operation of the VOGELE power feeder. 

For further information, contact: WIRTGEN INDIA Pvt. Ltd. Gat No 301 & 302,
Bhandgaon Khor Road,Village Bhandgaon, Taluka – Daund, Dist. Pune, 412214,
Maharashtra, India Phone: +91 20 67682600
E-Mail:Sales.india@wirtgen-group.com Internet:http://www.wirtgen-group.com/india