Another Volvo ABG6870 for Breedon Aggregates

Breedon Aggregates give the thumbs up to a second 6870 wheeled paver for their fleet

THE new Volvo ABG6870 wheeled paver continues a long association with the ABG product for Breedon Aggregates and, according to Breedon’s contracting director, Kevin Carmichael, was chosen principally for the quality and smoothness of the finished mat.

‘Besides that, our operating crews have a decisive input to the purchasing decision and they certainly appreciate the machine’s low noise levels, manoeuvrability and easy-to-use controls,’ he commented.

Offering a fuel saving of up to 25% and a 9dB(a) reduction in external noise levels over its predecessor, the ABG6870 wheeled paver is the first machine to feature continuous independent traction control over all six wheels. Powered by a Tier III 122kW engine, and running at a nominal 1,600 rev/min, the operator is able to use the ‘Smart Power’ setting to vary the power output depending on the conditions of the application.

The machine’s 6x6 ‘Smart Drive’ technology offers effective traction even on the most difficult bases. The tractive effort is automatically adjusted according to ground condition and the weight of material available in the machine’s 12-tonne capacity hopper.

The machine also demonstrates a high degree of manoeuvrability thanks to its ‘Active Steering’ feature with an inside turning radius of just 2.5m. This coupled to individual suspension struts means the paver can overcome obstacles in one go that competitive models can only do after several complicated manoeuvres.

The ABG6870 has a variable screed width of between 2.5m and 5m in standard configuration but can be fitted with optional extensions to provide widths up to 9m. With an output potential of up to 700 tonnes/h, the machine can continuously pave up to 40 metres per minute. A normal layer thickness of 50mm at high speed is easily achievable, but ABG6870 can, in certain applications, lay up to a maximum thickness of 300mm.

For operator comfort and user friendliness, the machine’s highly sensitive steering wheel, can be placed in various positions around the EPM (Electronic Paver Management) control panel. The large screen display gives a bird’s eye view or map of the paver, allowing the operator to monitor and control all important functions as a glance, while backlit control buttons to facilitate paving at night. Xenon lighting has been also been included as a night-time aid for the operator and crew.

‘With the type of work we do, the machine has to be available seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, and we’ve enjoyed a relatively high reliability with our existing fleet of ABG pavers,’ commented Mr Carmichael. ‘But for complete peace of mind, a full repair and maintenance programme for the new paver is being take care of by Volvo CE under their Blue customer support agreement.’