New midi microsurfacing machine for Colas

Company increases microsurfacing fleet with midi machine capable of operating in restricted areas

COLAS have recently added to their fleet of 11 microsurfacing machines with a new ‘midi’ machine that is 4.5m long with a laying box 2.2m wide (extendable up to 3m). This compares with other microsurfacing applicators which can be up to 12m in length with laying boxes up to 3.9m in width.

The new midi machine is actually a completely refurbished machine that was taken out of service in 2002 due to changes in types of workload; modern machines tend to be built to cope with larger schemes and to achieve higher outputs.

The 2.5 cubic metre capacity midi machine on its rigid, twin-steer tractor unit chassis can cope with smaller urban estate work and tight rural locations, and minimizes the need for almost all hand lay work.

According to Colas, an increasing number of enquiries are being received from clients looking to move away from surface dressing on estate roads, roads in urban areas with tight turning circles, cul-de-sacs, and small rural roads with restricted access.

The midi machine is particularly well suited to a current microsurfacing contract in Hertfordshire where Colas are working on a 900,000 square metre programme of works, much of which is small estate work with limited access.

With the new machine, Colas say they now have the capacity to complete microsurfacing in the smallest and tightest of areas along dual-carriageways and major trunk roads.