Volvo introduce a new top coat
DEREK Lewis (Plant Hire) Ltd, Doncaster-based road-surfacing contractors and long-term users of ABG road machinery, have recently replaced a 10-year-old ABG paver with the latest state-of-the-art wheeled ABG6870 –– the first to be delivered in Great Britain in the new Volvo livery.
Launched in 2007, the ABG6870 offers a significant number of technological improvements over the previous model. Powered by a 122kW Tier III-compliant engine, the machine features a ‘Smart Power’ setting that allows the operator to vary the power output depending on the conditions of the application. Running at a nominal 1,600 rev/min, the ABG6870 also boasts significantly lower noise emissions and greater fuel efficiency.
In addition, the machine's 6x6 ‘Smart Drive’ hydrostatic drive technology is said to offer unparalleled traction even on particularly difficult bases, with tractive effort automatically adjusted according to ground conditions and the weight of material in the machine’s 12-tonne capacity hopper.
The machine also offers 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 movement that many competitive models can only achieve after several complicated manoeuvres.
The machine’s hopper is available with an optional hydraulic front wing and apron plate, which helps to retain material, avoid spillage and optimize the flow of material when used with the folding side wings. In addition, the folding front apron plate acts as a safety feature, negating the need for an operative to stand in front of the machine to remove the build-up of material on the apron lip.
The ABG6870 has a variable screed width of between 2.5m and 5.0m in standard configuration but can be fitted with optional extensions to provide widths up to 9.0m. With an output potential of up to 700 tonnes/h, the machine can continuously pave up to 40 metres per minute at a thickness of 300mm.
For operator comfort, the machine's steering wheel can be placed in various positions around the EPM (Electronic Paver Management) control panel, while the large screen display allows the operator to monitor and control all important functions as a glance. The control panel also has backlit control buttons to facilitate paving at night, and optional Xenon lighting is also available.
