At the BOMAG innovation Days event in the firm’s headquarters at Boppard in Germany, advanced technology was a central focus. The company has introduced several new compaction machine models during this year already, with the majority having been unveiled at the Intermat 2024 exhibition in Paris in April. The company has added to its range with new reclaimer/stabiliser models also.
However, the focus for the firm’s innovations is now on its new technology solutions such as its Bomap, Asphalt Manager and Asphalt Pro systems. These packages are in response to the growing need for Jonathan Stringham is vice president of sales and marketing at BOMAG and said, “The next big step onsite is not going to come from machines. It’s going to come from digitalisation.”
He said that gains in road building performance will come from integrating functions and operations.
The Bomap system allows greater compaction efficiency with fewer passes as it monitors progress and ensures that there is no under- or over-compaction. The package can be linked between different machines onsite, so that all the compactor operators can see what work has been done and what remains to be carried out.
The Asphalt Pro system offers intuitive site planning and control, allowing a contractor to pre-plan logistics. Real-time changes can be made if the situation changes onsite and after a job is complete, the system provides a full record of work carried out and allows analysis of the data to optimise future works.
A plan of the job can be uploaded to the asphalt paver and any changes can be added when received. The system calculates the truck delivery cycle and informs the asphalt plant of material demand. It also monitors the tonnages of asphalt used discrepancies between quantities used and those estimated can highlight issues with the paving process.
One of the key innovations has been the intelligent braking system BOMAG has developed for its compactors. Some competing systems will simply detect whether there is an obstruction in front of the machine and then sound an alarm for the operator, or even stop the machine before it gets too close.
But the BOMAG system is more sophisticated as it is able to determine the size and direction of any object in the machine’s path. The system can calculate whether stopping the machine is necessary, or instead if slowing it down will provide sufficient time for a moving object to be out of the way. The system won a Gold Award at this year's Intermat in Paris. Following the completion of all certifications, this new safety technology for pivot-steered BOMAG tandem rollers is now available to customers worldwide in full and without restrictions.
The Emergency Brake Assist package was designed for use on the AP-5 generation of pivot-steered BOMAG tandem rollers. It continuously scans the machine's surroundings, allowing it to recognise potential hazards early and respond appropriately and automatically.
The advanced multi-level lidar technology allows the machine to assess its surroundings and project its travel path based on speed and steering angle. Other operational parameters are also automatically factored in, such as whether the roller is in crab steering mode. The package can identify both stationary and moving obstacles. This allows the localisation of objects and persons that are potentially at risk when the machine is in motion.
In the event of a potential collision, the emergency brake assistant automatically intervenes, applying different braking strategies. If the driving situation allows, the roller's working speed is only reduced. These automatic deceleration features help to prevent accidents and also protect the hot asphalt surface from damage caused by abrupt braking. The early anticipation and braking strategies minimise the risk of damage to the asphalt layer and increase the service life of the road surface.
The assist system is displayed and operated using the touchscreen, which is fitted as standard on pivot-steered BOMAG tandem rollers. Emergency Brake Assist can be adapted to the driving style of the operator and the specific site conditions. Drivers can adjust the braking intensity in three stages at any time. The system helps boost safety, especially when site conditions are challenging or visibility is poor, for example, at dusk or on night sites.
The new generation of soil stabilisers are the RS 600-2, which meets Tier 3 emissions requirements and the RS 650-2 designed to meet Tier 4/Stage V requirements for use in Europe and North America.
The firm says that both machines offer high output, reliability and effective ergonomic design of the operator area. Theses models are said to be highly versatile in use and can be deployed for cold recycling as well as base stabilisation and subsoil improvement projects.
The RS 600-2 and RS 650-2 differ only in the engine variant used, with both being powered by Deutz units but with different exhaust aftertreatment systems. This powerful engine enables the RS 600-2 or RS 650-2 to push a bitumen emulsion tanker of up to 40tonnes during the mixing process while also towing a water tanker of around 30tonnes. The firm says that this allows even challenging projects to be completed in a short time.
The machines can operate both forwards and backwards, for additional versatility. A state-of-the-art camera system supports this, offering the operator a 360° view of the working environment. Two additional cameras can optionally be installed to give a better view of the area in front of the rotor and the current mixing result.
The machines are said to be manoeuvrable as they have four different steering modes as well as the option of two rotor variants. The 2.4m wide rotor is standard but a 2.6m unit is also available.
The machines are designed for use in all climate zones from -15° to +50° C. The smart cooling system ensures efficient cooling and also reduces fuel consumption.
The new machines have hydrostatic drive to the wheels as well as to the rotor drive, which is infinitely adjustable from 104–140rpm for milling and mixing in tough conditions. The 4x4 drive, anti-slip control (ASC) and the non-spin rear axle, ensure performance on tough terrain.
The machines also have ergonomic working areas for the operator as well as the company’s sophisticated FLEXMIX technology to deliver optimum mixing results in forward and reverse travel. The required mixing pattern can be achieved with the additional mixing and crushing gate in the rotor hood, delivering high quality for material processing while optimising costs.
