Capital Equipment News February 2018

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

For the construction of a concrete roadway to connect the towns of Itori und Ibese in the Nigerian state of Ogun, AG-Dangote Construction Company Limited used the sophisticated SP 500 slipform paver from Wirtgen. The contractor, a joint venture between the Brazilian company Andrade Gutierrez Company and the Dangote Group from Nigeria, relied on the cost-efficiency and precision of the Wirtgen slipform paver in inset application. In inset application, the concrete is either deposited right in front of the slipform paver or is fed in front of the machine from the side via a belt conveyor or side feeder. In the next step, the concrete is distributed evenly across the full paving width by a spreading auger or spreading plough. Integrated electrical or hydraulic vibrators ensure homogeneous compaction of the concrete. The inset mold forms the concrete slab to the specified thickness and width while the slipform paver advances. In addition, a dowel bar inserter can be integrated, which inserts the dowel bars into the concrete as specified parallel to the paver’s direction of travel. Central tie bars or side tie bars can be inserted transverse to the concrete pavement. The surface is levelled off transverse to the paver’s Wirtgen slipform paver for Nigeria’s longest concrete roadway Atlas Copco has taken a decision to divest its concrete and compaction business to Husqvarna Group’s Construction division. The planned divestment will enable Atlas Copco’s Power Technique business area to intensify focus on its core technologies of air, power and flow. Atlas Copco Power Technique, which recently evolved out of the success of the Construction Technique business area, brings complete air (portable compressors), power (genera- tors and light towers) and flow (pumps) solutions and services to mining and industry. In addition to the complete concrete and compaction prod- uct ranges, including plate compactors, tandem rollers and concrete vibrators, the production facility in Ruse, Bulgaria, as well as production assets in Nashik, India, along with sales and service operations worldwide, are included in the divestment transaction. “The development will now enable us to create focus within our business area to further accelerate growth in our core technologies of air, power and flow,” says Philip Herselman, GM, Power Technique, Atlas Copco Industrial South Africa. “With this development it is important to know that Atlas Copco remains committed to our channel partners. We will work hand-in-hand with Husqvarna to ensure a smooth transi- tion and continuity in supply and support, albeit under a new brand and working with a new organisation. In essence, it will be business as usual.” ❂ Atlas Copco to divest its concrete and compaction business

direction of travel by the finishing beam. The “grinding movement” produces a small concrete roll in front of the beam, which enhances the high quality of the concrete surface. Before the slipform paver, which can pave concrete pavements in widths of up to 6 m and thicknesses of up to 400 m as standard, was able to begin work at the Itori project, the substrate first had to be prepared. The construction company used compacted laterite and a 20-cm layer of crushed rock. “The SP 500 then paved the concrete quickly and cost-efficiently. At the same time, it also helps us ensure that our production quality meets the specifications for surface evenness,” explains Ashif Juma, MD of AG-Dangote Construction Company Limited. The SP 500 laid down the new 7,5 m-wide and 20 cm-thick roadway in two separate passes. Extending over 24 km, the new road is the longest uninterrupt- ed stretch of concrete roadway in Nigeria. ❂ The spreading plough of the Wirtgen slipform paver subsequently distributes the concrete across the entire paving width between the crawler tracks.

Potain launches its first hydraulic topless luffing jib crane

The all-new Potain MCH 125 has launched the company’s first hydraulic topless luffing jib crane. Having previewed as a prototype at bauma China 2016 in Shanghai, the first units have since been tested on site with select dealers in Thailand, Australia and New Zealand ahead of the crane’s launch into several international markets. It is the first topless luffing jib model from Potain and its unique hydraulic technology makes it easier to assemble and faster to operate. The crane combines the advan- tages of Potain’s MCR luffing jib cranes and MCT topless cranes. Contractors will find it particularly straightforward to assemble and disassemble the crane on congest- ed sites, making it an ideal choice for urban projects, city-centre work or other job sites where space is limited. Thibaut Le Besnerais, global product director for tower cranes

at Manitowoc, says the new crane reinforces Potain’s reputation for driving innovation and progression in the tower crane industry. “The MCH 125 represents the very latest in tower crane design and is unlike any other crane on the market,” he says. “The positive reception to the prototype at bauma China was followed by a series of highly successful early stage trials with customers in Asia-Pacific. We are already seeing strong interest in the crane for all kinds of appli- cations.” Maximum capacity for the MCH 125 is 8 t, while the maximum jib length is 50 m. Tip capacity is 2 t and maximum line speed is 100 m/ min when fitted with the 60 LVF 20 hoist. The crane’s unique design offers a number of advantages, including fast erection and disman- tling. The topless design means less space is needed on site, as there is no cathead to assemble at ground level before installation. ❂

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 34