Construction World June 2016

ROADS AND BRIDGES

TRIED and TRUSTED Roadspan was established in 2008 and is a roads surfacing & rehabilitation

How big is the division – in terms of staff? We have between 300 and 350 staff – this includes wage staff. Which project is utilising the two Vögele machines in which you recently invested? These machines will be used on the Macha- dodorp project – once trials have been completed they will be used on this project for the next year. Why did you choose to acquire the two Vögele machines? I use Vögele machines all the time. I have five Vögele pavers at the moment. The reason why we acquired these machines is that the price was good and it does not have as many wearing parts as some others have – and it is easy to move. Other brands are difficult to move – the MT3000 is abnormal in width, but the height makes it easier to move around to sites around the country. What, according to you, sets this machine apart from competitors? Machines used for this function are very much alike. What sets the Vögele machines apart is that it does not have as many wearing parts, while maintenance and keeping the machine clean is easier. In addition, the cost was a major factor. The machines also loads onto a lowbed easier than other machines. How much was the capital investment for these two machines? Combined, It was an investment of about R10-million. How easy is the machine to operate? One of the machines was used on the Rusten- burg R24 site for a SANRAL demonstration. Wirtgen provided operator training and within an hour the operator knew how to use the machine. The ErgoPlus drive system that the machines are equipped with is simple to operate.

contractor and asphalt supplier with five static plants centrally located throughout South Africa and a mobile plant which can be moved to any region as needed.

MT 3000-2 Offset The MT 3000-2i Offset is a cutting-edge feeder providing for a high and consistent flow of mix on different applications, be it a conventional road building site to be supplied with mix or a trench running alongside the roadway that needs to be backfilled. An innovative material transfer concept provides for maximum conveying capacity and the ErgoPlus operating system ensures easy and safe operation of the machine. • Uninterrupted paving thanks to a total storage capacity (material feeder and paver) of 45 ton with a conveying capacity of 1 200 t/h. • Non-contacting material transfer ensures maximum paving quality. • Homogenised material in the receiving hopper of the material feeder due to conical augers. • Wide range of applications thanks to the pivoting and inclining conveyor. • Reliable material transfer based on automatic distance control and anti- collision protection. • Optimum overview and safety thanks to the convenient and practical ErgoPlus operating system. • Enormous power alongside low consumption from the powerful Deutz diesel engine delivering 160 kW at 2 000 rpm. • Outstanding mobility in any terrain and steering precision provided by crawler tracks with powerful separate drives.

>

Construction World spoke to Road- span’s Graham Thorpe about the company and why he uses Vögele machines. Roadspan recently

acquired two Vögele machines: a Universal Class Super 1800-3 tracked paver and an MT 3000-2 Offset*. Roadspan is one of the first companies in the South African market who has invested in the Vögele MT3000-Offset machine from the Wirtgen Group. These machines are both used on Roadspan’s Machadodorp project. Who are your clients? We work for SANRAL, municipalities as well as well as private concerns. Although we are part of WBHO (Roadspan was acquired by WBHO in 2009), we have maintained some autonomy and can do work for other companies. What are some of your major current projects? The biggest project that we are currently working on is on the N3. This is due to finish in June. A project near Mt. Edgecombe is imminent and will run for most of 2017. In addition we have major projects at Macha- dodorp (N4) and on the R24 near Rustenburg (both with WBHO). Do you work across the border ? Yes, we have just completed a big project in Mozambique in joint venture with WBHO. Our mobile plant is still in the area as we are awaiting the next section of the project to be awarded.

44

CONSTRUCTION WORLD JUNE 2016

Made with