Smooth drum compactors include larger models that weigh well over 15 tons, perfect for packing material into a dense foundation, and special features prevent over-compaction and other errors.
Read More (Smooth Drum Compactors)Construction compaction equipment broadly encompasses everything from vibratory handheld compaction plates and rammers that are especially well-suited for tight spaces to huge driven machines with large pad or smooth single- and twin-drum steel rollers that compact wide swaths of soil, asphalt, gravel, and other materials as part of roadway, airport landing strip, and other projects.
With large smooth drum compactor models weighing well over 15 tons, models such as Volvo’s DD140 help pack material into a dense foundation. Featuring a 148 horsepower engine and 2.14-metre roller width, the DD140B includes features fairly representative of other manufacturers’ models. A Compact Assist tool, for example, presents real-time data to the operator about pass and temperature mapping to help prevent over-compaction and other errors. Other features include a water burst mode and adjustable flow-rate to ensure proper drum wetting and an Impact Spacing Meter tool to indicate proper driving speeds.
Beyond Volvo, other top manufacturers and brands of smooth drum compactors include Caterpillar, Ammann, Hamm, and Bomag. Caterpillar’s CB14B is an example of smaller drivable smooth drum compactor. The 22.5 horsepower machine measures just 1 metre wide and uses tandem 0.9-metre vibratory drums that provide 4,200vpm and a maximum 1,540-kilogram centrifugal force per drum.