This integration enhances telematics connectivity by providing a centralized hub for managing both mobile equipment, such as pavers, and plant operations. By unifying data from production, equipment, and control systems, customers can gain a comprehensive view of their operations, enabling more precise decision-making, improved efficiency, and better resource allocation.
The integration will also add proactive maintenance, real-time performance monitoring, and streamlined workflows, helping operators optimize productivity and sustainability across their entire operational footprint.
The Signal name was chosen as a nod to the platform’s key role in guiding asphalt operations, unifying data, and prompting action.
The future goal for Signal is to see every part of customers’ rock-to-road operations interconnected, intelligent, and sustainable. The company plans to integrate advanced technologies such as machine learning, predictive analytics, and augmented reality to provide real-time recommendations, proactive reports, AI-driven maintenance predictions, and extended-reality repair operation.
Customers will also benefit from an enhanced monitoring of jobs, shifts, projects, and materials. Further development of the platform will be informed by feedback from customers.
How have asphalt screeds improved?
Closer to the road surface, the recently introduced BOMAG Versa 20 front-mount screed for BOMAG asphalt pavers offers infinitely variable paving widths from 10 to 19 feet. Paving thickness with the electric screed can be up to 12 inches.
Bolt-on screed extensions, both left- and right-hand, are available in 12-, 18-, and 24-inch widths. Optional berm screed plates come in 12-, 18-, and 24-inch sizes. Extensions give the paver the ability to pave to 23 feet wide.
The screed comes with a 10-foot catwalk and foldable walkway extensions.
The 11-inch deep hydraulic extensions, with manually adjustable angle of attack provide density and mat quality. The hydraulically powered crown can be adjusted from 3-inch positive to 1-inch negative. The screed controls have also been redesigned.
Dynapac’s range of asphalt pavers and screeds includes the D30T 10-foot tracked paver; D30W 10-foot wheeled asphalt paver; D25T 8-foot tracked paver; and D25W 8-foot wheeled paver. Screed models include Mat Master 16R, with a range of 8 to 16 feet, and the Mat Master 20R, with a range 10 to 20 feet.
The pavers feature the company's iTrack ultra duty rubber track design and dynamic suspension control. Its Mat Master screeds are equipped with DiveStop and Active Screed Assist
Dual independent tractor consoles provide flexible working positions for the operator. The smart dashboard and HMI design on the tractor and screed allows the operator to be focused on the paving job during long paving hours. User-friendly swing out dashboards are equipped with toggle and rocker switches within easy reach.
The feed system is designed to provide multiple options depending on the crew’s preference and paving scenarios. With proportional Dual Sensor Mode, auger speed is controlled by ultrasonic sensors, and the conveyor follows the auger speed. With proportional Quad Sensor Mode, the auger and conveyor work independently with their own sensors.
Caterpillar made news in the screed world by entering into an agreement with Axenox to acquire the intellectual properties of two of the company’s asphalt paving screed products. Under the agreement, three-dimensional screed plates and the modular screed plate fastening system became available options for Cat's asphalt paving customers.
“These new innovations are true market disrupters for the asphalt paving industry,” said Nate Just, marketing manager for Cat Paving Products. “The innovative three-dimensional screed plate design improves mat density and smoothness as well as density at the joint to reduce compaction expense and improve the chances of achieving bonus. The modular fastening system reduces the time required to replace screed plates by more than 80% to lower costs and maximize paver uptime availability.”
Brothers Michael and Stuart Frost, paving contractors and owners of Axenox, invented the screed system to improve paving efficiency and quality for their paving operations.
“Basic screed design had never changed in our lifetime or our father’s, so my brother and I developed our own screed,” Stuart Frost said in a statement. “We knew we had something special with this technology.”
The Axenox screed plate design is a departure from industry standard, according to Cat. Whereas traditional plates are flat, these plates utilize a three-dimensional, angular design.
This added dimension delivers lateral compaction confinement to asphalt material. The kneading action helps aggregate to interlock more efficiently than with flat screeds, increasing mat and joint density along with improving mat smoothness.
Densities reaching 91% have been measured behind pavers equipped with the three-dimensional screed plates, so there is less of a chance for material shoving and cracking with the roller. High densities can reduce the number of passes, lowering compaction cost.
At the longitudinal joint, higher densities result in improved material containment during compaction to increase final density. Uniform mat temperatures gained by using the angular plates also help to reach specified densities more easily, Cat says, helping contractors to meet bonus-level work.
The three-dimensional cast plates are made with chromium carbide, meant to deliver high wear resistance and longer life in the field.
A new way to secure the plate to the screed, the modular fastening system reduces screed plate change time from days to less than four hours, minimizing replacement costs. After a one-time installation of the insulated conductor plate, simple screed plate changes are completed using a lock-and-go system.
This eliminates the time-consuming process of removing asphalt material from the screed to access the nuts and bolts holding the plates in place. Once normal screed set-up and adjustments are completed on the conductor plate, minimal adjustments are required on future screed plate changes.
Wirtgen’s Vogele Super 1800-5(i) has technology and controls that combine user-friendliness, automation, efficiency, and sustainability. With pave widths between 2.55 and 10 meters, it is the company’s most versatile paver.
Vogele “Dash 5” technologies include the ErgoPlus 5 operating concept, new assistance and automatic systems, improved material management, a sustainable drive concept, additional comfort features, and a new lighting solution.
“The SUPER 1800-5(i) is two steps ahead of its Dash 3 predecessor,” said Bastian Fleischer, Vogele product manager. “We have significantly improved the user-friendliness, sustainability, efficiency, and automation of the new paver generation.”
In comparison to the Dash 3 model, the ErgoPlus 5 paver operator’s console provides an improved overview, increased comfort, and an ergonomic design. Vögele has simplified the operation of individual functions, improved the design, reduced the amount of headroom in favor of legroom, and has integrated additional storage options for smartphones, for example.
Thanks to the smartwheel, the Super 1800-5(i) can also be fine-tuned more accurately than its predecessor. Users can monitor and operate existing and future digital solutions comfortably via the optional “Premium Touch” touch display.
The Paver Access Control (PAC) function and Light Package Plus also increase comfort, efficiency, and safety levels. The PAC enables users to place the SUPER 1800-5(i) into operation from the ground at the touch of a button. All of the initial steps are controlled safely and comfortably via the operating unit positioned on the screed.
The Light Package Plus option increases safety and reduces setup times when working on construction sites at night. The LED spotlights are integrated in the roof structure ensuring the optimum illumination of the entire operating width of the paver and screed area.
The Super 1800-5(i) also supports users with additional assistance and automatic functions: Niveltronic Plus Assist automates the installation of hardtop and transverse pavement profiles. Users specify the gradient of a target point and the machine ensures the even approach to this value.
Users no longer have to gradually adjust the gradient by hand, thus ensuring a continuous installation result especially on changing profiles. In conjunction with the new Edge Control feature, the screed width can also be controlled automatically along a tensioned wire.
The automatic screed width feature also ensures that the screed side without a tensioned wire is retracted and extended accordingly thus ensuring that the pave width remains consistent.
