Numerous factors have to be taken into consideration to ensure that a high level of paving quality is achieved in road construction. There can be no doubt that an uninterrupted supply of mix is crucial to preventing any stops in the paving process. A feeder is thus essential to the economical achievement of consistently high-quality results, especially on large-scale job sites.

At bauma 2010, VÖGELE are presenting two new developments from the brand new PowerFeeder generation. The MT 3000-2 Offset is extremely versatile, with far greater performance than its predecessors: thanks to a pivoting belt conveyor, it opens up a whole new range of widely different applications. And these have an extremely positive impact on machine utilization for the operator.

Another new development from VÖGELE is the PowerFeeder MT 3000-2. This machine has been designed for conventional material feeding in a straight line. And just like the MT 3000-2 Offset, it is equipped with the most advanced technology currently available on the world market.

MT 3000-2

Innovative Pivoting Belt Conveyor Opens up Wide Range
of Applications

The PowerFeeder MT 3000-2 Offset comes with a host of new technical developments. In particular, the pivoting belt conveyor is a major advantage. This allows the feeder to be used in a wide range of new applications.

Pivoting by 55°

The newly developed conveyor can be pivoted to the left or right by 55° and vertically inclined by 23°. These two features yield a host of advantages. These include feeding pavers from the side, backfilling trenches or filling the cavities in safety barriers during motorway construction, as well as reconstruction measures on hard shoulders. What's more, working with the PowerFeeder MT 3000-2 Offset is not confined to bituminous mixes alone. The feeder concept has been designed so that other materials can be conveyed in addition to asphalt, such as topsoil, gravel, water-bound base course mixes or recycled materials.

One or two-man operation possible

The PowerFeeder MT 3000-2 Offset can be operated by just one person, even when the mix is being fed laterally. The pivoting conveyor can be easily operated via a joystick integrated in the armrest of the operator's seat. In situations where a team of two would be advisable – for instance, when an extremely high-precision lateral transfer of material is called for – a second operator's seat is available as standard. While one operator concentrates on the forward motion of the feeder and the feed process, the second operator controls the pivoting belt conveyor via a joystick from his seat. In this case, the second operator's seat is turned opposite to the direction of travel.

Ideal for use with the InLine Pave® train

Of course, the new PowerFeeder MT 3000-2 Offset is also the ideal machine for VÖGELE's "hot on hot" paving process. This is because a number of criteria must be adhered to when feeding the pavers for binder course and wearing course in an InLine Pave® train: a large range and adequate conveyor height, as well as a receiving hopper that can be completely emptied. The MT 3000-2 Offset fulfils all of these criteria admirably.

Advanced laser system for distance control

An anti-collision system and distance control are critical factors when paving with feeders. Distance control ensures that the feeder always operates with the correct spacing between itself and the paver. In the PowerFeeder MT 3000-2 Offset, this task is handled by an advanced laser system that ensures a safe and uninterrupted paving process in every situation.

Conveying Capacity Reaches New Dimensions

In large-scale road projects such as motorway construction or rehabilitation, attaining the maximum possible laydown rate is a key concern. For only then can daily laydown rates of 4,000 tonnes and more be achieved. If the interval for changing the lorries that supply the feeder with mix is too long, a bottleneck ensues, reducing the actually achievable laydown rate and impeding job site logistics. This is why VÖGELE have designed their new Mobile Feeder model for maximum performance.

The conveying capacity of the new PowerFeeder MT 3000-2 Offset is extremely high. This is essentially due to the following features:

• Large receiving hopper with a capacity of 8 tonnes.
• Proportionally controlled worm conveyors with hydrostatic drive and 400mm worm blades.
• 1.1m wide, trough-shaped conveyor that can convey up to 1,200 tonnes of mix per hour.

Large feed lorries can be emptied in 60 seconds

Thanks to its concept, the PowerFeeder MT 3000-2 Offset can empty even large lorries in one go. The process of emptying a lorry containing 25t of mix unfolds in a breathtaking 60 seconds. The new VÖGELE feeder thus speeds up job site logistics considerably, as the lorry drivers have more time for the process-critical manoeuvring. The feeder concept also contributes a great deal towards the achievement of the daily workload.

Advanced Machine Technology Ensures Economical
and Safe Operation

Numerous innovations were also channelled into the machine technology of the PowerFeeder MT 3000-2 Offset to equip it for its wide range of applications and the high conveying capacity.

Powerful but economical

The feeder's engine is perfectly adapted to its wide range of applications. Exactly the right amount of power is supplied to fulfil the needs of SUPER pavers in every paving situation. The feeder is powered by a high-performance yet economical DEUTZ diesel engine with an output of 160kW at 2,000 rpm and ECO mode. The drive system already fulfils the forthcoming exhaust gas emissions standards COM 3b and US-Tier 4i. And the 380-litre fuel tank means that the feeder doesn't have to stop to refuel until after the shift is finished, even when operating at full capacity.

ErgoPlus® also on board in the MT 3000-2 Offset

The design and operation of the PowerFeeder MT 3000-2 Offset are just as advanced and simple as in the VÖGELE pavers of the “dash 2” generation, for the new feeder is also equipped with the user-friendly ErgoPlus® operating system. The heart of the system is an extremely clearly laid-out operator's console with a new, high-contrast display and logically assigned push-buttons. Another feature of ErgoPlus®: the operator can freely select the ideal operating side for the respective paving situation. What's more, on the new VÖGELE feeder, a joystick is also integrated in the operator's seat, permitting comfortable and sensitive control of the pivoting conveyor.

Perfect all-round view to the front and rear

Just like the SUPER pavers, the two operator seats and the operator's console can be swung out to the side. Additional adjustments are also possible: after being swung out, the seats can be rotated through an additional 90°, allowing the operator to sit transverse to the direction of travel. In this position, the seat can be freely rotated by 30° in each direction. For a perfect rear view, the seats rotate through 180° when swung back in.

Diesel heating instead of gas heating

In order to ensure optimum material management, a newly developed diesel heating system maintains the conveyor belt at the correct temperature to prevent mix sticking to it. The heating system offers a key advantage: gas cylinders on the machine and replacing them are now things of the past. Only one type of fuel is needed on the job site, and that’s diesel.

Conveyor belt with long service life

The belt of the conveyor is extremely robust and long-lasting as it is an industrially manufactured endless belt. The trough shape (30°) prevents mix from jamming at the conveyor edges. One important feature is the intelligent and automatic belt tensioning system. If maximum conveying capacity is required, e.g. directly after the feeder has been supplied by a mix lorry, the tension increases and transmits 100% of the driving power. As soon as a lower conveying capacity is sufficient, the belt tension is decreased. This means that the belt is only fully tensioned as needed, which contributes to a long service life.

MT 3000-2: the "conventional" feeder

The new Mobile Feeder from VÖGELE is also available without the Offset technology. The PowerFeeder MT 3000-2 is perfectly designed for construction work where the mix is conveyed to the paver in the direction of travel (so-called "inset" applications). With the exception of the pivoting belt conveyor and a number of details, the machine technology is identical to that of the MT 3000-2 Offset

Press contact and product information:

JOSEPH VÖGELE AG

Roland Schug, Anja Sehr

Press and Public Relations

Neckarauer Str. 168 - 228

68146 Mannheim

Germany

Tel.: +49 (0) 621 8105 392

Fax: +49 (0) 621 8105 469

presse@voegele.info

www.voegele.info

Please send sample copies to:

PREWE

Michael Endulat

Torfbruchstr. 1

40625 Düsseldorf

Germany

Tel.: + 49 (0) 211 641 22 11

Fax: + 49 (0) 211 641 22 97

michael.endulat@prewe.com

www.prewe.com