ErgoPlus: The New Concept for Handling SUPER Pavers
Easy to Operate, Good Marks for Posture
Even the best machine with the best technology can only really show its strengths if it can be operated easily and as intuitively as possible. The new concept for paver handling consequently focuses on the operator. The "ErgoPlus" concept encompasses the operator platform, the operator's control desk and the screwman's lateral console on the screed, the new NIVELTRONIC Plus® for automated grade and slope control and a well-thought-out service concept. Also new is the yellow hardtop of glass fibre reinforced polymer material sheltering the operator whether rain or shine.
Anyone seeking to make operation more convenient and improve the ergonomic design of a workplace must observe the operators closely. The new "ErgoPlus" concept for paver handling has evolved from a whole series of tests, meetings and workshops in order to meet the needs of paving teams on sites around the world as accurately as possible. The control desk was tackled first in order to optimize the nature of the push-buttons: thanks to the new "ErgoPlus" concept, they can be identified by touch even when wearing gloves and operated blindfold - after all, a building site is no office. This offers clear advantages over film keyboards. And when a button is pressed, off you go. This is due to the "Touch and Work" principle. VÖGELE have also streamlined and reorganized the paver's operator platform.
The new hardtop gives a bow
Via a manually operated hydraulic pump, the hardtop easily folds down to transport position. The muffler end pipe, linked to the hardtop, folds down at the same time so that the SUPER paver is ready for transport without further effort - thanks to "ErgoPlus".
1. Operator Platform
Even with the seat swivelled outwards, optimal adjustment of the control desk allows convenient working.
The convenience associated with "ErgoPlus" is evident as soon as the operator steps onto his platform. The control desk is clearly laid out, with everything arranged according to functionality. A few adjustments are all it takes to position the control desk exactly in keeping with the operator's personal needs. It can be displaced over the full width of the platform, swivelled out to the sides and tilted. It can also be swivelled out together with the operator's seat. In this way, an ergonomically optimized workplace is set up in no time at all.
Extended sunshades give shelter to the operator whether rain or shine.
A hardtop for SUPER pavers
The new hardtop of glass fibre reinforced polymer material protects the operator whether rain or shine. The new design offers a number of advantages: sunshades can be extended by hand on the right and left-hand sides to give the operator optimum protection even when his seat has been swivelled outwards. Working lights are integrated into the hardtop to illuminate the site, xenon lamps are available as an option. Raising the lights in this way vastly improves visibility in dark conditions.
The comfortable paver platform provides optimum operator visibility of augers, material hopper, steering guide and screed.
A workplace that offers excellent visibility
The new machines offer excellent all-round visibility. The operator has an unobstructed view of the hopper front, the entire screed and the auger tunnel. In other words, the design of the operator platform makes an active contribution to avoid operator error and achieve prime paving results.
2. Operator Control Desk
Press a button and off you go: all paver functions on the new operator control desk are based on the "Touch and Work" principle. This means that a function is executed directly - without a need to confirm again - as soon as the relevant button has been pressed. All push-buttons are designed for the conditions prevailing on site: they can be identified by touch and blindfold, and are absolutely watertight. Reliable identification of buttons by touch helps positively avoid operator error and provides for convenience of operation. As darkness falls, the operator's console lights up automatically making night-time work easy and relaxed.
Choice of 4 operating modes
All vital paving and paver functions are controlled via push-buttons on the control desk. Four different operating modes are available to select from: Neutral, Job Site Mode, Positioning Mode and Pave Mode. The functions assigned to modes are automatically enabled and adapted. When the operator selects Job Site Mode, for instance, the paver can be driven at travel speed. When selecting Positioning Mode, the paver's steering features high sensitivity and responds very precisely, so that pinpoint positioning of the machine is child's play. In any of the modes, forwards or reverse motion is selected by moving the joystick for traction from mid-position. In Job Site Mode and Positioning Mode this joystick also serves for speed control.
Memory function does it the smart way
Pave Mode is the actual working mode. Pave speed is pre-selected by potentiometer. When moving the joystick for traction forwards, the paver automatically accelerates to the pre-set speed. While paving, a constant speed is maintained. With Pave Mode selected, all automatic functions for paving can be switched in. As soon as the joystick for traction is moved forwards, paver functions set to automatic become active and the machine sets off at the pre-set speed. Conveyors, augers and compacting systems start running at the same time with the selected settings. In order to resume paving with the same quality after a move of the paver on site, the push of a button is all that needs to be done: just change from Job Site Mode back to Pave Mode and move your joystick for traction from mid-position - now all paver functions start up automatically with the precise same settings they had prior to the move.
Ease of operation
The development of "ErgoPlus" was prompted by a single idea: easy operation of all paver functions and optimum support for the operator when controlling and monitoring his machine. This naturally also applies to the display. Under normal on-site conditions, important machine data such as pave speed or positions of tow point rams are shown in the "Start Screen". Bar graphs additionally indicate actual mix levels on the two conveyors. And when fine steering is activated, the pre-set radius can be read off on a scale.
3. Lateral Console on the Screed
Like the operator's control desk, the screwman's lateral console is clearly and logically arranged. Here too, push-buttons are grouped so that the most commonly used functions, such as extend and retract screed, can be identified by touch and easily operated at any time. The new VÖGELE "ErgoPlus" concept reveals its strengths above all in more demanding jobs and those which may be a kind of tricky. If the roadway narrows on one side, for instance, screed width needs to be reduced and conveyor and auger speeds must be regulated accordingly at the same time.
New "ErgoPlus" lateral console on the screed.
Thanks to the "Touch and Work" principle in combination with automatic operation of conveyors and augers, this complex process can be controlled quickly and faultlessly. A valuable feature is the vibration dampened design of the lateral console allowing the screwman to always get a correct reading in every paving situation. The display provided on the lateral console allows to control and monitor grade and slope as well as various other paver and screed functions.
4. NIVELTRONIC Plus®, New System for Automated Grade and Slope Control
In addition to various screed and paver functions, grade and slope can be controlled and monitored via the display on the screwman's lateral console. With NIVELTRONIC Plus® activated, its "Start Screen" is displayed by default. A few inputs on the lateral console is all that needs to be done in order to set tow point rams to the desired layer thickness - and transverse slope if required. A "Quick Set-Up" function allows the screwman to define input values as specified values at the push of a button.
Simplified handling of automated grade and slope control
The new VÖGELE NIVELTRONIC Plus® for automated grade and slope control stands out through simple and logical menue assistance. All functions are shown by self-explanatory symbols on the display, so that operation can be learned quickly and mastered without problems. Follow-up control of the tow point rams while paving ensures that specified grade and slope are adhered to automatically at all times. Actual values displayed by NIVELTRONIC Plus® on the lateral console allow the screwman to permanently verify compliance with specified values. As usual, LED crosses on the right and left-hand sides indicate whether a deviation exists or not.
Display of the lateral console, with NIVELTRONIC® Plus activated.
Positions of tow point rams shown on the display
In addition to the radically simplified user interface of NIVELTRONIC Plus®, a number of other innovations have been realized to make the work simpler without any loss of functional diversity. Actual positions of the tow point rams, for instance, can not only be read off directly on the rams as usual, but also on the displays of both the screwman's lateral console and the operator control desk.
´
The Highlights of NIVELTRONIC Plus®
+ Symbols are self-explanatory
+ Simplified menue structure
+ Main functions on menue level 1
New variable, mechanical grade sensor
A new variable, mechanical grade sensor specially developed for NIVELTRONIC Plus® makes life even easier. This new grade sensor combines the advantages of a sonic sensor with those of a mechanical sensor. It has the high accuracy typical of mechanical sensors with a deviation tolerance of just +/- 0.5mm and offers "visible" tracing of the reference, insensitive to external factors such as temperature, exhaust fumes, etc. The large measuring range of 200mm typical of sonic sensors and a handy function for zeroing at the push of a button on the screwman's lateral console round off the range of conveniences.
5. Well-thought-out Service Concept
In typical VÖGELE manner, "ErgoPlus" also scores additional points in terms of service. Many functions and operating statuses can be monitored directly on the display of the control desk and their correct operation verified without connecting external measuring instruments. Even if a component ever has to be replaced on the control desk, that too is no problem, for the modular design permits easy and above all inexpensive replacement. Each of the four modules can be replaced individually if necessary, without having to replace the entire unit.
The Major Advantages of "ErgoPlus"
+ Ergonomically designed operator platform for fatigue-free woking
+ Clear, logical arrangement of all paver functions
+ Simple handling of VÖGELE NIVELTRONIC Plus® for automated grade and slope control
+ Modular operator control desk cuts service cost
+ Hardtop of glass fibre reinforced polymer material shelters operator whether rain or shine
+ Hardtop folds up and down with effortless ease via manually operated hydraulic pump
