Question: Roughly two years after the market launch, it’s time to take stock of the SUPER 1800‑2 with SprayJet Module. How have contractors and paving teams taken to the machines?

Sven Neidig: We’ve received an extremely positive response! Above all, users praise the handling, paving results and flexibility. In their opinion, the intelligent machine technology permits top-class paving. And the easy operating system both of the paver and the SprayJet Module helps them work more accurately. Beyond that, the machine concept is particularly cost-effective for contractors on account of its high degree of versatility. And this feature is put to a lot of use: our SUPER 1800‑2 with SprayJet Module is used equally for spraying applications and conventional paving jobs.

Question: The SprayJet concept integrates many new developments, especially in terms of spraying. What improvements has this brought?

Sven Neidig: The spray profile is particularly outstanding. Equipped with five spray bars, the module can reliably spray a film of bitumen emulsion across the entire area. And because the emulsion is sprayed through the nozzles in pulsed operation at a low pressure of 3 bar, there’s virtually no misting. Indeed, misting and polluted job sites are history.

Question: What applications does this yield for contractors?

Sven Neidig: Well, contractors can now spray in municipal areas without any need for concern. Even at slow pave speeds of 2m/min., the job site remains clean – even along more susceptible edges, such as kerbstones or granite setts. The fact that the nozzles can be individually shut off is also a practical feature. And here’s a tip: the dual slotted spray nozzles can be rotated. They’re normally positioned diagonally to the direction of travel. However, if it is imperative that the edge remains clean, you can simply rotate the nozzles to face in the direction of travel.

Question: For the SprayJet Module, an extra emulsion tank has been available as an option for some time now. What are the advantages of this option?

Sven Neidig: Our development department further extended the machine’s range of applications. The extra emulsion tank that is accommodated in the paver’s material hopper provides an additional
5,000 litres of emulsion. This increases the total capacity to 7,000 litres, which is sufficient for major jobs. We also responded to the requests for a larger pave width: a pave width of 6m (option) is now possible instead of 5m with the AB 600‑2 and AB 500-2 Extending Screeds. We equip the spray bars of the SprayJet Module with an additional 4 nozzles, increasing the total number to 24.

Question: Are there any regional differences in terms of the numbers in use and their applications?

Sven Neidig: The SUPER 1800‑2 with SprayJet Module is especially popular in Mexico, where a lot of spraying is carried out. That alone results in a very high demand for use of the machine as a spray paver. Other heavy “spray markets” are the USA and Scandinavia. In the rest of Europe, it’s the versatility that’s in greater demand. Many customers here frequently remove the SprayJet Module if they have to carry out conventional asphalt paving work. The short conversion time is a major advantage in this respect: it takes two men just 6 hours to finish the conversion. The contractor can then use the SUPER 1800‑2 as a conventional road paver for jobs as usual.

Question: What should users be aware of when working with different emulsions?

Sven Neidig: Every emulsion and every tack coat has its own specific viscosity. Therefore, it’s essential to calibrate the SprayJet Module from time to time, and always whenever the spray medium is changed. Calibrating the SprayJet Module is very easy: you simply set the selector switch on the control panel for the SprayJet Module to “6”. The display then shows “Calibrate nozzle”. After confirming this, the outermost left-hand nozzle opens for 20 seconds and sprays the maximum volume of the particular emulsion being used. This is caught in a bucket and weighed. The volume of emulsion multiplied by three yields the rate of spread for the current emulsion in one minute. This value is then entered on the SprayJet Module’s control panel via the touch screen. This process is important for the paving quality and also helps work cost efficiently.