Caterpillar® Commissions First RM500 Rotary Mixer to North-western Russia

The Federal Highway M-8, connecting Arghangelsk to Vologda in northwestern Russia in the Arghangelskaya oblast, had definitely seen better days. In the 25 years since its original asphalt surface was laid down, M-8 had been periodically overlaid with hot mix asphalt, but had been poorly maintained for over two decades. In addition to a weak aggregate base, the M-8 was now riddled with "halls and cracks." It had literally "not been touched in the last ten years," said Dmitry Kuritsyn, currently Road Construction Sales representative for Zeppelin Russland. "That [neglect of maintenance] almost ruined the road's surface." This created both a significant challenge and a real opportunity for any contractor willing to take on the project.

Many years prior, officials tell the story of a pioneering contractor who tried to repair a section of the M-8's deteriorating surface using a cold planer with its discharge conveyor switched off, while at the same time adding milled stones to the planed material. Although the concept was admirable, it was neither efficient, nor completely successful. The new Cat® RM500 Rotary Mixer takes the reclaiming/mixing concept a step further and provides the perfect one-step solution.

Any contractor considering an attempt at the project would require a highly specialized piece of paving equipment; one machine that could easily tackle the unique rehabilitation challenges of the project. With the addition of a Cat RM500 to their fleet, Russian contractor Vologodskaya DSU-I (known for building and rehabilitating roads across northwestern Russia) agreed to rehabilitate the Federal M-8 highway. The project would be ambitious-a 6 m width for a total length of 500 km-stretched out over four years.

Vologodskaya DSU-I placed the order through Russian dealer Zeppelin Russland for a new Cat RM500, with its 457 mm (18 in) universal rotor-designed for asphalt reclamation and soil stabilization-plus a bituminous emulsion and water spray system. Eager to get the project rolling, the firm commissioned the machine to be delivered directly to the jobsite where it was prepared and tested, and the Vologodskaya DSU-I crew received hands on operator training. And thus, the machine could be immediately put to work. Evgeniy Mihailov was one of the contractor's first operators to climb aboard the newly acquired rotary mixer. Mihailov, who was completely new to Rotary Mixers, was engaged in learning the machine's functions and operations. Explains Kuritsyn, Mihailov was extremely "interested in understanding all the capabilities the RM500 could perform."

Upon startup, the RM500 was immediately put through its paces and began the process of reclaiming ("cutting") the deteriorated surface (a total depth of up to 30 cm) of the M-8 and stabilizing the base aggregate (by mixing in a cement-distributed on top of the surface-and water, sprayed in mixing chamber through water spraying system). The contractor is said to be thoroughly pleased with the productivity and performance of the machine, and Kuritsyn notes that it has become a critical piece of machinery in this important project. "A terrific result is being achieved within the timeframe required."

With an operating weight of 28145 kg (with ROPS and universal rotor), the Cat® RM500 Rotary Mixer is a powerful, productive and versatile addition to any contractor's road reclamation and construction fleet. It was designed to deliver superior performance and reliability in even the most demanding job specifications. It works exceptionally well in both full depth reclamation and soil stabilization applications. Three innovative rotor designs (Universal, Soil or Combination) are available, matching the rotor to exact project specifications (one rotor for asphalt reclamation, one for soil stabilization, and a combination rotor handling primarily soil stabilization with light cuts of asphalt reclamation). Rotor designs incorporate mounted in, drive-in, knock-out holders for quick and easy replacement as required.        

The rotor moves independently within the RM500's large volume mixing chamber, allowing the capacity of the chamber to increase in deeper cuts, and therefore, producing better material mixing and excellent gradation. The mixing chamber is designed to ensure depth control, proper sizing, and thorough blending of reclaimed material. What's more, machine weight is well distributed to provide optimum cut stability, as well as contribute to uniform depth control.

An electronically controlled on-demand variable speed cooling fan delivers the lowest overall noise levels, while the RM500's ergonomically designed operator's station equates to comfort, visibility and ease-of operation. Machine controls are conveniently grouped to enhance operator productivity and reduce fatigue, and they are just a few of the RM500's innovative features.

A Cat C15 engine with ACERT^TM Technology powers the RM500. ACERT Technology provides clean burning power and innovations that work at the point of combustion to optimize engine performance and provide low exhaust emissions. The C15 engine provides a full-rated gross power (SAE J1995) of 403 kW (540 hp) at 2000 rpm with a torque of 2356 Nm (1738 lb/ft). The combination of large displacement and high torque allows the RM500 to propel through even the toughest materials. And, this engine meets European EU Stage IIIA emissions regulations for off-road applications.

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