Caterpillar® Global Paving products help ensure all roads lead to Rome.

• 
• 8th December 2006
• Materials Handling
 

It is said that, "All roads lead to Rome," and for a good reason... the ancient Romans were renowned for their engineering and technical expertise. Often most celebrated for their innovations in architecture, medicine and the fine arts, the ancient Romans were also known for building one of the world's most elaborate and innovative roadway systems of the time. With connections to the Near and Far East, and the entire Roman Empire, Rome was a vital and thriving center for trade and commerce, and societies relied upon its overland transportation system for centuries to distribute those riches.

Roman roadbuilding engineers continue to innovate even today. In the twenty-first century, much of this innovation comes from the machines that maintain and pave the city's historic roadways.

Two Italian paving contractors recently put Rome's modern roadbuilding skills to the test, collectively rehabilitating a busy stretch of historic roadway between two popular Roman landmarks - the ancient Colosseum and the Fori Imperiali. The project followed the same path as roads laid down over 2000 years ago. A Cat® PM-200 cold planer and a Cat AP-600 wheel-type large asphalt paver were selected for the job, and together, the new machines produced outstanding results and performed flawlessly.

Roadbuilding crews from Italian contractors Laziale Strade S.r.l. and Stradaioli S.r.l., along with technicians from Caterpillar, easily completed the project in one night's time. The contractors' newly-acquired cold planer and paver had only just been delivered, giving the crews the opportunity to learn to operate their new machines with the help of some unique "on the job" training.

Andrea Petrucci, managing director and owner of Laziale Strade, headquartered in Rome, says that it was the power and the maneuverability of the Cat PM-200 cold planer that first convinced him that the machine would be a perfect addition to the Laziale Strade paving fleet.

"The Cat PM-200 will be put through its paces on demanding town and secondary roads, such as this extended Rome "O-ring" project," says Petrucci, but it was also acquired to accommodate a multi-year road maintenance project financed by the Rome Municipality, "which, like this project, will often require the machine to work at night, to avoid traffic delays," he says.

It was the contractor's first Caterpillar machine purchase, and one that was influenced by frustrating service support the contractor had experienced with other machine brands in the region. "We chose the Cat PM-200 because we trust [Caterpillar dealer] Maia," says Petrucci. He also cited the PM-200's "[design] integrity, accessibility and easy maintenance."

The innovative Cat PM-200 Cold Planer offers a gross power of 429 kW/583 hp at 1900 rpm, and an operating weight of 30 100 kg. It easily performs full-depth removal of asphalt and concrete pavements with highly productive results - including a maximum rotor depth of 320 mm. A turbocharged, air-to-air aftercooling Cat C18 engine with ACERT^TM technology provides clean burning power and long service life. ACERT Technology works at the point of combustion to optimize engine performance and provide low exhaust emissions, while meeting European EU Stage IIIA emission regulations for off-road applications.

Its hydraulically folding, front-loading conveyor swings 48 degrees left or right, to accommodate any job requirements. Its propel system provides superior tractive effort, even on slippery surfaces. Automatic grade and slope controls provide precise control of rotor to a preset cutting depth and cross slope - with simple operation from either the operator's station or ground level. And, its electronically-controlled load sensing system matches propel speed to load on rotor, for maximum production.

Designed for maneuverability and maximum operator comfort, the Cat PM-200's operator's station emphasizes comfort, visibility and ergonomic operation. Operators are afforded unsurpassed maneuverability, and complete control, in even the tightest of milling applications, like Rome's narrow city streets. Serviceability was designed into the PM-200 from the start, with a power-assisted engine hood, and exceptional engine, hydraulic and daily service access. Its large discharge opening and wide collecting conveyor clears out the cutter box quickly. A water spray system cools and lubricates the cutting tools, reduces dust, and increases operator comfort.

Like Laziale Strade S.r.l, Italian roadbuilding contractor Stradaioli S.r.l. also purchased a new Caterpillar paving machine, an AP-600 asphalt paver. They, too, put it to work for the first time on the Colosseum to Fori Imperiali project. Managing director Bruno Stradaioli attributed the purchase to Stradaioli's relationship with Cat dealer Maia. "[Maia's] service support is excellent. "There are simply no other companies offering similar service and parts availability," he says. In addition, Stradaioli explains that reliability is one of the most important features to consider in the purchasing decision. And, "Caterpillar is synonymous with reliability," he adds.

"In our work, the mat is of the utmost importance. Our performance is measured in terms of our quality. The AS-4251 hydraulically-extending screed is imposing and strong. It performs extraordinarily, and lays a mat of the best quality," says Stradaioli. Project foreman and paver operator, Luciano Ciofi agrees, but explains that he also appreciates the power and torque provided by the AP-600. "Combined with the total traction, this ensures optimum stability... even with frequent contacts with trucks unloading material into the hopper, the push stability and screed performance produce a precise and continuous [quality] mat, meter after meter. No other machine, we have operated, has ever performed so satisfactorily."

The Cat AP-600 wheel-type asphalt paver offers the performance, reliability and versatility to handle a wide variety of paving projects - from new construction, to resurfacing, and maintenance. Utilizing either hot and/or modified bituminous mix and aggregate production, the AP-600 provides precise mix delivery and productivity through its advanced material handling system. As Ciofi attested to earlier, its operating weight of 18 100 kg (with AS-4251 screed), wheel-type suspension system, and optimum weight distribution, provide optimum tractive effort. And, the AP-600's gross power of 125 kW/173 hp - rated at 2200 rpm, offers plenty of power to handle the job.

Its diesel engine incorporates proven Caterpillar engine technology providing high reliability, durability and easy servicing. And, it meets all European EU Stage II emission regulations. A high-capacity cooling system performs efficiently in even the most challenging ambient conditions, providing a cooler working environment for both tractor and screed operators - yet, it still delivers fuel efficiency and optimized performance.

Optimum ground contact and smooth operations are maintained through the AP-600's two large-tread drive tyres and four front steering solid-rubber bogie wheels. Its hydrostatic propel system eliminates chains and other mechanical linkages between the engine and final drive components. And, its front-wheel assist increases tractive effort. Operator's comfort is provided through two different operator's station configurations - a single operator's station that can be electrically positioned over the entire width of the paver, and a dual operator's station that includes two seats fitted on mechanically-sliding semi-platforms.

The advanced material handling system of the AP-600 delivers mix precisely, and efficiently reduces component wear, and minimizes the potential for mix segregation. The tractor is paired with both the AS-3251 (max. paving width 7500 mm) and AS-4251 (max. paving width 7800 mm) hydraulically-extending screeds, and both are available with variable frequency tamper and vibrators, and electric or gas heating options. Each screed lays material to the precise width and depth, while providing a smooth finish with initial compaction.

Like the Cat PM-200, serviceability in the Cat AP-600 is enhanced through well-designed access to all machine parts requiring regularly-scheduled maintenance. A transverse engine mount allows for ground-level access to hydraulic pumps and the engine cooling system. And, color-coded and numbered wiring harnesses simplify any potential troubleshooting of the electrical system, should it be necessary.

In tandem, Laziale Strade S.r.l and Stradaioli S.r.l. crews, carried out Colosseum to Fori Imperiali project in just one night. The crews worked continuously from 9 pm to 5 am, leaving the heavily trafficked roadway open to vehicles. The Cat PM-200 precisely milled the 300 m long, 8-14 m wide road to a depth of 4 cm. It was then paved over for a total of 5500 sqm, by the Cat AP-600. Throughout the night, Caterpillar paving technicians worked closely alongside the crews, offering instruction along the way, as this was the first usage of these machines for both contractors. Upon completion of the project, operators and crews were more confident and well skilled at the operations of these two machines. Says Stradaioli's foreman Ciofi, "[We are] enthusiastic with the results!"

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