About Combination Compactors
A combination compactor has both a smooth drum (often vibratory) and pneumatic tires that work together to offer two types of compaction at the same time for soil, gravel, concrete, asphalt, or other similar surfaces. The front drum provides sheer compaction force, typically with vibration or oscillation to magnify the drum’s effect. The rear tires subsequently seal and finish the surface with a kneading action, eliminating most voids.
Dynapac CA3500DCO Combination Compactor
Combination compactor drums come in a variety of weights and widths suited to almost any use, and many compactors include water spray options for better drum and pneumatic tire performance on asphalt. They go by many different names, including combination utility compactors, combi rollers, smooth drum vibratory combination compactors, vibratory utility compactors, and road rollers, just to name a few.
Historic Milestones
HAMM of Tirschenreuth, Germany, is said to have invented the first motorized road roller in 1911, a superior diesel-powered alternative to the steamrollers of the day.
In 1983, HAMM developed an oscillating roller drum, which produced better compaction results than traditional vibratory drums. Its rotational oscillation maintained contact with the surface at all times, unlike the up-and-down motion of a vibrating drum.
The High-Tech Future
New advances from manufacturers such as Caterpillar are making combination compactors that are more versatile and better-equipped to handle everything from individual driveways to large highways, while also improving operator comfort and helping operators reach specific compaction densities with fewer passes and in less time.
Technology is also playing a role. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s “Intelligent Compaction” initiative calls for compactors to be able to measure the stiffness of the mat, adjust themselves accordingly, and map out the areas they’ve compacted. Hamm Compaction Quality products from Hamm, meanwhile, help with planning, measuring, controlling, documenting, and analyzing the compaction process, while Hammtronic technology monitors and adjusts engine and roller functions such as drive, vibration, oscillation, and engine speed.
Find The Right Combination Compactor
Popular manufacturers of new and used combination compactors available on MachineryTrader.com include Ammann, BOMAG, Caterpillar, Dynapac, and HAMM. Some of the most plentiful models on MachineryTrader.com are the Ammann ARX45K, Cat's CC34 and CCS9, the Dynapac CC1300C, and others.
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