Landfill Compactors Dismantled Machines

About Landfill Compactors

Landfill compactors move trash and tamp it down in municipal and commercial facilities. Landfills have a limited amount of space to work with, but a seemingly never-ending stream of incoming garbage. In these instances, specialized landfill compactors are necessary to not only spread refuse over the ground, but also to essentially break it up and tamp it down with large drum wheels studded with pads or tips.

Padfoot compactors look similar to landfill models, but are made for use on soil and clay and don’t need the protective features a landfill compactor requires for its work environment. Smooth drum compactors, meanwhile, use smooth-surfaced drums to compact soil or fresh asphalt. Other paving models include pneumatic compactors with rubber tires and combination models with one smooth drum and one row of rubber tires.

---

Caterpillar 836K Landfill Compactor

Features

Landfill compactors usually crawl around on four wheel-shaped drums (Caterpillar, BOMAG) or two cylindrical drums (TANA) with sheepsfoot, padfoot, cruciform (cross-shaped), or other shapes of tips. The pads may or may not be replaceable. Depending on their shapes, the tips may be optimized for traction, fuel economy, and/or stability on slopes. Most landfill compactors employ scraper bars or striker bars as well as wheel cleaner fingers to keep the pads from becoming clogged with material.

Specialized landfill blades allow these machines to distribute new refuse throughout the facility. The upper half of landfill blades have slats or screens that give the operator better visibility without sacrificing capacity. Many landfill blades also have side wings to help retain loose material.

Because landfill compactors work in piles of debris, they typically feature guards to protect the cab, radiator, and other areas. Many also use a reversing fan to periodically blow material and dust out of the radiator. Landfill compactor engines often employ pre-cleaners for their air filters for the same reason. The cab, meanwhile, is often pressurized against dust. Its incoming air is filtered, sometimes with activated charcoal to reduce the odor of the landfill.

Other common features of landfill compactors include no-spin differentials for traction, work lighting for early or late operation, and fire extinguishers and/or suppression systems for safety.

Technologies

Some newer landfill compactors use compaction-measuring systems that tell the operator when maximum compaction has been achieved. Some also feature mapping systems to guide the driver to areas that need additional passes. Also, like most recent machinery, new landfill compactors support telematics for wireless reporting of location and operating data.

Popular Brands & Models

Popular manufacturers of new and used landfill compactors include BOMAG, Caterpillar, and many others. Some of the most plentiful models on MachineryTrader.com are the Cat 816, 826, and 836, and others.