Page 12 - Construction_Opportunities_March_2023

COVER STORY

The Samruddhi Mahamarg is one of the most awaited expressways for better road surface quality is another major driver for the road
in Maharashtra. Also known as Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, the roller market. Road rollers are used for compacting the asphalt
6-lane wide 701-km long expressway will reduce the travel time on the road surface, which results in a smoother and more even
between the two cities to just 8 hours by reducing the 100 km surface. The increasing preference for green construction methods
distance. Although the first phase of the expressway from Nagpur is another driver for the road roller market. Green construction
to Shirdi, a distance of 520 km, was inaugurated in December last methods are those that have a lower impact on the environment.
year, its remaining 181 km corridor will soon be operational. Road rollers help reduce the carbon footprint of construction
With a speed limit of 150 km/h, the Samruddhi Expressway projects by reducing the emissions from construction equipment.
mahamarg project will be the fastest in the country. This calls for Ammann’s new ART 240 StV Pneumatic-Tyred Roller meets the
maximum concrete paving performance both in terms of output world’s strictest emissions standards while excelling in soil and
and quality to ensure drivers’ comfort and safety on their journey. asphalt applications. The rollers offer high productivity and are
Along a stretch of 701 km, 16 units of Wirtgen slipform paver SP outstanding fits on applications such as motorways, railways,
1600 were in operation to lay the concrete surface. Concrete is airfields, industrial zones and residential areas. The compactors are
the ideal material for a gigantic project like this: it is cost-effective, versatile, with a ballasting system that offers weight ranges from 9 Annular Piston PST Clutch F/R Clutch LSD Clutch
extremely durable, and requires very little maintenance. Over a tonnes to 24 tonnes – unique to the market. Additional ballasting
working width of 15 m, pavement quality concrete (PQC) in a depth blocks are easy to add to the bottom of the machine frame via
of 310 mm was used. Proper reinforcement was done using an forklift. Machine weight can also be increased by adding ballasting
automatic dowel bar inserter and 3 longitudinal tie bar inserters. materials such as sand, metal scraps, concrete or water inside
These make sure that cracks (which are invariably produced as a the machine frame. Total available ballasting space is 3,7m3. A
result of stresses and temperature fluctuations) are diverted into the maintenance-friendly design minimises downtime. No tools are
concrete pavement in a controlled manner. needed for daily inspections, and there is ground access to the
main draining ports.
Enabling Growth Alltech recently launched Asphalt Batch Mix Plant of Capacity 120
In the construction of roads and foundations, soil, gravel, concrete, TPH in North Gujarat. This plant is designed to meet the growing
or asphalt are compacted using road rollers, which are compactor- demand for high-quality asphalt production in the region. With
style engineering vehicles. The road roller market is growing at a cutting-edge technology and an efficient process flow, this plant
rapid pace owing to the increasing construction activities across ensures seamless and cost-effective production of asphalt mix. Master Cylinder Slave Cylinder Wheel Cylinder PM Valve
the globe. These machines offer high compaction performance The advanced features of this plant include computerized control
and are highly productive. Moreover, road rollers require low systems, robust construction, and easy maintenance, making
maintenance and offer superior operator comfort, which is it a reliable and durable solution for construction needs. The
expected to drive the market during the forecast period. plant’s capacity of 120 TPH makes it suitable for medium-scale
The increasing demand for infrastructural development is one of projects and its location in North Gujarat offers easy access to
the major drivers for the road roller market. With rapid urbanization major highways and construction sites. The company has even
and industrialization, there is a growing need for the construction gone one step ahead and has made the entire process hi-tech
of new roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects. The need by introducing CYBERMIX 1.1 software, which offers precise control

12 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|MARCH 2023