Novedades
After the Wirtgen machines had been fitted with the ideal combination for such use of Twin Stop sleeves and Betek road bits, road construction firm Swank were able to reduce the level of wear. The bits used were round shank bits based on the so-called R-series. They rotate permanently about their own axis and keep automatically sharpening themselves as they penetrate into the concrete.
Very course granite had been used as an aggregate for the concrete. This made the milling work a real challenge.
The right bits led to success
Optimum cutting technology minimises wear
Difficult construction site situations often call for teamwork. That was the case on a road construction project in Portland, USA. Road construction firm Swank had a contract to mill a concrete road – which due to particularly high concrete quality proved to be very difficult to do. As a result of cutting bit tests carried out jointly by Swank, Wirtgen America and Betek, the company was finally able to tip the Wirtgen machines in such a way that excellent milling performance was possible and an end was put to the excessive wear.
The concrete to be milled was studded with lots of granite and produced excessive wear of the cutting bits. In tandem with Thomas Allgaier of Betek, Keith Pacific of Wirtgen America adjusted the milling machines to the optimum configuration for this extreme task. Allgaier: “In an application like this in particular the Eco Cutters have a major impact on the level of success and cost-efficiency. We fitted the Eco Cutter milling drum with the Betek W1-17/22R. Betek’s twin-stop sleeves helped to achieve good productivity.” Keith Pacific emphasised: “When you’re working in concrete, it is important that not only the bits are right, but also that the bit holders are functioning perfectly as well. It was not until we had this combination and the special Eco Cutters that we had success here.” And the success that the ‘Swank / Wirtgen America / Betek’ team achieved on this construction site was very impressive. The cutting bits did not reach 80% wear until a section of road 2,000 metres long had been milled. They were then changed in order to protect the bit holders. With the rival tools used previously Swank had to change the complete bit set every 180 metres. The milling services provider was thus naturally delighted by the uncomplicated advice and help received from the Wirtgen and Betek specialists.
