Mini Paver Makes Manual Labour a Thing of the Past

Contractors placing asphalt by hand find it difficult to reach goals for quality and appearance when working on bike paths, walking trails, trams and other narrow applications. Yet with the Ammann AFW 150-2 Mini Paver, objectives can always be met.

The AFW 150-2 is a true paver – a mechanical machine – that works at extremely narrow widths. It leaves behind a mat that has the appearance and quality of asphalt placed by a large machine. It also represents a significant upgrade over manual paving. Civil engineering, road construction and landscaping companies also appreciate the productivity mechanical paving brings.

Trend towards mechanised paving

Asphalt rehabilitation of small and medium-sized areas is time-consuming and cost-intensive. That is why more and more municipalities are requiring mechanised paving in their tenders.

“For reasons of economy and to achieve optimum paving results, towns and municipalities are increasingly demanding asphalt paving with a paver,” says Klaus Smagoi, Area Sales Manager of Ammann Austria GmbH.

With paving widths from 250 mm to 1650 mm, the AFW 150-2 from Ammann is ideally suited for this purpose. It can be used to easily resurface driveways, carport parking spaces, cycle paths and footpaths – and to backfill trenches and areas between tram tracks.

The Ammann mini paver consistently delivers the desired performance for all paving jobs on these narrow jobsites. The quality of the asphalt placed and the paved surface are always of high quality.

The AFW 150-2 compensates for temperature fluctuations with the gas-heated vibratory screed. It keeps the asphalt, which has a temperature of 180º C, at the proper temperature at all times during placement.

“And with screed plates on the screed, we already pre-compact up to 40%,” explains Klaus Smagoi. “The biggest benefit of this is, we always achieve a uniformly beautiful paved surface.”

Successful operation in Gärtringen

Holger Geserick, managing director of the Austrian Hogewo Holding, confirms this. “The AFW 150-2 produces 1A paving quality, with an absolutely uniform surface,” he says. “This makes it child’s play for our asphalt crew to reach the daily target.”

Geserick heads the activities of Hogewo subsidiary Reela Deutschland. With a focus on Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the company operates in broadband and power grid expansion, as well as construction of e-filling stations for electric mobility.

From March to June 2021, Reela used the Ammann mini paver in an industrial estate in Gärtringen (Baden-Württemberg). There, the company replaced asphalt that was removed during excavation of fibre optic expansion that ran for a length of 6 km.

“We also carry out such projects in an environmentally friendly and nuisance-free manner with HDD flush drilling equipment,” reports Geserick. Reela Germany uses the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) method to pass underneath neuralgic points, such as large roundabouts, without digging.

Nevertheless, Reela was not able to do everything in Gärtringen with horizontal drilling. The teams also had to tear up pavements. They then laid pipe and backfilled and compacted the trenches.

“When it came to paving the asphalt surface, the AFT 150-2 mini paver came into play because we can use it to make the surface courses absolutely level and of high quality in terms of appearance,” says Geserick.

Technology and service determine success

The Hogewo managing director relies solely on asphalt and compaction technology from Ammann. “We chose the Swiss manufacturer because of the product quality and the fast service,” Geserick says. “The machines and equipment are technically very sophisticated, user-friendly and the price-performance ratio is very good.”

The company purchases all compaction equipment from the Austrian Ammann dealer Huppenkothen Baumaschinen in Lauterach. That includes Ammann APF 15/40 and APR 25/40 vibratory plates; ATR 60 C and ATR 68 C rammers; and the ARX 12 articulated ride-on roller.

Reela invests in Ammann technology again

The expansion of fibre optic technology and infrastructures for e-mobility is picking up speed. As a result, Reela Germany has increased its order volume by 100% annually since being founded in 2018. “We expect the positive development to continue,” Geserick predicts.

The increase is driving Reela Germany to invest in pavers, rollers and compaction technology. “This year we will invest in two 12-ton rollers and possibly in a second mini paver,” Geserick says. “With Huppenkothen and Ammann, we have the knowledgeable partners we want.”