Two professionals in the compaction business

Compaction work on different surfaces and substrates plays a major role in the daily business of Peter Dörflinger, master gardener and landscaper from Renschen in Baden-Württemberg. Whether soil, mineral blends, gravel or paving, Peter Dörflinger’s assignments nearly always involve professional ground compaction. It is therefore only logical that the master gardener and landscaper decided in favour of a professional and powerful vibratory plate for his machine pool.

Previously, Dörflinger had used rented machines from various manufacturers to handle compaction assignments. When he rented an Ammann machine for one of them, he was fully convinced by the vibratory plate’s performance. A few weeks ago, Dörflinger made a seminal decision: it had to be his own, powerful and in particular long-lasting vibratory plate. During the selection process for his own vibratory plate, he received competent advice and support from Matthias Pfaff of the Reichert Service Centre in Sinzheim.

In view of the variety of Ammann’s range of vibratory plates, the first task was to clarify which plate and which properties would best suit the majority of assignments given to the landscape gardening professional. “My main line of business consists of assignments for private gardens, car parks and smaller commercial enquiries for compaction services. My vibratory plate of choice therefore has to be very flexible yet also long-lasting, as experience shows that we use compactors virtually every other day,” says Dörflinger in summing up the initial position.

It soon became clear that the reversible vibratory plate APR 2620 was the ideal match for Dörflinger’s assignments. The vibratory movements on all APR machines are generated by a twin-shaft exciter with shafts that are positioned to enable the direction of movement to be changed by operating a lever, making the APR 2620 especially suitable for compaction work in confined and difficult to reach spaces.

In addition, APR machines are also agile climbers and can master inclines between 30 per cent and 35 per cent, depending on the model. Dörflinger found this ease of manoeuvrability compelling.

“The compactor is very easy to control and extremely agile – properties that make work both pleasant and efficient,” he explains. “Even the youngest of our apprentices can move the compactor without risking back injury as I opted for the special version with transportation wheels. Moving vibratory plates of other manufacturers on wheels involves much more effort as the wheels first need to be attached. That is completely unnecessary with the APR 2620.”

As his assignments also involve a great deal of paving work, Dörflinger ordered his APR 2620 with a Vulkollan plate for gently compacting paving blocks. The expert once again recognised an advantage over other manufacturers.

“Ammann’s rubber mat is attached at the front and the back and sits as solid as a rock – this means that the mat does not move or crumple when reversing the compactor. Unfortunately, I have not seen this with other manufacturers,” says Dörflinger.

Many details clearly show that Ammann has the operator in mind when developing vibratory plates. The guide handle is a decisive component when it comes to operator comfort and safety at work. The handle is cushioned against vibration and can be folded down and removed – essential for working in confined spaces and for transportation. The base plate, the most stressed component, is wear resistant and the robust frame with a central single-point suspension provides the machine with additional stability.

Although Dörflinger has only had the APR 2620 for a few weeks, it is in use virtually every day and he is all the more convinced of his decision in favour of Ammann.

“The plate has been running with extreme stability and efficiency for weeks,” Dörflinger says. “Ammann even painted the machine in my company colours prior to delivery – and the support from the Reichert Service Centre dealership is exemplary. I am therefore considering going to Ammann first whenever I need to buy a new machine.”