Astec to establish European plant

US equipment manufacturer Astec Industries plans to expand its international footprint by establishing a production facility in Europe this year.

Jeff Richmond, president of Astec's road building subsidiary, Roadtec, told iC that the new plant will be based in Hameln, northern Germany, and will initially manufacture compacting screeds targeting the Germany market.

"The deal for the new facility was signed just a couple of weeks ago, and we also have plans to develop new roller and compacting lines at the European plant," Mr Richmond said, adding that the facility would also be used to stockpile equipment.

Meanwhile, the company also showcased three new road building machines on its 39000 ft2 (3623 m²) stand at the ConExpo exhibition in Las Vegas.

Roadtec's new mid-size SX-5 soil stabiliser/reclaimer was on display featuring a 540 hp (403 kW) Cat C15, Tier 4 Interim and Stage IIIb compliant engine. Weighing less than 60000 lbs (27200 kg), it joins the larger 700 hp (522 kW) model in the company's line of stabilisers/reclaimers and comes with a 96 in (244 cm) wide cutter drum.

The SX-5 is capable of a cutting depth of 18 in (460 mm), while four cutting speeds and right-hand flush cut allow the machine to be used for a range of projects including stabilising, pulverising, or cold recycling.

Roadtec was also showcasing its new "E" Series shuttle buggy material transfer vehicle at the exhibition. The new generation machine has enhanced conveyor wear resistance and a new adjustable width front hopper to allow work with trucks of widths commonly used in countries outside the US.

Power for the new machine comes from a Cat C-27 ACERT, 950 HP (2100 kW) Tier 4 Interim-compliant diesel engine.

And the company also entered a new product line with the launch of its first self-propelled broom, the FB-85.

This 83 hp (62 kW) machine features 14,000 lbs (6350 kg) of construction grade axle capacity, which Roadtec claims is twice the strength of competing models. The FB-85 is powered by an 83 hp (62 kW) Cat engine and broom core sizes of up to 10 in (250 mm) diameter can be used. The variable width broom head can rotate 33° to either side and broom widths between 72 in (183 cm) and 96 in (244 cm) can be used.

The new Roadtec broom will be manufactured in the company's Riverside facility located in Chattanooga, Tennessee.