Vögele’s lower emission philosophy

A philosophy of lower emissions through use of the EcoPlus package is a part of the dash 3 generation of machines from Vögele.

The German paver manufacturer, part of the Wirtgen group, presented the new dash 3 generation of pavers for the first time at Intermat in Paris. The range includes the Super 2100-3i.

Vögele said the "i" in the paver's name stood for "intelligent emission control" and meant that the paver had been equipped with state-of-the-art engine technology ensuring extremely low emissions.

An ultramodern drive system complies with the Tier 4 interim emission standards. With a power output of 186kW at 2,000rpm, the Super 2100-3i paver's 6-cylinder diesel engine can handle laydown rates up to 1,100 tonnes per hour, claimed Vögele. The fuel-saving ECO mode of 175kW at 1,700rpm is said to be adequate for the majority of paving jobs.

When the paver is stationary, all hydraulic pumps for traction, conveyors and augers, as well as compaction, are automatically switched off after about a minute. Fuel consumption is reduced considerably by this new function, the company claimed. Reducing the trailing load also makes it significantly easier to start the paver at low outside temperatures.

There is an energy-optimised tamper drive. The tamper is driven by a variable displacement pump which delivers exactly the amount of oil needed for the current tamper speed.

A bypass circuit allows the hydraulic oil to reach its optimum operating temperature very quickly. This in turn permits rapid, fuel-saving operation of the paver. If the oil temperature rises above the optimum level of 50 to 70°C, a bypass diverts the oil through the cooler assembly.

A new AutoSet function allows the paver to be quickly and safely prepared for moving on the job site, according to Vögele. Screed, augers, hydraulic hopper front and deflectors in front of the crawler tracks are raised to transport position by pressing the execute button. After moving the paver on site, all components are reset to their previous working positions and paving parameters are retrieved by pressing the button again.

The PaveDock Assistant aims to facilitate communication between paver operator and driver of the feed vehicle. The signal lights on the paver and the controls on the paver operator's ErgoPlus console are the key components of this communication system.

The paver comes with two signal lights mounted on the right and left of the hardtop. With these lights, the paver operator can give the driver of the feed lorry signals, indicating what needs to be done - reverse, stop, dump.

Innovative push-rollers are optionally available from Vögele for the dash 3 paver generation. Jolts from the feed lorry are absorbed by rollers. As soon as the lorry docks onto the paver, a sensor is tripped and delivers a signal to the PaveDock indicator system.