APE July 2022 | Page 18

SUB FEATURE

Best Buying

Considerations

Infrared asphalt repair equipment

N othing is simple anymore . Gone are the days of binary choices ... off / on , yes / no , and in / out . Try ordering a cup of coffee . Used to be you could sit down at the counter and ask the counter man Joe for a cup of java and he ’ d grab the pot with the orange handle . If he grabbed the green-handle decaf pot , you ’ d say “ No Joe , I need full octane ,” and he ’ d nod his head in acknowledgement while switching to the orange handle pot of regular coffee .

In today ’ s half-skinny-carmel-macchiatos-with-an-extra-shot world the binary caf / decaf choice has splintered into a multitude of options . You now can get coffee tailored to your specific taste .
This multitude of options applies to equipment choices that the asphalt paving contractor faces when wanting to expand or replace items in their fleet . There are choices . Choices are good when there is the need to match a new machine to the jobs and workflow the contractor typically tackles .
Contractors have many equipment possibilities available to them for selecting the right infrared asphalt repair equipment for their business .
“ When buying infrared equipment customers really have three main options ,” stated Michael Blake , marketing director , KM International , North Branch , Michigan . “ First
By Jeff Winke
you have smaller units usually ranging from as small as a 10 square foot unit up to 20-25 square feet of heating area . These typically are fixed units that do not fold and are not trailer and / or truck mounted . Secondly , you have trailer mounted units . These are typically a little larger heating area and can be self-folding trailer or trailers with some type of winch system to fold and unfold the unit . Lastly , you have the larger truck-mounted units where the infrared panel is affixed to a large truck and is raised and lowered by means of a hydraulic or electric winch .”
Being aware of the options can help in deciding which machine to purchase . Keep in mind that all three categories of infrared units can be used for pothole repair , joint heating , thermoplastic application , decorative asphalt , and many other applications that require reheating and / or repairing asphalt .
“ An infrared unit allows contractors the ability to make repairs right away without having to schedule a subcontractor to come in and handle the work ,” stated David Strassman , owner of Asphalt Reheat Systems , LLC , Fitchburg , Wisconsin . “ Infrared equipment has given contractors independence .”
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