The Civil Engineering Contractor January 2018 | Page 42

SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS
Compact, lightweight mobile compressors for utility trucks
Atlas Copco has launched a new range of
lightweight and versatile air compressors
for secure integration into utility trucks and
other OEM applications. The space-saving 8
Series Utility range has a footprint that is
10% smaller, on average, than comparable
compressors. In addition, all models weigh
below 750kg, including those with the option
of a built-in generator.
All compressors in the 8 Series Utility
range feature a robust, corrosion resistant
C3-rated canopy. Reliable, high-performance
engines are fitted as standard, which deliver
industry leading fuel efficiency savings of up
to 8% against comparable machines. The range
consists of four compressors available in flow
ranges between 3.7-5.4m 3 /min and working
pressures between 7 and 12 bars.
For added versatility, the compressors can
be fitted with Atlas Copco’s innovative PACE
(Pressure Adjustment through Cognitive
Electronics) system. This enables users to
precisely adjust the air flow and pressure of the
compressor to match their specific application
needs. It’s also possible to turn the compressor
into a multi-function machine that delivers
both air and power by equipping it with an
optional generator. In addition, an extra fuel
tank is available for end users requiring a two-
shift operation without refuelling.
The space-saving 8 Series Utility range has a footprint that is 10%
smaller, on average, than comparable compressors
Geosynthetic solutions for road construction and maintenance
Part of Fibertex’ geosynthetic solutions
for road construction and maintenance
include Fibertex AM-2, a flexible needle
punched pre-compressed nonwoven
fabric, with added thermal bonding on
one side.
“The purpose of this pre-compressed
polypropylene (PP) bitumen-saturated
paving fabric, is to prevent the ingress
of surface water into the selected layers
of the road prism, reducing the bearing
capacity of these layers,” says Chris Powell,
Fibertex South Africa. “This membrane
also acts as a stress absorbing membrane
interlayer (SAMI) to prevent surface stress
cracking by absorbing stresses imposed
by differential loads. Fibertex AM-2 also
prevents the propagation of stress cracks
from lower surface layers (older asphalt
or chip seal layers) in the case of a
road re-seal.”
Additionally, using Fibertex F-grade
geotextiles in a separation application
below the layer works of the road prism,
the road design can be altered to include
less of the costly imported engineered fill.
40 - CEC January 2018
Fibertex AM-2 paving fabric prevents the propagation of stress cracks
from lower layers, when placed between old and new asphalt layers.
This reduces the thickness of the
selected layers, resulting in a
more cost-effective design.
By using virgin PP Fibertex
AM-2 in road construction and
maintenance projects, substantial
infrastructural cost reductions are
achieved. Virgin PP geotextiles,
with a high level of chemical
stability under a wide range
of environmental conditions,
have advantages in installations
where the cost of failure may be
extreme, in both financial and
environmental terms.
The system can be applied
mechanically for large volume
installations, as well as manually
in cases where narrow width
installations are required.