In Thailand, two important road projects are being carried out using the latest Wirtgen SP 64 slipformers. The machines are working quickly, reliably and efficiently, delivering high-quality paved surfaces. As no fixed moulds are required, the manual work required is reduced considerably.
For the site in Surat Thani Province, paving work is being carried out by contractor Premium Concrete, with the machine delivering an extremely even, high-quality concrete road surface. The 22.3km section is a part of the important AH2 trunk road to Maluan. Sirichot Phettong, project engineer at Premium Concrete, said: “With the Wirtgen slipform paver, we achieve a high working speed and can ensure high surface quality.”
The road has a full width of 11m and features two lanes that are 3.5m-wide, as well as a lane 4m-wide. Reinforcement is with dowel bars 38mm in diameter and side tie bars that are 20mm in diameter, with the firm paving a thickness of 320mm.
Wirtgen technology is also optimising the construction of roads for heavy- goods traffic. Contractor CC Machinery & Construction is upgrading a 17km section of the road linking Tha Sala and Nopphitam on the section from Thai Bun to Nopphitam.
As traffic drives on the left in Thailand, the left-hand lane tends to be used by heavy-goods vehicles. It is being paved 30mm thicker than the adjacent lane to cope with the additional stresses. Thawat Arunsuwannakon, managing director of CC Machinery & Construction, said: “We decided to use the slipform paver because Wirtgen offers outstanding customer care, comprehensive service and training courses. These are particularly important criteria for us.”
This section of road is 14m-wide, with four lanes that are each 3.5m-wide. Reinforcement is with dowel bars that are 38mm in diameter and side tie bars that are 20mm in diameter. The traffic lanes are being paved 250mm-thick and 280mm-thick, accounting for the differing loads.
Using inset slipform pavers, the concrete is placed in front of the machine and distributed by a spreading auger or spreading plough. The concrete is consolidated by vibrators, while the slipform mould provides the form and dimensions. The integrated dowel bar and tie bar inserter places the reinforcement. The oscillating beam smooths out smaller irregularities, with the super smoother delivering the surface finish.
