Compaction Equipment: What to consider before you hire…

Rollers, compaction plates and rammers are used for many applications on construction sites including the compaction of clay or soil, hardcore & gravel and for laying tarmac or asphalt.
In all cases, the compactors vibrate to help compact the material which is laid in layers and ideally compacted a layer at a time.
On a large site, the engineer will calculate the number of passes or number of times the roller or compactor has to pass over the material before the next layer is put down. Larger heavier rollers or plates will generally need to pass over the area fewer times than a lighter machine.

Tandem Rollers 80,120 & 140cm

Designed for asphalt laying and compaction of stoned areas before finishing with concrete or tarmac. All asphalt rollers have water sprinklers fitted to overcome tar or asphalt sticking to the drum. 80cm machines are generally used for road patching or laying tar/asphalt in confined areas or footpaths. 120 & 140cm width machines are more efficient for larger areas depending on the size of job.

140cm Tandem Roller – cab version

Tandem Rollers 170cm

Primarily designed for laying asphalt in larger-scale projects such as road building and resurfacing, carparks and airports. These rollers can also be used for compaction of gravel layers as well as base courses and final asphalt or tarmac wear courses. At 11 Tonnes this machine allows faster compaction than lighter rollers, requiring fewer passes. At 1.7m wide the area covered is considerably greater than a smaller machine, providing efficiency for larger jobs. Fitted with a large water tank and sprinklers, full cab with a movable seat allows good vision on both sides.

170cm Tandem Roller

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Heavy Compaction Rollers

7T & 12T single drum rollers are suitable for compacting soil or clay, hardcore and gravel on large sites such as roads, industrial estates, airports, etc. They are driven by rubber-tired wheels at the rear to allow them to climb gradients or to provide traction in clay and soil conditions. These heavy rollers provide considerably more compaction than smaller tandem rollers and their width allows large areas to be covered quickly. The 7T version is ideal for smaller sites where a high level of compaction is still required.12T roller machines will undertake jobs quicker with additional compaction. Pad foot conversion shell kits are available to fit these rollers. Pad foot roller drums are suitable for compacting cohesive soils. The cleverly shaped pad feet penetrate deep into the soil and provide a powerful kneading effect.

Smooth Drum 7t

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Trench Rollers – remote control

Trench rollers are designed for the compaction of clay, soil or gravels in confined spaces or below ground where personnel are prohibited from entering. They are operated via radio or cable remote control to allow the machine to be driven from a safe distance. The drums are fitted with pad feet to provide traction and allowing the roller to access trenches via steep gradients.

Trench Roller

Compaction Plates and Rammers

For confined and hard to access areas compaction plates and rammers offer the ideal solution. Petrol vibrating plates are used for compacting, stones gravel or sand in subfloor or pavia brick laying applications. They can also be used for laying asphalt in awkward spaces with a water tank and sprinkler bar fitted. Diesel vibrating plates provide high levels of compaction beyond that of small rollers but can be used in more restricted areas. These compactors have the added advantage of reverse action to allow multiple passes in confined spaces where manouvourablility is more difficult. Two sizes are available with the larger offering higher levels of compaction similar to other compaction products. Trench rammers are used to compact narrow trenches or tracks where a larger plate is too wide.

Trench Rammer

Large Diesel Vibrating Plate

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Mounted Compactors

Excavator mounted compactors can efficiently replace traditional hand-operated equipment and avoid the necessity to put operators into unprotected trenches or onto steep slopes. These compactors offer outstanding compaction rates and performance while providing a safe, faster, and more efficient way to compact.