Light Equipment
Small Ammann Compactors Succeed on Tight – And Open – Jobsite
LANGENTHAL - A recent landscaping project appeared to have a crew in a bind. The project was too confined for large compactors – but in some areas too open for light equipment to tackle the job.
The answer: Ammann light compaction machines, which excel in tight spaces and are powerful and productive enough to match larger rollers in open areas.
“We used the Ammann (APR and APH) plates because of their simple operation and versatility,” said Hagen Albrecht, compaction crew foreman for Witschi Bau, a Swiss contractor.
The project called for Witschi Bau to install a large garden, outdoor deck and pipes for a new hotel complex. The company Witschi Bau, with 150 employees, is specialises in residential construction, roadbuilding/transportation and recycling.
Work included preparation for paving and landscaping all around the hotel complex. The jobsite was in Langenthal, Switzerland.
The compaction dilemma was readily apparent to Albrecht.
“The jobsite didn’t have one large area that required compaction, but instead had many smaller spaces that couldn’t accommodate a heavy roller,” Albrecht said. “Although the work was divided into smaller areas, there were still some spaces that at first glance appeared too large for plate compactors to tackle.”
Albrecht said the Ammann plates proved to be up to all challenges and were great tools on the hotel project.
“We could efficiently compact small to mid-sized patches where the use of a larger roller is not easy,” Albrecht said. “There typically wasn’t enough space for the larger machines. On the occasions there was, we saw no point in transporting a heavy roller when the job could be done with a smaller tool that is already on the site – and can finish in less time.”
Intuitive operation
Not all crew members were particularly trained on this kind of equipment. In addition, the jobsite demanded that varied machines be used by all crew members working on site. This meant the machines had to be easy to operate and intuitive to use.
The learning curve for crew members proved minimal. “The tools are simple to use and excellent performers,” Albrecht said. There is a continuity between machines as well. Lessons learned on one Ammann machine could typically be applied to another.
Ammann Rammers are easy to grip from all sides and have excellent balance, which helps new operators succeed immediately. “They make it safe to work in trenches or when tamping over large rock materials where a lesser rammer would tend to lose its balance,” Albrecht said.
Productivity
Ammann machines were able to deliver compaction in minimal passes, whether working on soil or asphalt.
“Ammann APF Plates are great all-around machines that are appreciated for their manoeuvrability and speed,” Albrecht said. At Witschi Bau, the forward-moving plate is mainly used for support on paving jobs, including work on corners and in confined areas. “But the plates also proofed afficient on small soil patches. “The plates are valuable additions on any jobsite,” he added.
A Little Thing that Means a Lot
Employees appreciated the ease of filling the water tank. “The operator doesn’t have to bring the complete plate to the water supply,” Albrecht said. “Instead, the tank can easily be removed and carried to the water – then filled and mounted back on the plate without the need for any tools.”
The Equipment
The answer: Ammann light compaction machines, which excel in tight spaces and are powerful and productive enough to match larger rollers in open areas.
“We used the Ammann (APR and APH) plates because of their simple operation and versatility,” said Hagen Albrecht, compaction crew foreman for Witschi Bau, a Swiss contractor.
The project called for Witschi Bau to install a large garden, outdoor deck and pipes for a new hotel complex. The company Witschi Bau, with 150 employees, is specialises in residential construction, roadbuilding/transportation and recycling.
Work included preparation for paving and landscaping all around the hotel complex. The jobsite was in Langenthal, Switzerland.
The compaction dilemma was readily apparent to Albrecht.
“The jobsite didn’t have one large area that required compaction, but instead had many smaller spaces that couldn’t accommodate a heavy roller,” Albrecht said. “Although the work was divided into smaller areas, there were still some spaces that at first glance appeared too large for plate compactors to tackle.”
Albrecht said the Ammann plates proved to be up to all challenges and were great tools on the hotel project.
“We could efficiently compact small to mid-sized patches where the use of a larger roller is not easy,” Albrecht said. “There typically wasn’t enough space for the larger machines. On the occasions there was, we saw no point in transporting a heavy roller when the job could be done with a smaller tool that is already on the site – and can finish in less time.”
Intuitive operation
Not all crew members were particularly trained on this kind of equipment. In addition, the jobsite demanded that varied machines be used by all crew members working on site. This meant the machines had to be easy to operate and intuitive to use.
The learning curve for crew members proved minimal. “The tools are simple to use and excellent performers,” Albrecht said. There is a continuity between machines as well. Lessons learned on one Ammann machine could typically be applied to another.
Ammann Rammers are easy to grip from all sides and have excellent balance, which helps new operators succeed immediately. “They make it safe to work in trenches or when tamping over large rock materials where a lesser rammer would tend to lose its balance,” Albrecht said.
Productivity
Ammann machines were able to deliver compaction in minimal passes, whether working on soil or asphalt.
“Ammann APF Plates are great all-around machines that are appreciated for their manoeuvrability and speed,” Albrecht said. At Witschi Bau, the forward-moving plate is mainly used for support on paving jobs, including work on corners and in confined areas. “But the plates also proofed afficient on small soil patches. “The plates are valuable additions on any jobsite,” he added.
A Little Thing that Means a Lot
Employees appreciated the ease of filling the water tank. “The operator doesn’t have to bring the complete plate to the water supply,” Albrecht said. “Instead, the tank can easily be removed and carried to the water – then filled and mounted back on the plate without the need for any tools.”
The Equipment
- APF 15/40 Forward Moving Vibratory Plate Compactors
- APR 59/20 Reversible Vibratory Plate Compactors
- APH 6530 Hydrostatic Vibratory Plate Compactors
- ATR 68P Rammers
- ACR 70D Rammers
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