Simex has unveiled its new version of its ART 1000 for in-situ recycling of surface layers of asphalt.
Making its debut at bauma, Simex’s ART 1000 Gen II focuses on surface-level interventions for the functional recovery of road deterioration.
Attaching to a compact loader, ART 1000 Gen II does not require the removal of milled material or the addition of virgin bituminous mix. Instead, the Simex technology uses only the existing on-site material.
‘It’s not a paving machine, it’s a patching machine,” said Andrea Bonomi, Simex North America’s Chief Operating Officer. “It’s a compact system that is not involving a big budget for big pavers or big milling machines. It’s good for remote areas or municipalities that just need to repair the roads without spending a lot of money to completely repave the road.”
As well, it avoids the complete interruption of vehicular traffic, ensuring the road can be reopened immediately after restoration.
During the milling phase, the equipment uses an eco-friendly chemical rejuvenator to cold-recycle the bituminous aggregate produced.
ART consists of two drums: the first for milling (up to 1 metre wide) and mixing, and the second for crushing and disintegration.
In operation, the ART 1000 combines the following processes:
- Milling of the deteriorated road section
- Controlled injection of rejuvenators proportional to the working depth and the carrier’s speed
- Reduction of the milled material to the correct grain size
- Final mixing to create the recycled bituminous mix ready for compaction
After regeneration, the bituminous mix is deposited directly into the milled track and is ready to be levelled and compacted with a roller or vibrating plate.
In addition to the logistical advantages, the ART 1000 technology delivers environmental benefits thanks to the recovery and regeneration of 100 per cent of the on-site material, as well as a reduction in construction traffic.
New ART 1000 tech
In the past year, Simex has enhanced the onboard electronics of the ART 1000 to better meet the daily needs of road construction sites.
Simex has included a new video interface to improve connectivity between the operator and the ART 1000 technology. The interface displays real-time values such as progress, additive dosage and additive consumption. As well, it is possible to manually set a precise amount of rejuvenator (with a sensitivity of 100 ml per minute) according to the manufacturer’s specifications and the site’s environmental conditions.
The Simex software calibrates and adjusts the rejuvenator dosage according to the change in the carrier’s speed, based on parameters entered by the operator at the start of the job. The control display is paired with an LED indicator installed above the equipment in an ergonomic position, making it easy for the operator to monitor and ensure the correct speed for effective material mixing.
RELATED: Simex’s latest wheel saw reaches 70 cm depths
The 100-litre rear tank is now removable from the side, and thanks to a drainage cap located at the bottom, it can be easily emptied if necessary.
Additionally, the lateral movement of the tank allows access to the second drum compartment (crusher) from above, for cleaning and maintenance.
The grill that determines the correct grain size of the material exiting under the second drum is also easily removable from the side for proper maintenance and cleaning at the end of the day.
The removable tank and grill have been designed to ensure safe and easy access to the crusher drum of the equipment.
