CUTTING TOOLS Tools from Wirtgen ease the flow of reshaping roads
Construction company Wirtgen South Africa (SA) launched two new cutting tools for cold recyclers and soil stabilisers onto the South African market last month.
The company explains that, with cold recycling and soil stabilising, choosing the right cutting tools, alongside primary machinery, has a significant impact on both the quality and the cost efficiency of the application. No two cutting bases are the same; sometimes debris or large stones make soil stabilising more challenging or the base substrate for rehabilitation is studded with abrasive materials.
This means that not only do the cutting substrates differ significantly, but the forces that act on the milling and mixing rotor can also vary drastically as a result. In an effort to further enhance its range of cutting technology products and cater to the demands of particularly tough on-site conditions, Wirtgen Group developed two new cutting tools this year, namely the Generation Z and the HT22.
“The Generation Z point-attack cutting tools and the HT22 quick-change toolholder system are a great and robust combination. Offering long tool life and a host of benefits to the user, including high impact resistance, reduced wear and greater stability,” says Wirtgen SA parts manager Ian Kukard.
The reshaped carbide tip of the Generation Z point-attack cutting tools has been further reinforced and the quality of the carbide material has been optimised further. These improvements make the cutting tool more robust and resistant to large blocks of stone and abrasive materials.
The steel base, wear plate and clamping sleeve have also been modified, making the Generation Z components more durable. Cutting tools with shank diameters of either 22 mm or 25 mm can be used with the Generation Z range, so users can adapt to different requirements with ease and precision.
The HT22 quick-change toolholder system is a new development from Wirtgen Group. Owing to the updated geometrical design of the base and the upper and lower parts of the toolholder, as well as the enhanced steel quality, the system components are highly robust, offering the user greater stability. The hammer head of the redesigned base offers additional protection against wear.
“The direct benefit for the user is the extended service life of the cutters and the quick-change toolholder system. This results in fewer tool changes, less downtime on machinery, longer service intervals and increased machine availability, so soil can be stabilised cost-effectively regardless of challenging site conditions – even severely damaged road pavements can be recycled efficiently,” says Kukard.
Wirtgen SA is the local partner for Wirtgen Group’s sales and service offering in South Africa. Wirtgen Group offers a broad range of services tailored to individual requirements for all areas of road construction, as well as the mining and processing of pay minerals.
“Wirtgen Group is more than just a machine supplier; the delivery of a machine marks the beginning of a long-standing service partnership,” Kukard says, adding that its team of service experts is always on hand to answer questions concerning the machine and its operation. Short response times and fast solutions are guaranteed by the company’s experienced service specialists.
“Wirtgen SA is proud to bring this innovation to the South African market and looks forward to passing on the many benefits that come with the Generation Z and the HT22 to our South African customers,” Kukard concludes.