New Vögele paver rehabilitates a carriage road
In order not to disrupt visitor operations at Neuschwanstein Castle, work could only be carried out at night. The contractor therefore opted for the Vögele Paver SUPER 1800-5 X with the integrated Light Package Plus.
Neuschwanstein Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous tourist attractions in Germany. A large proportion of approximately 1.4 million visitors each year make the ascent to the castle by horse-drawn carriage. This is because, apart from emergency and maintenance vehicles, only they are allowed to drive on the steep, winding road. However, the horses’ iron-shod hooves place a heavy strain on the asphalt. The Bavarian Palace Administration therefore commissioned the renewal of the surface layer over a total length of 1.3 km.
High Performance and Traction
Steep inclines, hardly any room to maneuver, darkness: The conditions for rehabilitating the access road were difficult. That is why the construction company opted for the SUPER 1800-5 X paver. With its 129 kW power output, high traction, compact dimensions, and integrated lighting, it was perfectly tailored to the requirements.
Precise control in curves
First, the team milled around 7,000 m² of asphalt surface with a Wirtgen cold milling machine W 100 CFi. Subsequently, the Vögele Universal Class Paver laid approximately 800 tons of surface course material in three nights, in varying widths of 5 to 6 meters, and a thickness of around 4 centimeters. Given the curves, the new steering via SmartWheel was very helpful: The rotary knob on the ErgoPlus 5 paver’s console allows for particularly precise control. In combination with the SmartWheel on the screed control console, the paving team achieved a high-quality and even paving result on curves.
Good illumination, less set-up time
During night-time operation, the SUPER 1800-5 X also scored points with its new Plus lighting package, which includes various lighting elements: lighting integrated into the roof and crossbar of the control panel, LEDs on the levelling cylinders, three flexibly positioned spotlights, and powerful, permanently integrated LEDs in a specially developed roof extension. They provide optimum illumination over an installation width of up to 10 meters and up to 4 meters behind the screed. The light output is comparable to that of lighting balloons, but they do not need to be transported or assembled separately. “This saved us a lot of set-up time here on the construction site,” says Stefan Keller, senior site manager at Geiger Hoch- und Tiefbau GmbH & Co. KG, the company carrying out the construction work. “With Light Package Plus, we were able to illuminate all relevant paver and work areas in a targeted manner, thereby ensuring maximum safety even in the dark.”
Set-up and start at the push of a button
The Paver Access Control (PAC) function was also practical: This enabled the installation team to commission the SUPER 1800-5 X from the ground and activate the lighting before even stepping onto the operating platform. Using the control unit located on the paving screed, the operators started all the initial steps at the touch of a button, such as switching on the lighting, starting the diesel engine, booting up the machine control system, raising and locking the roof, and lowering the paving screed. After finishing work, they moved the road paver into transport position in the same way.
High pre-compaction, low-noise installation
The latest generation of extending screeds AB 600 ensured high pre-compaction. All components that come into contact with the material are constantly heated, which ensured a homogeneous surface structure. Compared to the previous model, the new extending screed can be heated even more efficiently and is significantly quieter in operation thanks to structural optimizations. Together with the noise-optimized drive concept of the SUPER 1800-5 X, the installation team was able to ensure quiet night-time operation.
Partener Principal
MATEK Build Smart