After an 11-year absence, Ingersoll Rand is once again in the milling machine business. “Our road customers have asked us to do this,” says Gary Michel, Ingersoll Rand road development president. “We also feel this is a product we need to offer in order to be competitive in the paving business.” The company places the global milling market at $400 million, and says 68 percent of customers who buy milling machines also purchase products currently offered by its road development division – particularly highway-class pavers and double-drum and single-drum rollers.
Ingersoll Rand is introducing two machines immediately, the 20-inch-drum-width MW-500 utility milling machine and the four-track, front-load, half-lane MT-2000. These will be joined by four additional models during the next four years. The entire range will offer cutting widths from 20 inches to 14 feet.
Intuitive layout
The MT-2000’s control panel is more intuitive than a normal row of control switches, according to the company. “Our control panel is laid out as if you were looking down on the machine,” says Patrick Wakefield, marketing manager-milling, Ingersoll Rand. “All switches are color coded by function and the buttons are backlit for night or low visibility work.”
Machine gauges appear on a summary display screen. This screen can be switched to one of eight diagnostic screens, which go deeper into machine systems. “If there’s an issue with the hydraulic system, for example, the hydraulic diagnostic screen will provide more detailed information,” Wakefield says.
All of this, Wakefield comments, makes it easy to understand and learn the machine’s controls. “It increases a milling crew’s efficiency without sacrificing being able to understand what’s going on with the machine.”
One-touch transport preparation
With the MT-2000’s one-touch raise feature, touch a button on the operator’s panel and the machine will shut down the cutting drum and water spray bars in the drum and conveyor, turn off both the upper and lower conveyors and raise all four track legs. “Crews tell us this is most beneficial when cutting around manhole covers,” Wakefield says, “when you have to stop cutting for a short distance, then get back into the cut.”
Three distinct drum cutting speeds – 1,400 engine rpm for deep cuts, 1,800 engine rpm for standard cuts and 2,200 engine rpm for shallow cuts – can be changed on the fly from the operator control panels. Cutting drums, available in both 78.75-inch and 86-inch widths, are used with either weld-on or quick-change tooth holders and fine or standard tooth spacing patterns.
In addition to front, rear, coordinated and crab steering modes, the machine also offers circle steer for tight turning radiuses. The platform and ladder on the right side provide a secondary access point and also folds away for flush cutting. A walk-in service compartment allows you raise the hood and walk up into an area where you can easily access the engine, hydraulic components, fan and coolers.
MW-500
Applications: patching, cutting manholes and utility trenches
Features:
- Compact and highly maneuverable with a 7-inch cutting radius
- Right rear leg swivels in for flush cutting of curbs
- All wheel drive with anti-slip control
- Line Manager technology for greater straight line cutting capability
Quick specs:
- 20-inch drum width
- Maximum 8-inch cut depth
Manufactured in Hamelin, Germany
MT-2000
Applications: half-lane milling
Features:
- Can change drum cutting speeds on the fly – controls on operator’s panel
- Five steering modes: front, rear, crab, coordinated and circle, in which the machine pivots on its axis
- Active obstacle detection on tracks
- Rear video monitor
Quick specs:
- 79-inch drum width; optional 86-inch drum
- 14-inch maximum cutting depth
- 600-horsepower Cummins engine
- 1,330-cubic-yards-per-hour theoretical conveyor system capacity
Manufactured in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
