During this year’s World of Asphalt in St. Louis, Hamm showed off its new Smart Compact Pro real-time density technology for its HD+ series of tandem-drum rollers.
The system adds a real-time scan sensor beneath the center of the roller that determines the asphalt density by measuring the dielectric conductivity, which forms the basis for correlation with density or porosity. In the video above, Tim Kowalski, applications support manager for Wirtgen America, explains how this ground-penetrating radar improves performance over the previous compaction software that used several sensors.
“We can eliminate the accelerometer, and we can eliminate the temperature sensors, because there's a built-in temperature sensor on the [radar] unit,” he says. “And we can eliminate the weather station. Now the machine, instead of being controlled by these sensors, is controlled by the actual density reading.”
The new radar sensor was preceded by Hamm’s Smart Compact assistant, which automatically controls compaction modes and forces for both drums and has been available since 2022.
According to Hamm, by adding Smart Compact Pro, which launches in August, contractors can see time and cost savings as it allows less-experienced operators to achieve stronger compaction results.
