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Demanding project paving a karting track

Vögele wheeled pavers master every bend

In Hemer, in Germany’s North-Rhine Westphalia, two SUPER 1303-3i machines and a SUPER 1803-2 paved a circuit with seven hairpin bends and a chicane. A key factor in delivering a high-quality result here was the wheeled undercarriage in particular.

Germany | Hemer (North-Rhine Westphalia)

“Like flying a helicopter in your living room” is how three-time world Formula 1 champion Nelson Piquet once described driving the Monte Carlo racing circuit. A job site in Hemer, in Germany’s North-Rhine Westphalia, created a very similar impression when Vögele Compact Class machines paved a new karting track there.

Two wheeled pavers of the SUPER 1303-3i type delivered precision work here, paving seven hairpin bends and an obstacle, a so-called chicane, over precisely 391.49 m, all in an incredibly small space.

New test circuit for a go-kart manufacturer

A circuit for carts built in the northern Sauerland in North-Rhine Westphalia had to satisfy the most exacting requirements. This is because the world market leader in electric and gas-driven go-karts tests its products here and invites customers and fans to experience some racing action. The important thing was to make the best possible use of the limited space on site and to implement a demanding track in terms of driving dynamics. The result was a plan to construct a track 391.49 m long including seven hairpin bends with a crossfall of up to 20% and a chicane. This paving challenge was faced by a total of three Vögele wheeled pavers.

It was impressive to see how smoothly the Vögele pavers took the bends.

Dominik Twer, project manager at Ossenberg Aufbereitung, Straßen- und Tiefbau GmbH

Wheeled pavers master tight bends

Two Vögele Compact Class machines paved the carriageway to a width of between 5.2 and 9.5 m. At the widest points, the paving team also used the SUPER 1803-2 Universal Class paver. A key factor in delivering a high-quality result here was the wheeled undercarriage of the two SUPER 1303-3i machines in particular. This is because wheeled pavers are an advantage for paving tight bends because they steer with extreme precision and their 6x4 drive means they always have grip. Two pneumatic rear tyres and four front wheels mounted on bogies also even up irregularities outstandingly well. The key technology on the incredibly tight hairpin bends was the Pivot Steer steering brake. “It is impressive to see how smoothly the Vögele paver took the bends,” acknowledged Dominik Twer, project manager at Ossenberg Aufbereitung, Straßen- und Tiefbau GmbH.

For maximum manœuvrability: Pivot Steer

The Pivot Steer function makes SUPER wheeled pavers especially easy to manœuvre. This function automatically brakes the rear wheel on the inside of the bend hydraulically, effectively leaving the paver to pull the wheel through the bend. This is why Pivot Steer is also referred to as a steering brake. It permits minimal turning circles which is a huge bonus on cramped job sites in particular – on projects in congested inner-cities, for example, as well as those involving racing circuits.

3.8 m - the outer turning circle of the SUPER 1303-3i with Pivot Steer

“Hot to hot” round the circuit

As is usual on race track job sites, paving was performed “hot to hot”. This is because the more bends a track has, the greater the benefit of the smallest possible pave width, ensuring that the auger always transfers the right quantity of material to the full width being paved - even if left and right-hand bends constantly take over from one another. This created a track which met the specifications precisely. In addition to great evenness, the AB 340 TV Extending Screed ensured the best possible surface properties for this project.

“Hot to hot” par excellence: the two SUPER 1303-3i machines paved the race track without joints.

Vögele material feeder buffers mix

Supplying mix on the job site was a challenge: it was impossible for large trucks to drive around on the site, so a Vögele material feeder rendered valuable service. An MT 3000-2i Offset PowerFeeder was positioned at a favourable location close to the entrance to receive material from the mix trucks. The 16.4 t capacity of the receiving hopper was a great advantage here. The material feeder used the pivoting conveyor to transfer the material to the material hoppers of the two SUPER 1303-3i machines – though only if these were working within the range of the MT 3000-2i Offset PowerFeeder. At all other points, the asphalt was transferred to wheeled loaders which then transported it to the pavers.