John Elko is the Senior Business Development Manager for BOMAG America, and he spent some time with me on the World of Asphalt 2025 show floor to answer my questions about the updated CR 1030 T and CR 820 T2 highway-class asphalt pavers.
Tell me about the updated CR 820 T.
“This is no longer a frame raise unit that would basically incorporate your conveyors. With a frame raise, your augers and your conveyors are tied into one. What we’ve done with this unit is, you can control individual auger conveyors, left versus right. We’ve incorporated our new MOBA system into the tractor. This also has [an] HMI display, incorporated standard. You’ll still have your slope box. This one is set up for Topcon, but this panel will stay integrated to the machine. All the functionalities that you’ll see within your toe point – your automation and selecting up and down. To your side, will be on your Topcon display, so you’ll be able to select your actual heights for what you’re trying to pave.”
“With our augers on the outside, you’ll see that we also have your ability to control your height of your actual mix coming out. You’re in control of your actual volume. Segregation is always a huge problem under all pavers, and a lot of that consists in the middle of the conveyors. Everybody has their chain case in the middle of their conveyors. We [do] not – ours outboard drive are on each side. So basically, in the middle, instead of having something where the material can push up underneath your chain case box, you won’t have that. Center-line segregation is a thing of the past for the Cedar Rapids paver.”
What are some features that set apart the CR 1030?
“This machine will be our new front mount screed. For our angle of attack screws, we’ve changed this within the industry standards for a front-mount screen, they’re nice, easy two finger lifts. And we’ve raised the height about twelve inches. This puts it at the operators midsection, where they can use it comfortably. Two finger control, very quick reaction. We have coarse thread screws instead of fine thread, so they hold their positioning very well, and they’re very fast.”
What is the max pavement width on these models?
“They will be 20 foot. We were able to actually incorporate our tubing system off of our BF pavers from Italy, and actually apply them over here to North America. They’ve already been proven. It’s not a double-sliding system. It’s single. There’s nothing else in the industry like that. If you’re even blown out all the way to max width, you know, these are going to reduce that potential for bowing.”
Between the rear mount screen or front mount screen, are you a rear mount guy or a front mount guy?
“From my past days, I was a front mount. But I’m kind of torn now because when we did our testing – I’ve done a lot of startups with the rear mount, and the mat is absolutely beautiful when it lays a mat. Yet, this here is a 7,000-pound screed for a stretch, 20. Now, when you’re dealing with our Versa 20 screen, that is coming in at 9,300 pounds. There’s no forgiveness. Whatever goes underneath it is gonna look absolutely beautiful.”
What are you trying to emphasize to paving contractors?
“Well, I think there’s a couple of things. First of all, … we got it right the first time with the wear components on our pavers. But we needed to do some updates as far as for more technology, right? We wanted to have it integrated into the system, and that’s what we really did. What we have now is just a true modern paver that is still surprisngly simple – it’s still a 12-volt system. We only have two controllers, one for the tractor, one for the screed.And, last but not least, when it comes to serviceability and functionality, and actually having somebody who’s never paved and they want to learn how to pave, you won’t find a better paver than a Cedar Rapids from BOMAG.”
Brandon Noel
View the original article and our Inspiration here
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