Germany-based Joseph Vogele says its new generation of material feeders guarantee constant, smooth transfer of material, while providing paving teams with numerous practical new features that facilitate material transfer.

The MT 3000-3i Standard and MT 3000-3i Offset PowerFeeders with pivoting conveyor integrate the latest Dash-3 machine concept and an optimised material handling and maintenance system.

“Material feeders form a hub in the transfer of material from trucks to pavers, thus guaranteeing a constant and efficient paving process and high paving quality on large job sites,” says a spokesman for  Vogele. “To increase the user-friendly nature and efficiency of the machines still further, Joseph Vogele has now comprehensively overhauled its former Dash-2 generation. The efficient and ergonomic Dash-3 machine concept includes, among other things, the ErgoPlus 3 intuitive operating concept, AutoSet Plus automatic functions and the PaveDock Assistant truck communication system.”

Vogele has also optimised the material handling concept: the new design of the receiving hopper, the improved conveyor belt control and the effective belt heating system allow material to be unloaded and conveyed rapidly without loss – whilst simultaneously reducing wear.

The MT 3000-3i Standard and MT 3000-3i Offset PowerFeeders ... designed to boost paving efficiency.

Maintenance and transport have, likewise, been simplified, the spokesman says. Users can now reach setting and cleaning points even more conveniently. The angle of inclination and the receiving hopper have also been optimised for transport on a low-loader.

“We have developed the new generation of PowerFeeders in close collaboration with our customers,” says Bastian Fleischer, Product Manager at Joseph Vogele. “All the functions are aimed at making job site processes even more efficient, economical and convenient – whilst delivering the same high performance.”

Both versions of the material feeder achieve a conveying capacity of up to 1,200 tonnes per hour (tph) and can accommodate a full truckload of mix within 60 seconds. The MT 3000-3i Offset is also equipped with a conveyor belt which can be pivoted 55 degrees. This provides contractors with a wide variety of potential applications, from parallel feeding two pavers to the so-called InLine Pave method, in which the material feeder, the paver for the binder course and the paver for the surface course work one after the other, Fleischer explains.

Both the MT 3000-3i Standard and the MT 3000-3i Offset integrate the ErgoPlus 3 operating concept to increase efficiency on the job site. In the process, Vogele designed the operator’s console specifically to suit the requirements of material feeder operators, making it as intuitive and convenient as possible: all the functions are arranged in logical groups, and clear function and status indicators, a high-contrast display and glare-free backlighting also facilitate operation for users.

The AutoSet Plus and PaveDock Assistant assistance systems are also new; Vogele previously offered these only for pavers of the Dash-3 generation. “With the AutoSet Plus automatic functions, operators just have to push a button to put the material feeder in the transport, repositioning or operating positions – or to save material handling programmes and just as easily call up these settings again whenever they are required. This is especially practical on job sites which require frequent repositioning or have similar paving requirements,” Fleischer elaborates.

The optional PaveDock Assistant communication system facilitates material transfer: the material feeder operator can use two signal lights to show the truck driver clearly whether he is to back up, stop or dump mix, he continues. If the InLine Pave method is in use, the signal lights also indicate whether material for the surface course or the binder course is required. This allows reliable, loss-free and efficient material transfer.

In continuing to develop this product, Vogele paid particular attention to the conveying components: the new design of receiving hopper, for example, guarantees extremely fast material transfer and loss-free conveying. On the one hand, colour-coded markings on the receiving hopper simplify the material transfer process, even in the dark. On the other hand, the offset and the additional seals in the inlet area prevent loss of material and soiling of the conveyor belt.

Vogele has also improved conveyor belt running even further: a new control system and special centring aids ensure that the conveyor belt always remains centred, even under difficult conditions involving crossfall.

“Another important new feature is the optimised belt heating,” says Fleischer. “The new control system provides optimum temperature management and is even more economical than before.” The system can handle even critical materials, such as low-temperature asphalt, without loss of temperature.

Users of the MT 3000-3i Standard and Offset material feeders – which weigh 20 and 24 tonnes respectively – can now inspect, maintain and clean these new machines much more easily: Vogele has significantly improved access to the maintenance and setting points, as well as to the cleaning zones. For example, the transfer hopper of the MT 3000-3i Offset is hinged, and its larger step makes it easy to clean.

The setting points have also been reduced in number and colour-coded to make them more easily identifiable. Contractors can also transport the new material feeders comparatively quickly and easily: on the one hand, the large angle of inclination of 15 degrees makes it easier to load feeders onto commercial low-loaders, whilst on the other, the receiving hopper of the new models can be raised 25 cm higher than before. This now allows users to deposit material feeders on the goose neck of the low-loader without any issues, significantly reducing transport length.