The Wirtgen Group of Germany is all set to display more than 70 technically advanced equipment including milling machines, flexible cutter systems, a cold recycler, a slipform paver, asphalt pavers and roller train series at bauma 2001.

It has booked a pavilion area of more than 7,700 sq m in the outdoor area and adopted the slogan "leading technologies for road construction".

The group, comprising Wirtgen GmbH, Joseph Vogele AG and Hamm AG, is reputed for its technical innovations that underline its position as a front-runner in road construction, says a spokesman for the group.

Elaborating on the latest machines produced by Wirten, he says: ''Wirtgen's new, powerful and large milling machine models W 1500, W 1900 and W 2100 have enabled it to set the pace in the field of road rehabilitation and pavement milling. A world novelty that underlines the company's key competence in cutting technology is the flexible cutter system (FCS), a fast-change system for milling drums that increases flexibility and the profitability of the Wirtgen cold milling machines on site.

''Another important new product which is expected to attract attention is the new cold recycler 2200 CR which can also be put into action as a high-performance cold milling machine. For all road construction companies that are looking for an economical environmentally-friendly cold recycling technology and who want to include 'cold recycling' in the scope of work they have to offer, the 2200 CR is the ideal machine.

''Another innovation, the SP 1500 is a powerful slipform paver on four crawler tracks for the construction of concrete pavements up to a width of 15.25 m.''

The family of Wirtgen surface miners has been expanded with two new giants for the selective mining of mineral deposits and the cutting of rock - 2200 SM and 2500 SM - which will increase Wirtgen's present range of mining machines to five different models. The new models will make their debut at bauma.

Joseph Vogele too is offering new products that the group says will undoubtedly cause a stir. One of these is the versatile Super 1203 that sets the pace in the machine class of small asphalt pavers, the spokesman says.

''The Super 1203, which is a compact, wheel-mounted paver with an operational width of only 1.7 m, achieves an unusually high degree of compaction and, with its large-capacity hopper, offers advantages for the day-to-day operation on site'' he says.

Another new machine, the powerful Super 1903, which is expected to be trendsetter, will also make its debut at bauma. ''The wheel-mounted paver with its effective 6x6 all-wheel drive achieves maximum power by optimum traction. With a paving width of 8.5 m and a generously dimensioned receiving hopper, the Super 1903 is the flexible asphalt paver for job sites all over the world,'' he says.

The new AB 500 is described as an extendible screed that can be widened from its basic width of 2.5 m up to a width of 5.0 m, and further extended by ancillary parts to a total width of 8.0 m. It will, in future, make the Vogele asphalt pavers of the medium and upper class range even more flexible in their operation on site, the spokesman points out.

A trendsetter in the earthmoving industry from Hamm is the new Hamm roller train series of the 3000 generation. The microprocessor-controlled Hammtronic is available as an optional extra.

"This electronic machine management system monitors and governs all engine and machine functions - unique in the whole construction industry," he boasts. ''This 'brain' of the roller train ensures optimum traction depending upon gradient, skid and advance speed, resulting in the incredible climbing ability of the 3000 series.''

This new generation of compactors will be offered in a total of 10 basic models with more than 30 different specification varieties, so that each possible job site requirement can be met.

The group achieved a consolidated total turnover of DM1.1 billion ($517 million) in 2000.