Wirtgen Group, a leading Germany-based manufacturer of road construction machinery and maintenance equipment, has enjoyed year-on-year growth in the UAE market.

The group – which includes three specialised companies: Wirtgen in Windhagen, Joseph Vogele in Mannheim and Hamm in Tirschenreuth – leads the world market in the development and sale of machinery for road construction with a consolidated turnover of around $798 million in 2003, says a spokesman for the group.
In the UAE, Wirtgen holds a leading position in the road milling segment with its double drum steel roller enjoying a 40 per cent market share. Hamm and Vogele products have achieved significant success in recent years and are said to have captured about 60 per cent of the UAE market in their sector last year.
 “We have established a fruitful business relationship with Vogele over the past four to five years. During this time, the sale of Vogele wheeled and crawler-type road pavers has shown a dramatic increase in the UAE and all the major road contractors are now using the Vogele product,” says a spokesman for Genavco, the UAE-based distributor for Wirgen group.
“With regard to the Wirtgen product, we have started earnestly to sell only during the past 12 months and we are already starting to make our mark with some major contracting companies who have shown keen interest particularly with the cold milling machine and the slipform pavers. “The Hamm agency has been with Genavco over the past two decades and during this time we have been, by far, the largest seller of road rollers in this part of the world.
“All this is the result of the dedication of our sales, service and spare parts department staff who spare no efforts to keep our customers fully satisfied. As one can well imagine, these specialised products require skilled staff for their operation and with the kind of training our factory-trained engineers impart, the result is hassle-free road construction work. Also, this type of work is carried out mostly at nights and we provide a 24-hour standby factory engineer who can attend to any problems.  Any parts not in our stock can be sourced within 48 to 72 hours from the time the problem and the parts requirement has been identified.
“We are confident that with the type of service Wirtgen/Genavco offers to its clients it will continue to make major strides and remain the market leaders,” he adds.
The group unveiled several innovations at the recent bauma 2004. Says the spokesman: “Wirtgen Group displayed 70 machines over an outdoor area of 8,000 sq m at the exhibition grounds in Munich, Germany. The machines on display included more than a dozen new developments from the Wirtgen Group.”

Wirtgen
At bauma, Wirtgen unveiled its next generation of small milling machines and new products for cold recycling as well as slipform paving.
“Wirtgen’s passion for road construction is reflected in the record number of new developments: two newly-designed small milling machines, the powerful recycler WR 2000 and the high-performance recycler WR 4200, as well as the new SP 500 Vario slipform paver were presented for the first time at bauma,” says a spokesman.
The W 50 and W 50 DC small milling machines, with a working width of 500 mm each, are innovative all-rounders for contractors and specialists in milling services. The new generation of milling machines feature outstanding operator comfort and an ergonomic design. In addition to the unmistakable Wirtgen design, the W 50 and W 50 DC also include technical highlights such as the supporting wheel, which can be swivelled inwards or outwards at the push of a button – as a standard feature. The concept of the small milling machine is rounded off by the integrated Flexible Cutter System (FCS), which allows the quick and easy changing of the drums for different milling jobs, he adds.

Vogele
Joseph Vogele introduced its revolutionary new mobile feeder MT 1000-1 and the new high compaction screed TVP2 at bauma 2004.
“The new high-performance mobile feeder MT 1000-1 is predestined for use wherever a high, continuous paving performance is required. Due to its high capacity, the MT 1000-1 can ensure a continuous supply of material even for such large pavers as the Vogele Super 2500.
“The TVP2 is a concrete paving screed with extremely high compaction levels, which consequently makes secondary compaction unnecessary. Layers up to 26 cm thick can be paved, depending on the concrete formula,” he adds.

Hamm
Considered a trendsetter in compaction technology, Hamm presented a spectacular new generation of road rollers for the first time at the trade fair. The new generation of tandem rollers featuring the machines DV 40, DV 70 and DV 90 sets new standards in compaction technology, not only on account of the revolutionary clear-view concept with an unhindered view of the drums but also on account of the manoeuvrability, ergonomic operating concept and design the new DV series offers, the spokesman says.
In the earthworks sector, Hamm presented additional versions of its Series 3000 with a new weight class optimally supplementing the established series.
The success of the Wirtgen Group rests on its pioneering spirit, continuous innovation and extremely high quality standards. Wirtgen has more than 50 sales and service companies worldwide and an extensive dealer network.