Wirtgen’s new slipform paver

Wirtgen has released the SP 154i, updating its family of large slipform pavers. The new paver is primarily used for two-layer concrete paving on highways and airport runways and replaces Wirtgen’s SP 1500 model.

The SP 154i has a 436hp Cummins engine that meets EU Stage V/US EPA Tier 4f exhaust emission standards and can pave concrete surfaces up to 16m wide and 450mm thick.

When paving concrete in two layers, three separate machines work together to form a paving train: a bottom layer concrete paver, a top layer concrete paver, and a TCM (texture curing machine). In this process, the SP 154i can be used as either a bottom layer or top layer concrete paver.

As a bottom layer paver, the slipform paver is equipped with an automatic dowel bar inserter, up to three automatic side tie-bar inserters, and a concrete conveyor to the top layer paver. The heavy-duty paving mold paves the concrete true to line and level while the paver moves forward. Electric vibrators compact the concrete before dowels and tie bars are precisely inserted into the bottom layer concrete.

According to Wirtgen, the result is a homogeneous, cost-effective concrete surface that forms the ideal base for the high-quality top layer concrete.

When using the SP 154i as a top layer paver, the top layer concrete is conveyed over and across the bottom layer paver via a belt conveyor and placed on the fresh bottom layer concrete in front of the top layer paver. The top layer concrete is paved ‘wet on wet’ and compacted with T-vibrators specially designed for top layer concrete.

The slipform paver comes standard-equipped with an oscillating beam and super smoother to produce a level surface, while the hydraulically adjustable one-piece or two-piece side plates on both sides minimise concrete loss. Specially designed trailing forms and extended side plates ensure that the slipform paver can produce perfect concrete corners.

The SP 154i has four steerable and slewing crawler units; making the units independent of each other is said to make transport easy and results in minimal assembly/disassembly. The SP 154i is also reported to feature a high degree of automation.