Kennards introduces remote-controlled plate compactors

Remote-controlled vibratory plate compactors, which weigh just 1.2 tonne but exert as much pressure as a seven-tonne drum roller, have been introduced by Kennards Hire in some areas.

They are easy to transport, extremely manoeuvrable on site and protect operators from vibration, dust and emissions.

Craig Milner, construction manager for Western Australia construction company, Oostveen Pty Ltd, said they had been using a 500kg compactor on a project but, in sandy conditions, were having problems getting the required compaction.

“The new machine does one pass and we get a penetrometer reading of 15, compared with 11 previously, and that’s without wetting the sand,” he said. “The biggest advantage is there is no user fatigue or danger.”

Transfield Services trialled one of the units while working for the Australian Rail Track Corporation on upgrading 794km of track between Whyalla and Broken Hill, and Parkes and Cootamundra.

Harry Cailes, project delivery co-ordinator for Transfield Services, said that while the unit exerted as much pressure as a mid-size roller, “you can put it in a trailer and travel from site to site, and lift it into the hole using the jib of a front end loader”.

The infrastructure company used another of the units while working for TransAdelaide to remove and re-lay rail track during the expansion of the Adelaide Convention Centre, a Baulderstone project.

Supervisor Barrie Cornish said it was “a winner”. “It has good compaction – once up and once back, and you know it’s tight, and it also has great safety features,” he said.

Kennards Hire, with 124 hire centres around Australia, also has added more remote-controlled padfoot rollers, 500kg plate compactors and 1.5 tonne to 4 tonne vibratory, ride-on rollers.