VIDEO: Contractor uses Wirtgen AutoPilot 2.0 to complete concrete slipform paving 50 percent faster than with stringline

A Wirtgen slipform paver produced curbs and gutters for a new residential development currently under construction in Springfield, Oregon. The team used an SP 15i with integrated Autopilot 2.0 to speed up the construction process and deliver precise paving results. 

Wirtgen further improves its slipform technology with the new AutoPilot 2.0 3D control system

Curb and gutter profiles for the new residential development in Springfield were paved over a distance of more than 730 metres with the Wirtgen SP 15i. The SP 15i slipform paver replaces complex surveying, setup and breakdown of physical stringlines, and the creation of a geodetic data model. Overall, the new system reduces time, labour, and costs associated with large paving projects. 

Wirtgen AutoPilot 2.0 enables economical and precise paving of offset and inset profiles. The control system paves concrete safety barriers, curbs, traffic islands, or road-surface slabs with widths of up to 3.5 metres.

The AutoPilot 2.0 3D control system uses a digital data model created either from existing data or from new data collected on the construction site. The software computes the ideal line for the concrete paving process from all the measured points. Two GPS receivers mounted on the machine communicate with a GPS reference station on the construction site. The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) automatically controls the steering and the cross slope of the slipform paver. Wirtgen offers AutoPilot 2.0 for the SP 15i, SP 25i, and SP 33 models. Retrofitting is also possible.

How an Oregon-based contractor used Wirtgen's SP 15i to finish a big project

Lead contractor Roger Langeliers Construction Co. (RLC) relies on a fleet of equipment to fulfill its customers' quality goals and deadlines. Simultaneously, the company is focused on assuring that operators can work safely, quickly, and comfortably. The team has been using the Wirtgen SP 15i to accomplish these goals. 

For Project Manager Thomas Kallai, the integration of AutoPilot 2.0 raises the construction process to a new level. "We're working with a Wirtgen SP 15i, running AutoPilot for the whole project. It took us about two or three hours to shoot the 730 metres. Then, we upload all the information to the tablet on the machine, and away it goes," he shared. 

The paving crew appreciated how quickly and easily it was to learn how to operate the machine. "It's really very simple. Anybody could turn it on, learn it, and operate it fairly easily," says machine operator Kevin Valentine, who has been working with the SP 15i for the past two years.

"The low fuel consumption is a game changer for us," explains Kevin Valentine. "We can run two huge jobs without fueling up for three days. In ECO mode, the machine automatically adjusts the power requirement as soon as we turn on the Trimmer or the conveyor belt." In addition to its low fuel consumption, the slipform paver is also less prone to breakdowns: Valentine is responsible for ensuring the correct operation of the SP 15i and appreciates the machine's reliability. Even with continuous use over four days, a single fill of diesel exhaust fluid is sufficient. 

Kallai noted that the time saved when changing the mold, which can be done on site, is a big advantage: "It's a well-balanced machine. That makes it easier to adapt to each specific working situation. Setup is fast." With the quick-change mounting system, changing the mold is really easy. The machine operator only has to flip a switch, and the mold more or less walks itself onto the machine."

Wirtgen service technicians made the software upgrade seamless

Before working with the first SP 15i, RLC had always worked with physical stringlines. The switch to the Wirtgen machine was smooth and seamless. RLC was assisted by Wirtgen service technicians, who not only explained the operation and maintenance of the machine but also the various functions.

A year later, Kallai and his crew got another visit from the familiar faces of the Wirtgen service team when the AutoPilot 2.0 was retrofitted onto the machine: "The Wirtgen reps came back and worked on several jobs. They taught us how to shoot it, adjust the machine for steering or elevation, and then helped us work out any issues we had while shooting the job. That helped us enormously."

Features on the revised SP 33 slipform paver 

In the meantime, Wirtgen has launched another new slipform paver model, the SP 33. Its revised operating concept simplifies day-to-day operations on the construction site. The revisions include a better visibility concept, an HMI with touchscreen control, and improved on-site flexibility. In addition to offset paving, the SP 33 now also offers paving with the Crosspave method. Here, the concrete is paved transversely to the direction of travel without a Trimmer. With its sliding crawler units, the SP 33 can manoeuvre easily, even on construction sites with extremely restricted space.