1/2011

The Ammann Group Magazine
CANADA:
BIG CHALLENGES
Climate tests compaction machines
THUMBS UP FOR
NEW SOFTWARE MODULE
Simple, cost-effective and safe production
PASSIONATE
MICHEL FOUVY
Swiss producer of both asphalt and wine
GROWTH MARKET TURKEY
Roads and schools are the key to success
04/2011
2 Contents
Title image
A well-developed road
network provides the
basis for Turkey's dynamic
development.
BIG CHALLENGES AWAIT
IN CANADA
04
10
AMMANN TAKES A BOLD
STEP IN TURKEY
ON SITE: The success story of asphalt
mixing plants continues in the
land of Atatürk.
ON SITE: Ammann gains a foothold
in the land of contrasts
with its compaction machines.
16
34
AMMANN ITALY STRENGTHENS
THE GLOBAL MARKET PRESENCE
A PLEASURE with
a twist
FOCUS: Ammann Italy has grown from the cradle of road building to world leader for asphalt
mixing plants.
Worldwide: San Francisco has a lot
to offer, including the world’s windiest
street.
Focus
20
ASPHALT PAVERS: Strong market launch
EXPERT
22
WEIGHING AND LOADING SYSTEM: Simple and safe
26
LOW-TEMPERATURE ASPHALT: The way ahead
PEOPLE
30
MICHEL FOUVY: Swiss producer of both asphalt and wine
WORLDWIDE
33
PHOTO ARCHIVE: Practising for the Gotthard
36 CHINA: Ecological offensive
37 SWEDEN: Subsidiary established
38SERBIA: Ambitious road building projects
39
IMPRESSIONS FROM THE AMMANN WORLD
39
TRADE SHOW PREVIEW: Dates for 2011
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
Editorial
3
Hans-Christian Schneider,
Board of Directors Ammann Group.
Dear Customers,
Ammann is under new leadership. On 22
September 2010 my father, Johann Niklaus
Schneider-Ammann, was elected a member
of the Federal Council, Switzerland's supreme
governmental office. His election went hand
in hand with the transfer of all entrepreneurial
obligations. So it also marked the end of
my father's 29-year period of service for the
Ammann family business. During his time as
managing director and CEO, and also chairman and delegate of the board of directors,
he successfully extended the operations of
our 142 year old company from Switzerland
onto the world's markets. On behalf of the extended Ammann family I would like to express
my gratitude for his outstanding, perspicacious
and prudent work.
Prof. Dr Roman Boutellier, Chairman of the
Board of Directors, and Ulrich Meyer, CEO,
took over the reins of our Ammann group of
companies on 1 November 2010. They will
continue to lead the group in the interests of
the owners. I expect to take over management
responsibility as a representative of the 6th
generation in 2012.
The transfer of responsibility has no affect
on the existing company strategy: credibility,
autonomy and independency will remain
Ammann's central values. "Productivity
Partnership for a Lifetime" is a motto set in
stone. The shareholder structure will also
remain unchanged. Our companies will remain
completely under the control of the SchneiderAmmann and Ammann families.
Ammann is emerging from the global depression stronger than ever. We will utilise our
worldwide Number One position and excellent
reputation as a plant and machine manufacturer to further expand our market presence.
You can find examples of this on the following
pages.
Furthermore, we will continue to expand our
extensive product range. Our exceptionally
customer-oriented service package makes
Ammann a competitive provider of construction equipment for road building around the
world. One such example is our efficient spare
parts warehouse which we have redesigned
from scratch. It will guarantee the availability
of spare parts and services at short notice
around the clock and around the world. This
is a further step towards a future of customeroriented service and one which sustainably
underscores Ammann's guiding principle:
"Productivity Partnership for a Lifetime".
Hans-Christian Schneider
Ammann Group Board of Directors
Canada:
Country of
contrasts –
the right
challenge
for Ammann
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
on site
5
Canada achieved independence from Great
Britain on 1 July 1867 – it was a peaceful
event, as is typical for the country. Ever since
this day, which is celebrated each year as
"Canada Day", Canada has been a place of refuge for families from around the world seeking
new happiness. The country's vast surface area
and varied topography are a continous source
of challenges for road builders.
Today, 20% of Canadians have neither of the
two official languages of French or English as
their mother tongue. More than 30 different languages are spoken among the 600+
self-governing First Nations tribes of Canada's
native inhabitants alone. Every summer, towns
and cities throughout the country celebrate
festivals to commemorate the wave of immigrants arriving from Ireland at the beginning
of the last century and the subsequent arrivals
from Germany, Italy, Russia and the Ukraine.
Furthermore, the most recent immigrants
brought their traditions, gastronomic culture
and art to Canada from Africa and the Caribbean as well as from Southern and Eastern
Asia. Censuses carried out in recent years indicate that more than 50% of the population of
Toronto and Vancouver – two of the country's
largest cities – are descendents of so-called
visible minorities.
A first-class structure:
The Trans-Canada Highway
in Saskatchewan.
8,000 km on the Trans-Canada Highway
To the front the rugged coastline of St. John's,
Newfoundland, to the rear the Atlantic ocean:
This is the scene at kilometre 0 of one of the
longest roads in the world. It ends 8,000
6
on site
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
on site
7
kilometres to the west, on Vancouver Island
high above the Pacific ocean. En route the
road passes through mist-shrouded fishing
harbours and never-ending cornfields, across
two mountain ranges and a rough, glaciated
landscape of lakes, through windswept prairies
and forests of giant redwood trees. This is
the Trans-Canada Highway: a winding asphalt
strip that connects the 10,000,000 km2 of the
world's second-largest country after Russia.
A journey along the Trans-Canada Highway
imparts an impression of the incredible variety of
which Canada is so proud. The expanse of the
arctic regions and islands high up in the north of
Canada are not connected to the Trans-Canada
Highway. These areas are often only accessible
on so-called ice highways that have to be closed
as soon as the tundra thaws in the summer.
the wonders of the Canadian wilderness less
than an hour's drive away.
Multi-culturalism is one of Canada's most important values. The reason lies in the contrasts
between the three founding nations: France,
England and the First Nations. Whether
Mi'kmaq, Mohawk, Cree, Haida or Inuit: The
ancient First Nations tribes alone represent a
greater diversity of culture and tradition than
is found in the majority of countries overseas.
Canada's French heritage dating back to the
15th century is particularly tangible in the
province of Québec. England became the
strongest colonial power in the country in
1760. As a result, settlers arriving from Great
Britain had a decisive influence on the character of Ontario, the coastal provinces of the
east and the new western provinces.
Cultural melting pot
Canadas three largest cities – Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver – are all epitomes of modern cosmopolitan life. Citizens can nonetheless
leave city life behind them at any time to enjoy
Nearly half of Canadas 35,000,000 citizens live
in the heavily urbanised area of the QuébecWindsor Corridor close to the border with
the USA. The first settlers from Europe settled
here on account of the fertile arable land,
Canada wins at the
Ammann Dealer Meeting 2011
Wintery conditions on the
Icefields Parkway in Jasper
National Park,
Alberta.
Kim Wiles (left), Managing Director of "Construction Equipment Solutions", was presented with
the certificate for "Best Market Share 2010 for
Light Equipment" at the recent Ammann Dealer
Meeting 2011 held in Interlaken, Switzerland.
(Right: Thomas Lankenau, Area Sales Manager
Ammann.)
8
on site
Ammann is growing and growing
Ammann is the fastest-growing brand in Canada's compaction market. The management team led by Peter Price and Heinz Stanisz can look back on more than
50 years of experience in the field. In his function as Product Manager and Sales
Trainer, Peter Price makes use of his comprehensive technical knowledge to help
his Canadian customers select the right products for their projects. Heinz Stanisz,
on the other hand, is the ideal contact partner for customers with questions
relating to machine maintenance, service and operation thanks to his extensive
practical experience.
Ammann maintains a first-class, comprehensive network of selected dealers at
more than 25 locations throughout Canada and is headquartered in Toronto, the
country's largest city. Today, Ammann has the most comprehensive product range
in the sector for walk-behind compactors as well as a large selection of rollers
for soil and asphalt compaction – ideal for landscape architects, real estate
maintenance, municipality administrations or construction companies specialising
in infrastructure, highway construction or housing developments.
25 dealerships and 500,000 spare parts
Canadian construction companies and dealers are able to procure spare parts
and services from local sources. The storage facility in Edmonton, Alberta, holds
more than 500,000 spare parts and employs a computerised inventory system
to handle order processing and stock level management. Investments in the
Canadian market will support the advancement of Canadian dealers and their
customers in a contemporary and professional manner.
Bock Equipment
Case Atlantic
Construction Equipment Solutions
CUBEX Ltd.
Maritime Case
McDowell Equipment
Nova Scotia Case
Parker Pacific
Williamson Equipment Ltd.
Provincial Capital
National Capital
No more potholes – thanks to vibratory plates from Ammann
Increased productivity thanks to training
Extreme temperature fluctuations cause shifts in the asphalt on a daily
basis. These movements result in potholes in the road that can damage the
undercarriage, tyres and wheels of vehicles. Repairing these potholes is a
huge challenge for Canada's municipalities. A growing number of construction companies in northern Ontario are relying on plates and rammers from
Ammann. No matter how cold it is: The teams responsible for repairing
potholes place their trust in the support provided by Construction Equipment Solutions, an Ammann dealership of some ten years in Ontario. "They
trust in the quality and reliability of Ammann to ensure everything runs
smoothly, both at work and on the roads", says supervisor Steve Walters of
the Ontario Municipality and Roads Department.
Cubex Limited recently organised
a number of training and servicing
sessions in conjunction with an order
for seven AV-95.2 tandem rollers.
"We believe that our customers can
best increase the productivity of
their machines when they receive
thorough, practical training prior to
the delivery of the machines." According to Ken Wilson, this enables
customers to gather sufficient experience and to start working efficiently with the
machines from the very first day.
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
favourable sea routes and a mild climate and
subsequently initiated the country's economic
development. The region's two largest cities,
Toronto and Montreal, are directly connected
via the multi-lane highway 401. Further to the
west, in the province of Alberta, lies Edmonton, the site of one of the world's largest oil
and gas centres. The Athabasca oil sands in
the north count among the city's most significant natural resources: they represent what
is probably the largest existing oilfield on our
planet.
Ammann has taken up the challenge
Canada's diversity represents a significant
challenge to road builders. The mining and
timber industries in the resource-rich "Nickel
Belt" area around Sudbury, Ontario, depend on
long road sections to transport their goods to
the markets in the south. Building new roads is
no easy undertaking, as the road builders first
need to break through the pre-Cambrian rock
formations of the Canadian Shield before they
on site
9
People of different origins
co-existing
peacefully,
including in
Toronto: That is
Canadian culture.
can begin constructing the substructure on the
rocky ground.
Ammann has equipped its machines with more
horsepower especially for customers in Alberta
and British Columbia, who often work in the
higher regions of the Rocky Mountains. The
air up there is thin and the engines need more
oxygen.
Further north, towards the arctic tundra, roads
are built on wooden piles. The piles are set
deep in the permafrost – a substrate layer that
remains permanently frozen. Their installation
calls for extreme care and precision as the
structures will lose stability if the underlying
permafrost begins to thaw. The highways in
these regions are often sprinkled with water
during the cold season. This causes the gravel
to freeze, forming a more solid and permanent
substructure.
But no matter how adverse conditions may
be and regardless of whether Atlantic, Pacific
or arctic coast: Ammann employees and Ammann machines feel very much at home in
Canada.
RESULTS ARE IN: AMMANN OUTPERFORMS THE COMPETITION
An ASC 200 single-drum roller on soft ground puts on
a convincing compaction performance.
According to Paul Matera, Equipment Manager at M.A.P. Earthworks Ltd., located
in Edmonton, Alberta, the company decided to test the compaction capability
of the Ammann equipment they had heard so much about. They ran an ASC
200HTPD head-to-head against a CAT 815 compactor. "We hired an independent
soil engineer to run the density tests to make sure we received sound, reliable
information. After four runs with each of the units, the tests confirmed that the
Ammann units could deliver the same results as the CAT and be extremely cost
efficient in the process", said Paul. They were so impressed with the Ammann
unit that they bought it. Additionally, he reported that the performance data
tracked over a complete year proved that their maintenance and fuel costs had
been significantly reduced. "Although the CAT unit travels faster", reported
Matera, "we feel that the deep compaction penetration due to the vibratory
compactive effort and the wider rolling width more than made up for the speed."
10
on site
Ammann takes
a bold
and successful
step in Turkey
The story of Ammann in Turkey begins with
asphalt mixing plants. Turkey, which is itself a
massive market with a huge sphere of influence extending far beyond the region, has
been a focal point of Ammann's activities since
the beginning of the 1990s.
The success story of Ammann/SIM in Turkey
is closely connected to the name of Saruhan
Sarioglu and his friendly relationship with Ammann/SIM and Michele Turrini, Fabio Mammoli
and Antonio D’Amico. In 1991, the Società
Italiana Macchine S.p.A. (SIM), as it was at
the time, entered into a partnership agreement with Tekno Company and appointed it
as SIM's representative in Turkey. Fully aware
of his own considerable input and encouraged
by the company's success, Saruhan Sarioglu
decided in 1997 to launch his own company,
Teknomak. SIM followed him and has never
regretted this move, as is evidenced by the
The newly established subsidiary will strengthen the presence of Ammann and Saruhan Sarioglu
(5. f.r.) with his Teknomak team in the Turkish market.
current impressive market share of close to
50%.
Growth from within Ankara
Teknomak established its headquarters in
Ankara. A decision that has proven to be very
prudent. Although Istanbul is much larger and
the country's undisputed economic centre, the
capital city of Ankara is where the action is
when it comes to road building decisions.
As in any other market, customer service
and support is just as important for sustainable success as the plant technology itself.
Teknomak has its own very experienced
assembly and service crew and is also able to
supply components such as bitumen tanks,
filler silos and steel structures through its own
production facility. These conditions make it
possible to deliver not only to Turkey but also
to countries such as Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan,
Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Iraq and the Ukraine,
where Turkish construction companies are also
active. To date, Ammann/SIM have delivered in
excess of 100 asphalt mixing plants to Turkey,
with a further 11 orders already in the books
for the current year.
Ammann has also become a significant provider of compaction machines to the Turkish
market thanks to its partnership with Çucurova
Ziraat. This performance makes Taner Sönmezer's team one of the most successful dealerships for Ammann machinery in recent years.
Foundation of a subsidiary
The successful developments in Turkey so far
have been founded on a personal relationship, mutual respect and trust. This year we
will celebrate 20 years of friendship between
Saruhan Sarioglu and Ammann. We take great
pleasure in setting a seal on our friendship
for the future by establishing a joint Ammann
Teknomak subsidiary. By establishing its own
Turkish subsidiary, Ammann is emphasising the
significance of the Turkish market to Ammann
and its desire to strengthen relations with its
machine distribution partner Çucurova Ziraat.
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
on site
In-house steel construction
at Ammann­Teknomak relies
on experienced employees.
11
12
on site
Roads and schools are the
keys to success
"Wherever I went I was asked for two things: roads and
schools." This quotation from the founder and first president
of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938),
is cited on the website of Turkey's Directorate General for
Highways. It is still true today that Turkey has a lot of catching
up to do in both areas.
Many of the traditions reflected in Turkish
culture and cuisine and also in the works of
Orhan Pamuk, the 2006 Nobel prize laureate
for literature, stem from the Osmanian empire
which gave birth to the Turkish Republic. Modernity came to Turkey in 1923, when Atatürk
began to mould the country on the basis of
European nations. Islam was abolished as the
state religion in 1924 with the first constitution
and, since then, all of the country's citizens
have been equal before the law. The Swiss civil
code was initially adopted in 1926 and was
followed by Germany's commercial code and
Italy's penal code. Turkey introduced women's
suffrage in 1930 – before France, Italy, Greece
and long before Switzerland did the same.
Furthermore, Turkey is one of the 51 founding
members of the United Nations.
Global power in the construction sector
In a list of the largest internationally operating construction companies published by
the magazine "Engineering News Record"
in 2010, 33 of a total of 225 companies
were Turkish. When measured by the number of companies, the result put Turkey in
second place after the People's Republic
of China (54). Turkey's large construction
companies can fall back on extensive international experience and are well-equipped
with both personnel and technology.
Dynamic national economy
The fact that tangible discrepancies exist
between the written law and actual reality
can be explained by the huge economic
divide between the country's industrialised
west and its modern industries and the
agriculturally structured and less developed
east. The greater Istanbul area, for instance,
achieves 41% of the average income of the
15 old EU member states, whilst the east
achieves only 7%. However, Turkey achieved
a gross domestic product growth rate of 7%
in 2010, making it one of the most dynamic
economies in the world and one of the fastest growing economies in the OECD.
The country's economic boom also means
that investments in the construction of new
highways, railways, ports, airports, pipelines
and broadband cable networks can also
increase. They are desperately needed, given
that nearly 90% of all domestic products
are transported by road. The proportion of
passenger traffic lies at an even higher 95%.
Turkey's roads have an overall length of
413,724 km.
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
on site
View of Istanbul, the city on
the Bosporus which lies in
both Asia and Europe.
Mosques, both ornate
and unadorned, shape the
country's landscape, even
though it has not been an
Islamic state since the first
constitution.
The country's
eastern regions,
such as here in
Kurdistan, are
virtually undeveloped and have
road conditions
to match.
13
14
on site
They make many infrastructure projects expensive and
challenging: long bridges
such as the one on Bolu
mountain.
Anyone travelling into
Asia across the two
bridges over the Bosphorus will need to pay
a toll, as do the motorists on the six highways. The toll charges depend
on the distance covered in kilometres. Users of the
"OGS" detection device or the "KGS" charge card
(in the photo) receive a discount of 20%.
Ambitious highway projects
Turkey's Ministry of Transport introduced plans
in September 2009 according to which a total
of twelve new highway sections will be constructed by the year 2023. The overall length
of these highways will be 4,773 km. This
will more than double the existing highway
network.
The 5.5 billion euro project between Istanbul
and Izmir alone includes 377 km of highway,
44 km of arterial roads and a three kilometre
long suspension bridge over the Gulf of Izmit.
The highway will consist of many structural
features due to prevailing geographic conditions: 30 viaducts, four tunnels with an overall
length of 7.4 km and 209 bridges. A third
bridge with a length of 1,275 metres will cross
the Bosphorus near Istanbul and is part of
another new route measuring 260 km. The
overall cost of construction is estimated at 4.5
billion euro.
Did you know …? – A brief portrait of Turkey
Turkey is a parliamentary democracy with a relatively powerful president and an indepedent judicial system.
The capital city of Ankara, situated in central Anatolia, is also the seat of the government. It measures
815,000 km2 and is the 34th-largest country in the world. 97% of its surface area lies in Asia. The country's
border measures just under 10,000 km, of which 7,200 km are coastline.
Population72.5 million people live in Turkey. One quarter of these are under 14 and only 6% are
above the age of 65. Life expectancy is 66.6 years for men and 71.2 years for women.
Facts of interestTurkey is one of the world's most active earthquake regions. It is the world's leading exporter of hazelnuts. Camels are mainly used for sporting events and are no longer bred as
pack animals. Two of the seven antique wonders of the world lie in Anatolia: the Temple
of Artemis (Artemision) in Ephesos and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in Bodrum.
Further large-scale projects are intended
to help improve developments in the east.
Overcoming the divide between Turkey's
western and eastern regions could also have
consequences for the educational system. Only
93% of all school-age children actually go to
school. A study commissioned by the World
Bank shows that girls living in rural areas are
particularly disadvantaged. Consequentially,
6% of men and 18% of women in Turkey are
illiterate.
Well-developed roads and well-equipped
schools therefore remain tasks of major
importance facing the country. A glance at
events occurring at the end of 2010 indicate
the speed of progress. For instance, the 80 km
federal highway from Yenikent to Beypazari
was completed in December. The motorway
between Kemerhisar and Pozantı grew by a
further section in November. Turkey's growing
economic strength has put the country on
the best route towards fulfilling the expectations placed by the population in the nation's
founding father Atatürk.
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
on site
15
Who could possibly resist:
Baklava is one of Turkey's
most famous sweet desserts.
Turkish carpets have a long tradition.
Ambitious highway projects
Length (km)
1. Gebze (nr. Istanbul)–Izmir
  421
2. North Marmara Highway (Adapazari–Kinali)
  361
3. Tekirdag–Canakkale–Balikesir
  433
4. Aydin–Denizli–Antalya
  335
5. Ankara–Eskisehir–Izmir
  549
6. Sivrihisar–Bursa (connects 1 and 5)
  202
7. Ankara–Kirikkale–Delice
  120
8. Afyon–Burdur–Antalya
  345
9. Ankara–Pozanti
  287
everywhere throughout the
10. Sanliurfa–Habur (border with Iraq)
  360
land, as here in Izmir.
11. Gerede–Amasya–Erzincan–Erzurum–Agri–Gürbulak (border with Iran)
 1200
12. Sanliurfa–Diyarbakir
  160
TOTAL
4,773 km
Source: Turkish Ministry of Transport
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkey's founding father and
first president, is revered
16
Focus
On the road to success
with Ammann Italy
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
Focus
17
Italy, bella Italia, the land of dolce vita and the object of many a
yearning. Depending on our inclinations and interests, we rhapsodise about Dante Alighieri and Benvenuto Cellini or Alfa Romeo
and Ferrari. We all like to enjoy a stint of dolce far niente accompanied by Vivaldi’s music, pizza, olives, chianti or cappuccino.
It is not only the southern sun and tasty cuisine
that make Italy so fascinating. It is also a question of style and a particular attitude towards
life. The Mediterranean peninsula is characterised by a special kind of lightness that is quite
tangible. This lightness is tradition; although
inseparable from natural circumstances such
as weather and climate, it has been cultivated
over the centuries by thinkers, poets, master
builders, artists and singers and today characterises a specific attitude towards life that
stretches far beyond Italy’s borders. The Mediterranean temperament is just as responsible
for these basic conditions as is the concept of
combining necessity with pleasure and adding
a pinch of sophistication to every aspect of life.
The cradle of road building
The first paved roads were built by the Egyptians, Babylonians, Etruscans, Phoenicians and
Greeks as early as 5000 B.C. However, the rules
and regulations of modern road building that
still apply to this day were founded by the Romans. They needed a road network that could
be used regardless of the season to control and
further expand their enormous empire. At the
height of the empire the road network covered
a length of more than 80,000 km. A gigantic
feat when one considers that Germany’s road
network today consists of 230,000 km.
The most important Roman roads were used
primarily for military and commerce, both of
which were of enormous significance to the
Ammann Italy: Facts and Figures
Today, Ammann Italy S.p.A. with its headquarters in Bussolengo near Verona is a limited
company with a share capital of € 3.6 million and a turnover of more than €80 million,
of which more than 85% is generated abroad. The turnover achieved by Ammann Italy
represents a significant proportion of the overall sales of Ammann mixing plants. Ammann
Italy employs a workforce of more than 160 at its plant in Bussolengo. Many more work at
supplier companies that very often produce exclusively for Ammann Italy on the basis of its
drawings and standards.
In the course of its history, Ammann Italy has supplied well over 1,000 asphalt mixing plants
to more than 40 countries. The service provided by the company and its partners ensures a
high degree of plant availability and therefore a high degree of customer satisfaction, as it
has done for the past 50 years.
www.ammann-group.it
development and continuance of the Roman
empire. They made it possible to reach even
the most distant provinces of the empire with
relative ease and within an expedient period of
time. Orignally intended for military and political purposes, they quickly proved to be of benefit to trade and economic development. The
Roman empire lasted for many centuries and
blossomed in radiance and wealth in particular
due to its road network.
Rise and fall
Roman roads had beds of up to one metre
in thickness. The beds consisted of a number
of layers. The substructure was formed from
pressed clay. Next came the statumen, a solidi-
The standards for road construction were set by
the Romans. Roads are still constructed layer by
layer to this day.
18
Focus
Michele Turrini and Fabio Mammoli are also the heads behind
the new Ammann Italy.
The former management crew of SIM in 1994: (l. to r.) Alberto Anici (administration),
Franco Bellotto (production), Michele Turrini (sales), Orazio Formaggio (purchasing),
Giorgio Sartori (technology), Antonio D`Amico (export).
The CB with its E-Bit tanks is a big seller in Turkey.
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
Focus
fication layer made of limestone and mortar.
The next layer (ruderatio) consisted of fist-sized
pebbles and was followed by a layer of nutsized pebbles (nucleus). A layer of cobblestones
or smoothened stone slabs was added to the
road beds of important highways, inclines and
sections requiring special protection from the
weather. Otherwise, the covering layer consisted of pressed or rollered rough gravel or sand.
The road surface was cambered on each side
to allow water to run swiftly into the gutters.
Many of the Roman’s construction methods fell
into demise with the fall of the empire around
500 A.D., resulting in a more or less roadless
period. The fact that things are much different
today has a lot to do with Ammann…
SIM – Another chapter of Italian road building
Brothers-in-law G.F. Turrini und M. Bondardo founded SIM, Società Italiana Macchine,
between 1960 and 1961 in the northern Italian town of Verona. Road builder and businessman Turrini was of the opinion that asphalt production plant available on the market was
not very good and, above all, was much too expensive. He found a suitable partner in his
brother-in-law Bonardo, an astute businessman, and was able to focus on developing and
manufacturing his own asphalt mixing plants. Together with just 15 employees they built
their first small asphalt mixing plant for their own use. They did not have to wait long for
success, and soon all of Italy knew that modern asphalt mixing plant technology was available to buy from SIM at reasonable prices.
Success factors include precision and
high-quality standards.
19
Growth beyond Italy’s borders
SIM has been able to expand its product range over the years to meet increasing demand.
It soon had a range of customer-oriented solutions for every purpose and performance
category. This was also the foundation for expansion into foreign markets. SIM progressed
to become an international brand and the trademark of clever technology made in Italy.
Buoyed by their success, the founders decided to make further investments in their company and purchase an industrial plot of 40,000 m² in the nearby town of Bussolengo. This
is where they built a new, modern factory. The new factory went into operation in 1980
and marked the beginning of a new chapter in the SIM success story. The export business
expanded as customers from Scandinavia to the Middle East purchased plants made by SIM.
SIM engineers played a leading role in developments such as recycling reclaimed asphalt
and reducing airborne emissions.
Transfer to the Ammann brand
When SIM became a part of the Ammann Group in 1991 it marked a further milestone in
the history of one of the leading manufacturers of asphalt mixing plants. From then on in,
important developments were tackled in cooperation with Ammann; SIM meanwhile represents an ideal fusion of Swiss and Italian virtues.
SIM and Ammann have decided to incorporate SIM in Ammann Italy and to operate under
the Ammann brand name as they will then be better equipped to tackle the growing
demands of advancing globalisation. This is not merely a simple change of name but rather
the integration of SIM in the Ammann Group, where the products from Italy will play an
even greater role in the future.
20
Focus
Asphalt pavers:
Successful launch on
the British market
Ammann Equipment Ltd is one of the leading
subsidiaries of the Ammann Group. Robert
Brown, managing diretor of Ammann Equipment Ltd, founded the British headquarters in
Bearley, Stratford upon Avon, more than ten
years ago. In keeping with the motto: "The
day on which you stop moving forwards is the
day you start moving backwards", Ammann
Equipment Ltd has been able to record a
consistent increase in its market share since
the year 2000.
The well-established Ammann brand extended
its product range by adding the new asphalt
paver models in 2010. These new additions
soon achieved the anticipated response. Specialist Road Surfacing Ltd of Scunthorpe placed
the first British order for an Ammann AFW 270
following a successful on-site presentation in
January 2010. A second machine was sold in
March and is now at work in the highlands
Customised pavers from Ammann at the
exhibition in Hillhead.
of Scotland. A third machine was acquired by
the company Tripod Crest of Northampton in
the Midlands. Success continued with sales of
various AFW 270 and AFW 350 models and an
AFW 500 which was sold to TKP Surfacing Ltd
of Newbury.
Asphalt pavers from Ammann – a highlight at the exhibition in Hillhead
Ammann Equipment Ltd was able to present
the new product range to the British and
Irish market at the Hillhead exhibition 2010.
The presentation of the complete range with
pavers and compaction machines combined
with a selection of core components from the
systems range was an impressive sight to behold. Ammann Equipment Ltd was very proud
to hand over the first AFT 500 machine in
England to Spadeoak Construction Ltd at the
exhibition. David Dawe, director at Spadeoak:
"The machine has proved to be a successful
supplement to our Duracourt department,
where it will probably be used in conjunction
with some of our prestigious assignments for
the Olympic Games of 2012."
Pavemac – outstanding paving power on
the British market
The management team at Pavemac has more
than 60 years of experience in the road building industry and is well-acquainted with the
British market. Being one of the leading providers in the industry made it the right partner
for a cooperative initiative with Ammann. "Get
it right first time!": This is Pavemac’s motto,
and a market share of 12% in the construction
industry proves the company is getting it right
– first time, every time.
The company’s employees are a further
guarantor of success. Pavemac takes special
care to employ only the best people; they are
Robert Brown (left, managing director of Ammann UK), Vitor Batalha and John
Finn (right) at the 2011 convention of Ammann dealers in Interlaken, Switzerland.
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
Focus
21
Today, asphalt pavers from Ammann are at work on many building sites in Europe. Here an AFT 350 E in Switzerland.
then encouraged to provide management with
feedback in the form of new ideas or alternative work processes. Pavemac’s most valuable
capital is therefore its workforce. Its employees
come from different backgrounds and offer a
broad range of skills and interests. Together
they make a formidable team. Outstanding
service and a range of high-quality products
are further ingredients of the recipe for success. Or, in the words of Pavemac’s managing director John Finn: "We all know how
important high-quality products are and we do
everything in our power to offer our customers the very best that is available. We improve
the original manufacturing standards wherever
possible to bring them up to our level."
Another successful year for asphalt pavers
in Great Britain?
2011 has started equally as well: Orders have
been placed for the AWF 350 as well as for the
AFW 270 models. Robert Brown’s words are
indicative of his confident outlook for 2011:
"I shall endeavour to build on the success of
year one and work towards achieving greater
market penetration and a higher market
share."
22
expert
The mixing plant at the
Waldeck GmbH & Co. KG
asphalt plant is the
first in Germany to be
equipped with an automatic weighing and
loading system.
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
expert
23
Thumbs up for
automatic ­
­loading and
weighing system
The asphalt plant Asphaltwerke Waldeck GmbH & Co. KG recently
commissioned their new asphalt mixing plant. An Ammann Universal 200 is now situated on the outskirts of the small German
town of Bad Arolsen near Kassel. It is the first plant in Germany to
be equipped with an automatic weighing and loading system. The
entire plant can be managed by just one mixing engineer.
"Incorrect loading – that is a
thing of the past", says mixing
engineer Christoph Schmidt,
who can now concentrate
wholeheartedly on mixing asphalt and also finds enough time
to look after small customers.
This system is another Ammann module that
is easy to integrate in the tried and tested as1
plant control system. It has one advantage
above all others: relief for the engineer responsible for weighing and loading the trucks. After
all, there are many sites where this additional
task represents a further strain on the mixing
engineer. An asphalt mixing plant is really
only meant to do one thing: produce asphalt.
Depending on the plant’s output capacity this
can be several thousands of tonnes per day in
the high season.
However, a high output capacity is of no
use at all if the quantities cannot be loaded
onto the trucks in good time, especially for
large-scale orders where the same truck
drivers return again and collect the same
quantity of the same asphalt mix. Constant
repetition has always called for automation.
And that is exactly what the new system offers. Ammann has integrated every process
step, from order processing to asphalt mix
production, from loading and weighing to
invoicing in the standardised system platform as1.
Simply and safely managed
So how does it work? The orders to be processed on a given day are simply entered into
the system. The mixing engineer documents
which customer will collect a specific quantity
of a specific mix for a specific construction site.
As soon as the collecting vehicles are known,
their details such as registration number, net
weight and vehicle type are entered into the
system. Vehicle details are assigned to a small
plastic card. The chip inside the card merely
contains the dataset number. It is scanned by
means of electromagnetic waves. So there
is no need to insert the card into a slot – the
whole process is known by the name of RFID.
When a truck arrives at the mixing plant, the
driver identifies himself at a terminal without
leaving the truck by holding his card up to the
screen or entering his PIN number. The order
details are displayed on screen and acknowledged by the driver. He can state whether he
wants to load the truck with a complete or a
partial load. A message appears on the screen
telling him under which silo he should position
his truck. A large visual display unit in front of
24
expert
The driver can
initiate the
loading process
independently
after identifying
himself again at
the terminal on the
storage silo.
The
driver identifies
himself at the first
terminal and
states …
… how
much
asphalt he
wants to
load.
How to save time and money
The as1 truck weighing system processes orders, weighs deliveries and generates delivery
notes. Delivery data is transmitted electronically via interface to the accounts department.
Fast order entry and efficient truck processing times are distinguishing features of the as1
weighing system.
Combining plant automation and weighing results in the following advantages:
– Reduced risk of loading the wrong material
– "Self-service" for scheduled orders
– Fast service for unannounced customers
– Increased loading capacity, especially in conjunction with parallel weighing on multiple
weighbridges
– Tare weight monitoring and overload protection
– Hot-mix loading temperatures printed on delivery notes in accordance with EN-13108
– Paperless delivery note handling and fast account settling
– Minimum administration
the mixing plant displays the vehicle’s registration number and the silo number to confirm
the driver has driven to the right silo.
Once the driver has positioned his truck, he
then goes to another terminal located directly
at the storage silo. He identifies himself again
to start the loading process. The flaps do not
open until the weighbridge located directly
beneath the silo has detected the vehicle’s
net weight. The actual quantity is monitored
continuously by the control system. The loading process ends automatically once the target
weight is reached. It is not possible to overload
the vehicle. On conclusion of the loading process the system enters the weight details into
the delivery note. The note is displayed on the
screen and can be signed off electronically via
the touch panel. The signed delivery note for
the driver and for the construction site is then
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
expert
25
The delivery note
is signed electronically directly at the
storage silo …
… and
printed
out for the
driver and
construction site.
printed out. The document is simultaneously
saved in PDF format and stored in the archive.
The delivery data is exported via a data interface and can be automatically imported into
the mixing plant’s invoicing system.
Concentrating on the essential
Mixing engineer Christoph Schmidt of the
asphalt mixing plant in Waldeck is delighted
that he no longer needs to cope with a "paper
mountain". "There isn’t always someone at the
door. I can work in peace and quiet. And no
one can load a vehicle incorrectly." The system
avoids errors and is particularly time-saving.
Time to concentrate on the essentials and also
to make the best use of the mixing engineer
operating the plant.
The objective of the operator of the plant in
Bad Arolsen, the companies Joh. Wachenfeld
GmbH & Co. KG and Mitteldeutsche HartsteinIndustrie GmbH Winterberg, was to operate
the site and process large-scale orders with
minimum personnel. "The system offers the
only way of doing so. After all, it enables
the plant to be operated by just one mixing
engineer. We consider the system to be consistent and impressive", says Dirk Menninger,
technical managing director of Asphaltwerke
Waldeck GmbH & Co. KG.
The mixing engineer in Bad Arolsen no longer
needs to take care of weighing for large
orders. Mixing 2,500 tonnes and more every
day is more than enough challenge. He now
has the opportunity to service small customers
while also processing large orders. "They often
got a raw deal when large orders needed
processing", says Christoph Schmidt. "Now I
have the time to look after them as well. I often take care of loading and weighing directly
from my control room. It is never a problem
from a technical viewpoint and I have enough
time as the rest more or less takes care of
itself."
And what do the truck drivers say? "They
were sceptical at first. But I was able to help
them as I can call up all the display details on
my screen. I was able to tell the drivers what
they have to do via the telephone installed on
each silo. That was very helpful in the beginning." The drivers who managed it for the first
time without any help proudly indicated their
achievement to Christoph Schmidt: with a big
thumbs up …
26 26on expert
site
26 Focus
26 expert
26 people
26 worldwide
"We are convinced that
low-temperature
surfaces will prove to be
ground-breaking for the
asphalt and road building industry."says Samuel Probst
The future lies in:
Low-temperature asphalt!
CO2 represents the largest proportion of man-made greenhouse gases. The asphalt industry can also
make a contribution towards reducing CO2 emissions. One possibility is to offer high-quality asphalt
that can be mixed and installed at lower temperatures. Lowering the temperature also achieves significant savings in fuel consumption, considering that around 50% of production energy is consumed by
heating the asphalt. 1,500 tonnes of low-temperature asphalt with foamed bitumen have more than
proved their worth on this busy road in Switzerland.
There are various available methods for producing low-temperature asphalt: they include the
use of additives or special binding agents as
well as using foamed bitumen and modified
mixing cycles. It is also possible to combine
these methods. It is usually possible to lower
the asphalt temperature by at least 20 °C and
sometimes by as much as 70 °C or more. Ammann offers solutions for all popular methods
of temperature reduction.
The use of foamed bitumen is a suitable meth-
od of reducing the temperature as it is easier
to mix with hot aggregate. The basic principle
behind the production of foamed bitumen
is as simple as it is ingenious: cold water is
injected into the flowing mass of 150 °C bitumen. The water is immediately heated above
boiling point and evaporates in part. The result
is a mix of steam, water and bitumen. This
mix is injected into the asphalt mixer. The use
of foamed bitumen allows the temperature
of the aggregate – and therefore that of the
asphalt – to be reduced by approximately
60 °C with no loss of quality.
Reduced emissions also on the
construction site
Low-temperature asphalt has a second advantage in addition to lower energy consumption:
a huge reduction in the emissions produced
at the asphalt mixing plant and on site as the
asphalt can be installed at a mere 110 °C. A
rule of thumb says that reducing the asphalt
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
The required 1,500 tonnes of asphalt were produced in this Universal NG.
Installation at 110 °C,
compaction even at 80 °C
In 2010, Hans Weibel AG laid 1,500 tonnes of low-temperature
asphalt on the basis of the WAM Foam® process on the busy
cantonal road near Koppigen in the Swiss region of Emmental.
The ACT 22 N W-ecophalt® that was used was installed as a
base and wearing course.
The asphalt was produced 40 kilometres away in Oberwangen. The Universal NG 320 asphalt mixing plant with warm
reclaimed asphalt feed has a dual-row mixing tower, a fourtonne Amix mixer and a foamed bitumen installation for the
production of low-temperature asphalt.
The advantages of using the new kind of asphalt became apparent as soon as installation started: It reached the construction site at a temperature of around 110 °C and was compacted using an AV 95-2 at temperatures below 80 °C. Working
on the construction site was therefore comfortable despite
high summer temperatures. Not only due to a lack of bitumen
vapours but also thanks to a lot less heat radiating from the
asphalt.
on
expert
site
Focus
expert
people
worldwide
27
27
27
27
27
28
28
28
28
28
Expert
on
site
Focus
expert
people
worldwide
Low-temperature asphalt
with foamed bitumen can
be installed at around
110 °C with no loss of
quality.
Three important low-temperature technologies in comparison:
Technology
Production temperature
Savings
Principle
Necessary modifications
to plants
Bitumen foam
115 °C
–5 kg CO2/t
–1.5 kg oil/t
Bitumen is foamed and can therefore
cover the aggregate and be installed at
lower temperatures
– Foam generator for bitumen and
feed material
– Control adjustments to the mixing
cycle
Waxes
130 °C
–3.5 kg CO2/t
–1.0 kg oil/t
Addition of wax to the bitumen; the
asphalt is easier to process at high
temperatures
– Feed option for additives, e. g. in
the bitumen tank or in the bitumen
flow
– Modified bitumen is available
Zeolites
140 °C
–2.7 CO2/t
–0.8 kg oil/t
Water bound in a special filler is released and makes the asphalt easier to
process
– Feed option for special fillers
(zeolite)
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
The asphalt surface demonstrated the required degree of compaction at every measured point despite the demanding logistical
on
expert
site
Focus
expert
people
worldwide
situation, as a drill core analysis revealed.
Road marking work began shortly after the
last pass of the roller to enable the release of
the road to traffic the next morning.
100
Degree of compaction (%)
99
98
The Ammann research team measures the tem-
Minimum requirement: 97 %
97
perature on the construction site: The thermometer shows a mere 110 °C.
96
95
Drill core 1
Drill core 2
Drill core 3
Drill core 4
Drill core 5
Drill core 6
Asphalt drill cores with foamed bitumen fulfil requirements to a high degree.
temperature by 10 °C cuts the emissions on
the construction site by half. The asphalt can
be installed using the normal machines.
Foamed bitumen plant technology for reducing temperatures is now available and a growing number of roads are being constructed
using the technology. Ammann has already
equipped plants across Europe with foamed bitumen systems and continuously helps asphalt
manufacturers and road builders to introduce
the technology.
"Low-temperature surfaces are
the way ahead!"
"The use of foamed bitumen technology enables us
to achieve energy savings of 1.5 kg of fuel oil per tonne of asphalt. We were able to
save around 7.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions during the installation work at Koppingen
and therefore make a contribution towards sustainable road constuction. There
are no problems with the quality of the asphalt mix produced and it meets every
requirement of the applicable standard both at the plant and after installation. The
installation work at Koppigen was a positive and promising experience. We are
convinced that low-temperature surfaces will prove to be ground-breaking for the
asphalt and road building industry."
Samuel Probst, manager at Belagswerke Hans Weibel AG, Oberwangen (Switzerland).
29
29
29
29
29
30
30
30
30
30
people
on
site
Focus
expert
people
worldwide
I am en route to Lake Geneva. I am not too sure what to expect when I get there. I have a
dozen questions to ask Michel Fouvy, the recently retired director of Famobit.
Michel Fouvy walks towards me as I arrive
in Corseaux. His large house dating from
the 15th century is situated directly on Lake
Geneva. The view across the lake is breathtakingly beautiful. As we stand there the first cat,
Kensa – the boss of the place – strolls around
the corner. At the house, Michel Fouvy invites
me to join him for coffee. We are sitting in his
living room. There are photos of the grandchildren on the sideboard, and the play corner
suggests many hours of fun are spent with the
family.
With 140 horsepower across Lake Geneva
We start to chat and Michel Fouvy tells me
about his early career: "After completing
my studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology in Lausanne, I travelled to Cape
Town with my wife in 1972, where I worked
as an engineer." He then spent a dozen years
working for a company in Solothurn before
applying for a position at Famobit.
Michel Fouvy whisks me away across Lake
Geneva in his red, 140-horsepower boat. The
house looks even more magnificent when
viewed from this side. Back on land, we stroll
around the grounds and talk about love. He
met his wife at school. "Christiane and I were
in the same class. In the summer I used to
swim across to where she lived and we would
go swimming together." They married when
they were 23 and daughter Carole was born
five years later. She was followed by Matthieu
after a further two years.
Switzerland at its most beautiful
Time flies by, and we are soon driving towards
Cully to eat. We take a little detour through
the vineyards on the way. "We have celebrated many occasions here." I had already
heard about that from my colleagues at work.
Michael Fouvy was renowned for his parties.
At the little restaurant, Michel Fouvy seems
almost to be part of the family. Following a
warm welcome we ordered the dish of the
day and, as is customary in west Switzerland,
drank a glass of wine with our food. He
himself cultivates Chasselat, a very fruity and
aromatic white wine. Each year, Michel Fouvy
produces around 1,000 bottles for friends,
customers, colleagues, and himself.
After enjoying the traditional cuisine, we
continue on our journey to the centre of Cully
village. Michel Fouvy shows me his house
where he lived for many years. In every little
street one feels just how much he is respected
and appreciated. Not one car passes by without the window opening to exchange a couple
of words. He was the village mayor here for a
total of 13 years. Today, he is responsible for
tourism in the region. He suggests trips, plots
walking routes and writes wine guides. "By
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
on
people
site
Focus
expert
people
worldwide
Michel Fouvy successfully managed the fortunes of Famobit for 24 years. The 66-year-old father and grandfather is a passionate vintner close to Lake Geneva.
31
31
31
31
31
32
32
32
32
32
on site
Focus
expert
people
worldwide
Famobit was founded in 1958 and maintains
Michel Fouvy shows our correspondent Kathy
plants in Bussigny, Grandson and Villeneuve.
Richter his wine cellar situated directly beneath
his asphalt mixing plant in Bussigny: each year he
produces 1,000 bottles of his wine for friends, colleagues, business partners and customers.
the way, the best time for trips is from May to
September; those who like to swim are better
off in June and July, and the autumn is the best
time for those who appreciate young wines",
says Fouvy as we continue.
Asphalt mixing plant as wine cellar and
practice room.
At the end of the day we drive to Bussigny,
where there is an old Ammann Hotstock 240
plant. On our arrival, a very proud Michel
Fouvy tells me: "Last year we produced 2,400
tonnes of asphalt, an outstanding performance!" The plant in Bussigny is, however,
special for more than one reason. Beneath
the plant is a small Famobit wine cellar. Right
next door there is a practice room where
the accountant and his band get together
to play music. "The plant is starting to grow
old", explains Michel Fouvy. "We are currently
contemplating whether we should just replace
a few elements such as the control room and
bitumen tanks or opt for a completely new
plant."
All in all, Michel Fouvy spent 24 years working
as director until his retirement in December
2010. He bought the last plant in 2004. It is
situated in Villeneuve, which is also on Lake
Geneva. His answer to the question of what
connects Famobit with Ammann is clear: "A
sense of tradition." The retired director proceeds to explain: "We could, of course, acquire
a plant from a competitor, but we value the
service and customer care provided locally in
the region. Ammann is on site within an hour
or two to help with any problems that occur."
That is why all three Famobit plants were supplied by Ammann.
My day with Michel Fouvy is drawing to a
close. It was exciting, immensely entertaining
and interesting. I will definitely come back in
the autumn, when the vine leaves glow full of
colour in the evening sun, to taste the young
wine amidst the vineyards and enjoy the magnificent view of Lake Geneva.
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
people
33
Switzerland
Practising for the Gotthard tunnel
A rainy day in 1968: The setting is a levelled field in the then largely
undeveloped industrial area of Langenthal. Ammann employees have
erected semi-circular profiles using roof battens and planks – only
metres away from the company's headquarters. An employee in a 621
reverse dumper truck from Caterpillar draws tight curves close to the
fragile construction.
The simplicity of the improvised installation is misleading. These trials
relate to one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in
Switzerland: the Gotthard road tunnel. The planning process for what
was at the time, at 16 kilometres, the longest road tunnel in the world
took ten years following initial parliamentary moves in 1960. Tunneling
began in 1970. Varius commercial products and proprietary machines
were used to complete the historic break-through in the mountain: in
addition to various types of pneumatic dumpers and loaders there were
also forklift trucks for fastening the cover panels in the tunnel's arch,
mini excavators and Ammann twin vibratory rollers for installing the
road surface.
34
worldwide
Roads of the world: Part 2
Brief pleasure with a twist
There are many winding roads all over the
world. Especially in mountainous and coastal
regions. The most winding of them all, however, the road with the most bends per metre,
is located in a city. It is in San Francisco in the
American state of California – famous around
the world for the Golden Gate Bridge and its
cable cars. The latter are what made it possible
at the end of the 19th century to master the
hills of the city; there are 43 of them all in all
and some are very steep.
Lombard Street leads from the Golden Gate
Bridge across the city to Telegraph Hill. It runs
down Russian Hill through a very elegant
neighbourhood at a gradient of 27%. Lombard Street was redesigned in 1923, when its
gradient was reduced to a "mere" 21.3% to
make it safer for traffic.
Today, hardly any tourist can resist driving
down the 145 metre stretch of red paved
one-way street either at the wheel or in a taxi.
Regardless of the fact that the speed limit is a
mere 8 km/h. The street winds down the hill in
zigzags. There are eight hairpin bends to navigate. That number rises to ten if one includes
the bends at the top and bottom. The attractive greenery along the stretch makes the experience all the more impressive. At weekends
policemen regulate the heavy tourist traffic at
the top and bottom of Lombard Street. By the
way, the fire service is not permitted to drive
on this particular street.
Vermont Street in the district of Potrero Hill has five bends over an 85 metre stretch and is actually even more tortuous. But it is not nearly so
attractive. The prettiest photo view over San Francisco is definitely to be had from Lombard Street.
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
A trip via multimedia
The familiar video platforms
of the internet offer a digital
experience of what it is
like to drive "downhill" and
reveal that such a trip would
not be possible in a stretch
limousine. Pedestrians use
the steps running adjacent
to the zigzag road. They
offer a good view not only
of the windy road itself but
also of the cityscape. Every
now and then the stretch
is closed to traffic for races
on two or three wheels or
for skateboarders and inline
skaters. Helmets are obligatory due to the high speeds.
The fantastic Volkswagen
Beetle named "Herbie" of
the American comedy "The
Love Bug" also navigated
the hairpins at break-neck
speed.
Some video and computer
games offer a safer way of
driving down the road. They
include "Midtown Madness 2", "The Fast and the
Furious" and Tony Hawk’s
"Skateboarding". In the
game "Grand Theft Auto:
San Andreas" the road is
appropriately named "Windy
Windy Windy Windy Street".
worldwide
The temple district
of Delphi in model form.
The Holy Road still
leads past the ruins of
the treasuries up to
the temple itself.
The view at night makes it
clear why Lombard Street
is considered the windiest
road in the world: only
145 m in length but eight
hairpin bends.
At the centre of the world: The Holy Road of Delphi
According to mythology, Zeus, the father of the gods, set an eagle loose at each
end of the world. The two met at Delphi. Therefore, Delphi was considered by the
ancients to be the centre of the world. The town became a cult site of the ancient
world. At its centre stands a temple dedicated to the god Apollo. Only men were
allowed to enter the temple. With the exception of one priestess. Pythia served
Apollo as a medium. She made prophecies on his birthday. The oracle developed
significant influence throughout Greece lasting 800 years and was consulted prior
to any important undertaking such as going to war. Every city state of importance
built a richly decorated treasury and filled it with many magnificent temple offerings
to ensure the oracle's benevolence. All of these treasuries held statues or sculptures
of the ancient gods.
A long and steep zigzag road winds its way from the entrance to the temple district
past the treasuries up to the temple. It is the Holy Road of Delphi. Around one million visitors walk along this road every year to see the ruins of the temple district.
35
36
worldwide
China
Ecological offensive
at the Bauma Shanghai
The fifth occasion of the Bauma China held
last November exceeded all expectations.
1,858 exhibitors from 37 countries presented
their wares in Shanghai to 150,000 visitors
from 165 countries. Here, as in many other
areas, the signs are pointing to growth.
Ammann concentrated on the subject of
ecology: A Uniglobe 320 with a parallel drum
and the new foam generator were on display
at the Ammann stand. The model of a mixing
plant with a parallel drum for 100% reclaimed
asphalt aroused considerable interest. Ammann thereby reinforced its technological
leadership in Asia in an impressive manner.
The main event was once again the customer
seminar that took place in Ammann's subsidiary's premises in Shanghai. 120 visitors attended the presentations given by internal and
external experts on the subject of ecological
road construction.
Ammann's ecological products put on an
33% more visitors came to Asia's largest
exhibition for construction machinery
compared with 2008.
The construction boom has arrived in
China.
impressive display at the Bauma Shanghai. The exhibition stand was dominated
by a Uniglobe 320 with a parallel drum
for reclaimed asphalt.
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
worldwide
on site
Focus
expert
people
worldwide
37
37
37
37
37
This Uniglobe 240 in the Norwegian town of Olsvika – one of 150 Ammann
asphalt mixing plants in Scandinavia – also benefits from the new service subsidiary in Malmö.
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Ammann flies the flag:
Representation established
in Scandinavia
Peter Uls and Erik Nielsen make up the new
Ammann service team in the Swedish town
of Malmö. The qualified service engineers for
asphalt mixing plants are available for service
visits, burner maintenance and repairs in
Scandinavia and Iceland. Ammann is therefore
able to respond to the needs and wants of
customers in northern Europe not only in a
timely and competent fashion but also in the
national language.
This close proximity to customers and their
production sites ensures fast response times
and therefore maximum availability of their
Ammann plants. The team is supported by
and is in close contact with the sales and
service teams at the company's headquarters
in Langenthal, Switzerland, and the production
facility in Alfeld, Germany.
The new support point Ammann Scandinavia
(ASC) began operations at the end of last year.
38
worldwide
Serbia
Ambitious road building projects
in the Balkans
The new JustBlack 200 owned by Valjevo produced its first batch of asphalt for the expanding road network in Serbia just a few months ago.
Ammann has installed eight new asphalt
mixing plants in Serbia over recent years. The
country at the heart of the Balkan mountains
with its population of 7.5 million has become
an important market for Ammann with very
good, long-standing customer relationships.
Serbia suffered severe economic damage
due to the sanctions imposed by the UN. The
infrastructure suffered collateral damage as
a result of the Balkan war, especially in local
areas. Serbia will need a few more decades to
be on a par with the west.
The intention is to connect the country to the
European road network from north to south
and east to west. Various large-scale projects
are planned. One example is "Corridor 11",
the highway stretching from Montenegro's
Adriatic port of Bar in the south via the capital
Belgrade to the town of Timisoara in western
Romania with an overall length of 450 km.
The investment volume is no less than 2 billion
euro.
Preduzeće za puteve "Valjevo" PZP specialises
in road construction, civil engineering
and road maintenance. The company invests
continuously in its infrastructure. The 50-year-
old PZP company recently took charge of its
fourth Ammann mixing plant in the form of a
JustBlack 200. Ammann received high praise
from director general Jasmin Garibovic for its
expert advice, exact compliance with deadlines and efficient assembly.
Magazine of the Ammann Group, April 2011
worldwide
on site
Focus
expert
people
worldwide
39
39
39
39
39
Productivity Partnership for a Lifetime: Impressions from the world of Ammann
> Trade show appearance bC India, Mumbai: Rolf Jenny, Alexander Greschner
and Narinder Singh with Indian customers.
> Unusual contract signing on Swiss flag:
Christian Stryffeler, Bato Ochirov and Wolfram Söhnel (l. to r.) .
> Dealer meeting 2011 in Interlaken (Switzerland): Herminio Aires and Francisco
Leite (Peixoto), Riccardo Gioia (MCI Lazio) and Delfino Laferla (MIRAV) (l. to r.).
> Alexander Reich with customers
at the Bauma Shanghai.
> Photo
contributions
> AFW 150 asphalt paver on its
first job in Saas Fee (Switzerland).
Legal notice
> Published by:
Ammann Group
Eisenbahnstrasse 25
CH-4901 Langenthal
Telephone +41 62 916 61 61
Fax +41 62 916 64 02
magazin@ammann-group.com
> Editorial staff:
Lukas Jenzer (editor), Kathrin
Richter, Andreas Koller, Uwe
Märtens, Alexander Greschner,
Elmar Egli
> Design/concept:
Peter Gugger
> Printed by:
Merkur Druck AG, Langenthal;
circulation: 15 700 copies
Paper: chlorine-free, acidfree, FSC certified
> Publication: 2 × a year in German,
French, English and Russian
> ISSN 1663-5507
> Premiere at the Samoter in Verona (Italy): the new BlackMove II. Nihat
Ergün, Turkish Minister of Industry and Trade, at the Ammann stand.
Send your best Ammann photos
with an appropriate caption to the
following email address:
magazin@ammann-group.com
Trade fair schedule
2011
5–9 April
Smopyc, Zaragoza, Spain, www.smopyc.es
12–16 April
Construction trade show in Brno, Czech Republic
27 April–1 May
TurkeyBuild Istanbul,Turkey, www.turkeybuildistanbul.com
2–5 May
Project Qatar 2011, Qatar, www.projectqatar.com
10–13 May
Autostrada Kielce, Poland, www.targikielce.pl
31 May–4 June
CTT Moscow, Moscow, Russia, www.ctt-moscow.com
7–9 June IRE, Amsterdam, Holland, www.khl.com/events
19–22 September
Project Iraq, Erbil, Iraq, www.project-iraq.com
26 Sept.–1 October
ITF / Stroytech, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, www.fair.bg/en
New publications:
> Download at:
www.ammann-group.com/media
EcoMix – Die Kunst
der Betonproduktion
Systems
Overview asphalt mixing plants
Stationary, mobile and wheel-mounted mobile
With capacity of 80 – 400 t/h
>A
sphalt mixing plants
(70 pages, de/en/it)
Basis
Neuheiten 2011
Control and management systems
Asphalt Mixing Plants
> as
1 control system
(20 pages, de/fr/en/it)
Productivity Partnership
for a Lifetime
> I NNOVATIONS
(18 pages,
insert, de/en/it/fr)
Ammann Group
Eisenbahnstrasse 25, CH-4901 Langenthal
Tel. +41 62 916 61 61, Fax +41 916 64 02
info.aag@ammann-group.com
www.ammann-group.com