ForConstructionPros.com

What are the critical components to the paving train? Historically, the concrete contractor would typically mention the slipform or bridge paver, placer/spreader and the texture/curing machine. Off the top of his head, the asphalt contractor would probably point out the paver, rollers and rolling pattern, and probably the material transfer vehicle.

With today's more stringent ride standards and contract incentives being tied to smoothness, a relatively low-cost, high-tech tool is becoming an increasingly valuable part of the paving train. Both concrete and asphalt contractors are using Lightweight and High-Speed Profilers as in-process tools to help crews deliver a higher quality, smoother pavement surface, which helps the contractor to realize incentive payments.

"Smoothness has always been important for us and the industry as a whole," says Larry Shively, vice president of the Shelly Company, Thornville, OH. "The advent of profilers allows us to get profile numbers to our foremen quicker and with more accurate results, so we can deliver a better product to our customers."

A subsidiary of Oldcastle Materials, Shelly Company has more than 20 asphalt paving crews operating from four regional offices — Twinsburg, Findlay, Columbus and the Thornville main office — in Ohio. Currently, the paving contractor owns three Ames 8200 High Speed Profilers for the four regional offices. The profilers roam jobsites within a region to measure the profile of the pavements being paved by the crews.

The key to success
These machines are not just measuring the final numbers of the surface lift to ensure it meets the ride spec. No, Shelly Company's profilers are being used as in-process tools, measuring the pavement's profile after nearly every lift — whether leveling, base or binder — to ensure the smoothness numbers of the surface lift will be where they need to be.