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Hamburg Wheel Tracking Machine Comparison

LASTRADA Partners is investing in balanced mix design; developing innovative modules in our software with data import capabilities and other inventive solutions.  Our first addition is a comprehensive HWT test for measuring rut performance.  

Along with using LASTRADA's Hamburg Wheel Tracking test, labs should identify and purchase HWT equipment that best fits their unique needs. In an effort to make researching HWT equipment easier, we gathered the top six companies who manufacture these machines to ask them a series of questions in a video interview format. 

In each video interview, LASTRADA Partners asks the same eight questions to get a brief overview of the company, learn about each company's equipment and their unique features, the safety measures in place for the Hamburg machine, the standards the machine is compliant with, recommended calibration and maintenance, the company's service and support options, and building requirements for installation. We also discuss the future of Hamburg Wheel tracking and other rutting index tests.

This page is not intended to recommend any one machine, but rather to equip potential buyers with the information to make an informed decision. 

The companies and their respective videos have been listed on this page in alphabetical order. You can click their name below to jump to a company overview and recorded interview, or simply scroll down the page. 

   

May 6th, 2021 5:01 AM / by Sydney Lang

 

About LASTRADA™: The World's Leading Construction Materials Testing Software

LASTRADA is the leading laboratory information management system (LIMS) in the construction materials industry, with unique software solutions for asphalt, aggregate, binder, and concrete producers and engineering labs worldwide.  No matter what your goals are, LASTRADA Partners has the technology and expertise to work with you to achieve those goals.

 

Other Hamburg Resources

In an effort to provide education and resources for the construction materials industry, LASTRADA Partners creates videos on topics where we see interest. Watch our other videos on Hamburg and balanced mix design below, and be sure to lookout for our upcoming game-changing balanced mix design software module.  

 

 

plus-sign-gold  CONTROLS

 

CONTROLS has been manufacturing construction materials testing equipment for over 50 years and operates worldwide with offices in the U.S., Europe, and beyond. Their equipment is used in over 15,000 laboratories, government facilities, DOTs, educational institutions, quality control centers, and more. The CONTROLS IPC Global unit specifically develops Advanced Pavement Testing Systems.

CONTROLS manufactures the DWT Wet + Dry Double Wheel Tracker which is completely computer-controlled and comes with a laptop and software that allows you to fully automate the testing process including programming the start time, automatically filling the water tank, and preheating the water to the correct test temperature all of which increase the testing efficiency of the system. Due to their worldwide operating network, the CONTROLS DWT can be configured to meet all the current international testing standards including the latest AASHTO T324-19 plus a variety of safety features are incorporated into each system to give the user overall confidence when operating the CONTROLS DWT.

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 IPC Global (Pavement Testing Division of CONTROLS) has been the reference for developing new testing methods and equipment for many years. Our effort in developing this test was to make it as easy as possible to perform.

To learn more about CONTROLS and their Hamburg wheel tracking machine, visit their website here. 

 

 

 

Presented By

Andrea Carlessi_Control Group_BW-01

Andrea Carlessi 

IPC Global Senior Product Manager, CONTROLS

Andrea joined CONTROLS in 2001 and is in charge of technical and commercial management of IPC Global / Road BU products, including market supervision for know-how and new technologies. Andrea participates in ASTM and UNI standardization committees, and he’s an Italian delegate to CEN TC227 “Road materials” standardization committee.

 

 

 

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plus-sign-gold  Cox & Sons

 

James Cox & Sons is a California-based Superpave equipment manufacturer focused on asphalt testing technology. Joining forces with UK-based Cooper Research Technology brings over 50 combined years of experience to the industry. They pride themselves on their industry knowledge, technical expertise, quality of products, and customer support. 

The original wheel tracker machines were used primarily for research in educational institutions, and have grown to encompass a wider customer base of materials producers and asphalt laboratories. The Cox & Sons/Cooper Hamburg wheel tracker is made in the USA, and boasts features like an automatic creep and stripping curve analysis, multiple temperature probes, compliance with the latest AASHTO requirements, enhanced durability from it's stainless steel build, machine guarding, and precise accurate results, with its performance backed up by the NCHRP 219 report. 

 

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The machine was designed with 300 series stainless steel, and to last 15 years minimum.

To learn more about Cox & Sons and their Hamburg wheel tracking machine, visit their website here.



 

 

 

Presented by

Andrew Cooper

Andrew Cooper

Technical Expert, Cox & Sons

Andrew Cooper has been involved with designing, building, testing, calibrating, and selling asphalt concrete testing equipment since the beginning of the 1990s. He currently works as a Technical Expert for James Cox and Sons, and Cooper Research Technology. In these roles, he advises on market direction, equipment design, works with standards committees, supports customers, visits customers, and attends conferences in the US and around the world.

 

 

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plus-sign-gold  infraTest

infraTest is an international company that develops, manufactures, and distributes testing and analysis equipment to materials manufacturers, educational institutions, government facilities, and testing labs. With over 18 locations worldwide, they are able to service their customers quickly and efficiently and provide training on their machinery. Infratest has over 30 years of experience in the industry, and prides itself on the innovation and automation they bring to the table. 

The infraTest Hamburg Wheel Tracker is a two-sided machine with the capability to run either one or both sides at once, heated by either water or air. This thin, long machine is designed to fit up against a wall, with transparent windows to see the test being performed and an exterior control panel. The integrated software is customizable and allows users to program various tasks, such as heating, registering test temperatures,  over rolling, and tracking depths.   The machine can be controlled and data can be reviewed via the touch screen panel. While the sample is running, it can take up to 15 different measurements using either rubber or steel wheels.

 

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We have the most widely used Hamburg machine in the world, with our equipment in over 75 countries. This gives us the flexibility to fit many different standards.

To learn more about infraTest and their Hamburg wheel tracking machine, visit their website here. 

 

 

 

Presented by

Matthias Martus

Matthias Martus

Managing Director, infraTest

Dipl.-Ing. Matthias Martus finished his mechanical engineering studies at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and subsequently gained experience in the building materials industry in leading positions. Since 2007, he has been managing director of the internationally operating infraTest, working in numerous asphalt task groups at the FGSV. He actively participates in discussions for new industry requirements and guest lectures at the Technical University in Braunschweig.

 

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""  InstroTek Inc.

InstroTek Inc. is an equipment manufacturer servicing the construction materials industry. The company started in a garage over 20 years ago and has since grown to 7 full-service centers in the U.S. with distributors worldwide to provide the best customer service possible. With solutions-based technology and innovation as their focus, InstroTek continues to develop new equipment for the asphalt and civil engineering world.

InstroTek's Hamburg wheel tracker, the SmarTracker, was designed with safety, ease of use, maintenance, and space in mind. With retractable wheels, sliding molds, a hood to help with water temperature control, and many more key features, the SmarTracker has become a popular choice for many DOTs and contractors. Other important features of this fully automatic machine include independent dual motors, simultaneous wet and dry testing, and user-friendly touchscreen controls. 

 

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We're focused on what solutions and new products we can bring to accel the industry forward. We're heavily based in engineering, technical support, and great customer service — that's the foundation of InstroTek and who we are as a company.

To learn more about InstroTek and their SmarTracker machine, visit their website here.

 

 

 

Presented by

Maurice InstroTeck

Maurice Arbelaez

VP Sales & Marketing, InstroTek

Mr. Maurice Arbelaez, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for InstroTek Inc., is a native of Colombia, South America, and currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Maurice received his degree from North Carolina State University in Business Administration and International Business in 2001.  Maurice was hired at InstroTek in 2003 and is responsible for all commercial aspects of the company. 

  

 

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""  Pavement Technology Inc.


Pavement Technology Inc. (PTI) was founded in 1996 by Don Brock, founder of Astec Industries, and Ronald Collins, former State Materials and Research Engineer with Georgia DOT. Since then, this full-service company has continued to develop innovative asphalt and aggregate testing equipment, and works actively in all 50 states and over 30 countries worldwide.

PTI manufactures the Asphalt Pavement Analyzer (APA) Jr., which performs both the Hamburg Wheel Tracking test and the APA test; commonly referred to as the universal loaded wheel test. It's a two-wheeled machine that utilizes pneumatic cylinders, a digital encoder, a temperature-controlled water heater among many other features with data that exports directly to an excel sheet. Beyond Hamburg wheel tracking, the versatile APA Jr. can also perform additional AASHTO rutting tests, Microsoft Slurry Seal Testing, High Pressure Rut Testing for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Projects, Forensic Testing on Field Cores, PurWheel Testing Utilizing Solid Rubber/Pneumatic Wheels, Studded Wheel Testing, and Low-Temperature Fatigue Testing.

 

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We think the versatility of the machine gives people a lot of research capabilities and options to perform tests other than just Hamburg testing.

 

To learn more about PTI and their Asphalt Pavement Analyzer Jr. machine, visit their website here.

 

 

 

 

Presented by

Wade Collins_PTI_BW-01

Wade Collins

President, Pavement Technology Inc.

After serving as Vice President of Pavement Technology Inc for 18 years, Wade became President in 2015. He handles worldwide sales, operations, service, and support for PTI, which is located in Covington, Georgia. Wade received a Business Administration Degree from George State College and University, where he majored in Management and minored in Information Systems.

 

 

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""  Troxler

 

Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc. manufactures testing and quality control equipment for the construction industry. Started by William F. Troxler in his basement in 1958 with a focus on Nuclear Density gauges, this company has grown to service the asphalt laboratory testing world. Troxler provides full service, training, and maintenance support in their U.S based and international offices, as well as through their 50+ distributors worldwide.

Troxler produces the Premium WheelTracker, a stainless steel frame with copper piping that simulates road conditions in a controlled environment. They boast features like a battery backup, quiet and reliable arm crank, pneumatic one-touch lift, a non-contact encoder measurement system, dual heater circulation system, and weight system. Claimed to be the most widely used machine in the world, the Premium WheelTracker also includes Balluff Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) Transducer, index plate, variable-speed motor,  slider-crank Mechanism, and temperature control.

 

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Jeff Harris was a precision machinist and welder, and it really shows in his design of our machine.

 

 

 

 

To learn more about Troxler and their Hamburg wheel tracking machine, visit their website here.

 

 

 

Presented by

Clint VanWinkle_Troxler-01

Clint Van Winkle

Product Manager, Troxler

Clint joined Troxler in 2017 as a product manager at their North Carolina headquarters. He received his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Iowa, where he later went on to pursue a Master's in Engineering Transportation Infrastructure, as well as a Master's in Pavement Engineering from Auburn University.

 

 

 

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