The problem heavy earthmovers face worldwide – and Australia is no exception – is the high capital cost of pad foot compactors compared to the number of hours they achieve annually. Allan Cameron solved this problem by creating a more efficient design that sells with a 2 year warranty for less than half a new compactor. This is compelling for plant hire companies and contractors that previously could not afford their own new machine.
Over the past six decades, Allan Cameron has completed many large-quantity earth-works contracts. Compactors of different types were used – the mainstay being the Cat 825, which is a very reliable tool, but Allan was always of the opinion that it was too heavy and draggy. During the off-season Allan set about to improve the situation: “First we rebuilt the cleaners so they were spring loaded. This allowed the trailing cleaner to move away from the drum when it was not working. With fixed cleaners, the trailing cleaner compresses the clay against the drum, which can cause more drag than the cleaner doing the cleaning. This single improvement gained more speed and less fuel burn.”
The second initiative proved to be a real game changer. “We cast wide feet incorporating self- cleaning plates. This resulted in having only four rows of feet per drum instead of the normal five – only three gaps to clean instead of four. This gave us a clear 25 per cent reduction in drag,” said Allan.
The third initiative, again based on simple common sense, was to offset the drums. In Allan’s words, “A perfect pattern first pass.”
“We then had a very productive tool that we sold in six countries – Canada, the Pacific nations, New Zealand, Australia and Thailand.
“Then we decided to move away from used plant.”
The Hyundai 770-7 was the first new unit to have these initiatives. The next unit was the 770-9 model on which the cleaner beams were moved up to a higher level, making the cleaners easy to inspect and adjust. New cast floating cleaner arms were fitted making the 770-9 a much better tool.
The Hyundai’s were fitted with a tilting blade with angled tips for cutting drains. The blade featured advanced parallelogram lift, which is a must for efficiency. This success inspired a visit to the Hyundai factory, but due to low international compactor sales quantities, Hyundai Korea could not see the numbers needed to put the 770-9 into assembly line production. “This is probably why large heavy plant manufacturers have not pursued compactor design development,” said Allan.
Several years passed by with the burning question of how to build new compactors that could be sold cheap enough, yet with all the features. Allan’s decades of experience as both a plant owner and operator were fundamental to the selection of the chassis, engine and transmission. With these decided, Allan’s team set about to develop their 20 tonne Class Compactor. “We set out to achieve equal ground pressure on all feet. Firstly we had to remove one row on the front drums. We needed not only more weight but we also wanted a better looking counter weight,” said Allan.
As with all product developers great ideas just pop up, and for Allan that was adding a high compression cap to each foot. “The ground pressure is effectively doubled as the foot enters the fill, then it equals out as the foot continues around. As the material starts to tighten up and the compactor lifts, the high compaction caps do their work again and add to the tight finish.” This effectively gains double stage ground pressure.
To enable a smoother ride on hard surfaces (hall roads) blades were added above the self cleaning plates between the feet. These also help with breaking up slabs in the fill.
Allan’s decade journey began with modifying used Cat machines, progressing to new Hyundai’s, and arriving at its intended destination. The result is a highly refined, efficient tool, offering 40 per cent less drag and consequently faster speed and lower fuel burn at a staggering price of less than half of other brands.
Bang for buck, the Pacific punches well above its weight.
Machines available ex works Auckland, New Zealand.