An innovative mechanical spreading method for road maintenance and rehabilitation developed by Towong Shire Council in Victoria has eliminated the need for heavy lifting of binder materials. This has created a more cost effective method for carrying out similar small road maintenance.
Following an assessment of its previous road maintenance method, Council had identified that it was labour intensive and had the potential for creating serious OH&S issues.
Council road maintenance staff looked at various methods that could be put in place. After arriving at no conclusion, Council approached local company, Krata Industries.
Together with Krata Industries, Council developed the Krata Shake method.
The new method comprises a towable unit controlled from the towing vehicle. This enables the unit to act as a transporter of up to one tonne of the materials to be used.
“By installing an isolated distribution platform, connected to an off set cam shaft, enough vibration is created to encourage the bulk store of cement to flow through the regulators onto the platform and then distributed onto the ground in an even coverage, regulated by vehicle speed,” said Council’s Operations Engineer, Simon Miller. “The results of this method are vast including reduced OH&S risk, time savings and cost effectiveness, reduced disruption to traffic, and it is convenient and easy to use.”
Four Councils have now purchased the Krata Shake. For further information, contact Simon Miller on (02) 6071 2999, or Bernie Ferry at Krata Industries on (02) 6071 0245.
