Among Gomaco machines on display at this year’s World of Concrete (WOC) exhibition was the GP3 slipform paver, which has the capability of slipforming up to 9.14 m wide. This model is available as a two-track or four-track paver and features several new savvy innovations.
Gomaco has advanced paver controls and automation, and is introducing new intelligent valves on its line of equipment including the GP3 paver. The new self-programming valves eliminate the need to set thresholds. The valves, working with the paver’s G+ control system, understand and can automatically react and self-adjust to the dynamics of the machine.
Initially the valve reacts to the machine set-up and adjusts accordingly, but the operator can make fine-tuned sensitivity adjustments from any display at any time. Gomaco’s G+ software recognises the change requests and immediately makes those adjustments. This allows automatic correction of the paver’s elevation, steering, pivoting, travel control, anti-slip positive traction of the tracks and more.
G+ controls now incorporate Gomaco’s new vibrator monitoring system with the ability to monitor, control and diagnose each individual vibrator on the paver. The touchscreen display illustrates the performance of each vibrator. The operator can see where adjustments need to be made and can make those adjustments electronically for an instant and on-the-go response.
Gomaco’s Navigator display software brought all the G+ paver accessories together for easy control and monitoring on an optional touchscreen display. It is now fully Wi-Fi capable to allow wireless control from multiple display screens anywhere on the paver. A wireless extension allows ground personnel the ability to view and make fine-tuned adjustments to the paver’s performance and configure settings for the GSI, side bar inserters, tie bar inserters, and power transition adjuster using any tablet or phone.
Machine-to-machine communication is now possible using the Gomaco Navigator display and G+ control. When a Gomaco paving train is at work on a project, the GP3 paver has the ability to ‘talk’ to the other Gomaco equipment on the project with a G+ control system. For example, if a Gomaco placer/spreader is operating in front of a GP3 paver, the paver and the concrete being placed in front of the paver is too low, it can tell the placer/spreader to raise its strike-off and allow more concrete to be placed.
The savvy new technology is advancing throughout Gomaco’s entire line of concrete slipform paving equipment. The new self-programming valves are also being integrated into Gomaco’s full line of curb and gutter machines; they were featured on the GP3, Xtreme GT-3600 and GT-3200 at WOC. The event was held in Las Vegas, the US, from 18 to 20 January 2022.
