Tubod, Lanao del Norte – The Provincial Engineer’s Office is now in the testing phase of its newly acquired road stabilization equipment –SAKAI’s new PM550 road stabilizer.  Amounting to more than 60 million pesos, this latest technology from Japan provides soil stabilization and full-depth reclamation to repair failed hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements “quickly and cost effectively”, a SAKAI representative said.

The PM550 is said to be a wise alternative for low-volume roads and low-budget programs, “saving up to 40% on cold in-place reclamation projects with shorter construction times and lower project cost for the provincial government”. It leaves a stabilized road base, ready for HMA overlay.

According to a staff from the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO), using this new technology would translate to “savings of up to 40 percent from the total project costs not to mention faster completion rate and fewer manpower involved”.

The machine features a high- torque, two-speed, 100rpm (1.7Hz) and 130rpm (2.2Hz) rotor with lateral shift capabilities like the company’s new ER552F road planer. This enables the operator to avoid street iron while working up close to obstacles with superb visibility of the cutting and mixing operation, said the company.

“Four-wheel drive keeps the entire system moving consistently and positively across the site, regardless of conditions, at a top working speed of 57 feet per minute (17.7m/min),” said SAKAI.

The road concreting equipment is powered by a six-cylinder 496hp (370kW) Komatsu Tier III diesel engine.

The testing phase was conducted by PEO last November 28 in a stretch of road along Brgy. Panolo-on in the interior town of Sapad.

A one-kilometer provincial road project in the municipality of Kapatagan will be the first to employ this latest construction technology.

Present during the actual testing of the equipment were Governor Khalid Dimaporo, former congressman Abdullah Dimaporo, Kapatagan Mayor Benjie Baguio, Sapad Mayor Paruk Asis, and Sapad Vice-Mayor Hipolito Sienes.  VNL & LAR/PIO-LDN