Cat cold planer aids runway rehabilitation

The first Caterpillar PM200 cold planer to be sold in India is being used by contractor Ashwini Infra Developments at a secondary runway project at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai.

The runways at India's largest airport require upgrading to international standards in order to handle the larger Airbus A380s. Secondary runways also need further strengthening and extending.

The project, which involves milling and laying asphalt, has a very tight schedule which means the crews are only able to complete the project at night.

According to jobsite foreman Rajesh Ghanekar, "The PM200 responds to all types of cuts and handles them easily. The milled surface texture was excellent and enabled easy binding tack operation, and the paving that followed.

"Levels were maintained resulting in very few or almost no second passes for the same cut. We feel the machine is very productive and we now have the confidence to take on heavier milling jobs in the future."

The new model is equipped with a Caterpillar C18 engine with ACERT technology. It also has a 2 m milling width and a rotor with 178 six-sided carbide-tipped tools and quick release conical tool holders.

The company added its wet clutch delivers horsepower to each cutting tool and provides long service life and reliability.