Behind the smooth roads of the Middle East there lies an entire industry of machines and manufacturers. And when it comes to smoothness, no other machine assumes greater importance than the road roller or compactor. Due to the ever-ongoing road building activity in the Middle East, this is a region the major manufacturers of road making equipment give due importance to, with the consequence that all the global names in the segment are present here in full force with their machines.
When it comes to rollers and compactors, among the major players in the region are the Wirtgen Group’s Hamm, Ammann and Bomag – all road equipment specialists – and the other major equipment brands such as CASE and Cat.
Hamm and the rest of the Wirtgen Group is represented in the UAE by regional machinery powerhouse Genavco and Saif Khan, National Sales Manager, explains the various types of rollers his company and its principal offer.
Khan outlines the types of rollers used in road construction: the single drum roller is primarily for soil compaction, while double drum and pneumatic tyre rollers (PTR) are for asphalt. After a paver spreads the asphalt, the double drum roller performs the initial compaction. Then, the PTR comes in to finalise and smooth the surface. Prior to these, soil compactors prepare the road by smoothing and flattening multiple layers of soil and materials beneath the asphalt.
In the soil compactors segment Hamm has one of the biggest ranges of machines, starting from 10t and going up to 26t in operating weight, he details. “Primarily, most of these models come to the Middle East from Hamm’s German factory, but they have also started to bring in some models produced in China and India. Almost all our competitors sell made-in-India or -China models here in the Middle East and there is of course a gap in price when compared with machines that come from Germany.
“The most prominent class for soil compaction is the 10t class and we have models from Germany as well as from India here in the UAE. The HC119 is the most important one for Hamm here, an 11t model, which we keep in stock here. We bring it with an air-conditioned cab and also with only a ROPS and FOPS canopy.
“While this is a made-in-India model, the similar size equivalent from Germany is the HC110. We have both the options. If someone wants a European sourced machine we have it for them and we also have the Indian one that competes with all our competitors here and is very competitive in price. But the design of the machine is ultimately Hamm and done all in Germany, so even our India-sourced machines are actually developed-in-Germany models.”
Khan emphasises that, in fact, that the after-sales support for the Indian machines working in the Middle East is taken care of by Hamm’s German operations, not India. “Even the parts we order come from the German factory, so in a way it’s all German engineering. The Indian machine has a Cummins engine while the German one has a John Deere engine, and Hamm has the highest operating weight in this class at 11t while most of the competition has 10t or 10.5t machines.”
Drum articulation in Hamm compactors
Hamm rollers also have some features that give them an edge, such as articulation. Khan points out. “The drum and the balanced body of the machine are connected at three points, which enables the drum to always remain in contact with the soil, even on the most uneven ground. The weight of the machine in operation is equally balanced at all points and equally divided, which also stops the uneven wear of the drum that happens with machines of other makes. This is a patented technology from Hamm,” he explains.
Hamm’s double drum rollers start from the 1.6t class “baby rollers” and go up to 13.5t weight class. The compact line starts with the HD8, which has a drum width of 800mm and weight is 1.6t. “This is Hamm’s smallest, which is quite popular with contractors. We also have the slightly bigger 2.5t HD10 and HD12 in a similar class. These are primarily used for compaction on the joints and shoulders of roads, or on areas like cycling tracks and other smaller operations,” details Khan.
Hamm also has combi rollers with drum in the front and tyres at the back. These do two functions – compaction by drum and vibrations, and tyres for kneading effect to close surfaces like pneumatic tyre rollers. “These models are good for maintenance companies for jobs like patch works. This is quite a handy model as it does the job of two machines.”
In the larger double drum rollers for bigger roads and highways, Hamm’s two most popular models are the 7.5t class HD70 VV which has vibration and the HD110 VV in the 10t class, Khan reveals.
When it comes to the pneumatic tyre roller (PTR) the HP240 is the most popular Hamm model and the range can go up to 24t. “What we bring here is 15t operating weight and it can be ballasted to increase weight further up to 24t,” says Khan.
Hamm pioneered oscillation technology in drum rollers, holding the initial patent until it expired, allowing competitors to enter the market with their own oscillation models.
Khan explains the key differences: vibration involves the drum moving up and down, creating a pulverizing effect that directly transmits forces into the ground and nearby structures, potentially causing damage and disturbances. In contrast, oscillation uses a tangential, back-and-forth motion that compacts asphalt without transferring forces into the ground, reducing impact on surrounding buildings and minimizing complaints from residents.
Additionally, oscillatory rollers achieve the same compaction with fewer passes—about 70% of the time needed by vibratory rollers—resulting in fuel savings. However, oscillatory rollers are more expensive and tend to wear out faster due to continuous contact with the asphalt.
Ammann’s wide compactor range
Another roadmaking equipment specialist, Ammann, has an extensive range of compactors in the light and heavy segments, including a light compaction range with plate compactors and walk beind rollers, all operated by hand, reveals Ahmed Elgammal, Divisional Manager, Construction Machinery Center (CMC), the UAE distributor of Ammann.
“For the heavy compaction line, we have various machines, starting with the single drum compactor used for the sub-base, the double drum for the asphalt and then the pneumatic tyre rollers (PTR) for the final asphalt process,” Elgammal says.
He goes on to say that the most important machine in the compactor range for Ammann is the PTR, for which Ammann is well-known because of its greater durability and reliability. “We believe the Ammann PTR has perhaps the best performance of all comparable models on the market. Our PTR comes with an air-conditioned cabin option whereas most others have canopies for this type of machine. This gives operators more comfort in the cab of an Ammann PTR for more productive and longer work shifts. Operators have also told us that Ammann rollers have more spacious cabins than the competition, which makes them favourites among the operators.
“Also, the Ammann PTRs we supply in the UAE are made in the Czech Republic, and not made in China or Taiwan like most of the competition. We believe that makes a difference in quality and the market agrees with us.”
Describing the Ammann compactor range, Elgammal adds that CMC offers various models in terms of tonnage, but the most popular Ammann roller on the market is the 24-tonne model. “In the light tandem rollers, the ARX23 and ARX26 are our two most important ones. The difference between them is the drum width, at 100cm and 120cm respectively.”
Galadari offers Bomag compactors
Another big name in the road-making equipment market is Bomag, with its soil compactors, pneumatic rollers, and tandem rollers. The SDR Model BW211D-5 (SL), with an operating weight of 10.7 tonnes, is the most popular soil compactor in the market, according to Galadari, Bomag’s UAE distibutor.
“For asphalt compaction, Galadari provides the BW161AD-4 and BW120AD-5 tandem rollers, which are ideal for various road projects. Additionally, the Bomag BW24RH pneumatic tyre roller (PTR) can be configured with an optimal weight of up to 24 tonne and is used for smooth paving,” says Mohammad Jasser, Heavy Line Account Manager, GTHE.
“Bomag’s BW161AD-4 and BW120AD-5 tandem rollers are widely recognised for their efficiency in asphalt compaction. These models are often paired with the PTR Model BW24RH for final smoothness and finishing, ensuring that the surface is adequately compacted and free of imperfections. The Bomag finisher, BF800C, which offers a standard paving width of 6-metres (extendable to 12m), complements these rollers in large-scale road construction projects.”
CASE compactors a regional favourite
Another big brand, CASE Construction Equipment, is among the most favoured compactor manufacturers in the Middle East, with its machines finding use in applications such as highway construction, general road construction and compacting duties at industrial sites. Zane Barnard, Product Specialist at CNH Industrial, explains that the CASE models on offer in the regional market cater for a broad range of capacities.
“The smallest CASE compactor is 450DX, a double drum compactor with an operating weight of 3,225kg. The 450DX is powered by a reliable 2.5 litre Mahindra engine delivering 45hp. The 450DX is the ideal compactor for working in tight and small spaces, narrow walkways and trenches,” Barnard says.
“Our 752EX is also a double drum compactor with an operating weight of 8,840kg, powered by our legendary 3.9-litre S8000 engine, delivering 76hp. This compactor is perfect for asphalt compaction, with its wide drum surfaces and best-in-class articulation angle making the machine a customer favourite.
“The largest compactor in the CASE line-up is our 1110EX, with an operational weight of 11,450kg. This is also powered by our legendary 3.9-litre S8000 engine, but the engine’s power output has been increased to 110hp on this one. The 1110EX was recently updated and saw an engine power increase, a new hood and improved cooling system, and application specific sand scrapers. The 1110EX delivers class leading compaction and fuel efficiency,” he elaborates.
Purpose-built Cat models
Over at Caterpillar, the compactor range represented by Al-Bahar, the Cat dealer for the GCC except Saudi Arabia, comprises a variety of models in different weight categories.
Explaining this further, Mohammad H. Othman, Product Manager – Machine Sales – Heavy Equipment, Al-Bahar, says that Cat Pneumatic Rollers are ideal for applications like wear courses and binder courses, as well as compaction of natural soils and materials with lime or cement. Meanwhile, the purpose-built Cat four-wheel drive soil compactors maximise soil density through a tamping wheel tip design, machine weight impact and higher speeds for greater penetration.
Othman adds that the Cat Tandem Vibratory Rollers are available in a range of sizes and configurations to meet any application, with their large double-drums simple to set up for maximum compaction efficiency on any type of mix.
“Cat Vibratory Soil Compactors are durable and reliable. They offer high compaction performance, speed and gradeability to maximise productivity on a wide range of applications. Cat landfill compactors have enhanced features with additional guarding and attention to placement of components to ensure you get the most durable landfill compactor,” describes Othman.
The best-known soil compactor in Cat’s range is the CS11GC. Detailing it, Othman says: “It redefines soil compaction with unmatched durability, fuel efficiency and ease of operation. The model is engineered for superior results on construction projects, ensuring maximum productivity with minimal downtime.”