Manufacturers Tout Permanent Pothole Patching Solution
Ring-O-Matic Manufacturing, Inc. of Pella, Iowa, last month introduced a "fix and forget" system for permanently repairing potholes, according to Caterpillar Inc., which provides the engines for Ring-O-Matic's industry-first Surface Recovery System, described as "a completely integrated solution that permanently repairs potholes in as little as 30 minutes."
Mike Schippers, Ring-O-Matic's national sales manager, said SRS marries the company's vacuum and high-pressure water technologies with an advanced new patching material. "The major problem with existing repair systems is that the concrete or asphalt surfaces around the pothole are never completely cleaned before the holes are patched. This has two negative effects," he said in Caterpillar's news release. "First, the patching material doesn't bond well to a dirty surface. And second, water easily works its way into the patched area. After a couple of freeze/thaw cycles, the patch is no longer attached to anything, and it quickly breaks up. The SRS uses a combination of high pressure water and vacuum to completely clean the hole before the patching material is applied. That means there is no loose dirt, stone, or concrete chips in the hole and no dirt imbedded in the pores of the sound concrete or asphalt around the hole. The patching material bonds completely to the clean concrete or asphalt, chemically cures, and forms a permanent, watertight repair that's ready for traffic in about 30 minutes."
SRS is a self-contained, trailer-mounted system powered by a 60 hp diesel engine. Four other diesel engine suppliers were queried on issues including fuel economy, noise, and emissions, according to the release.