How to Choose a Plate Compactor for the Job

In many applications, compaction is one of the most crucial procedures. Using a plate compactor when installing pavers, asphalt, or concrete is critical to the material's lifespan. With so many varieties of plate compactors NZ wide, deciding which one is suitable for your application can be difficult.

We'll go over a couple of different methods for determining which compactor you should use in this blog. It's critical that you do this portion of your job right since the implications of poor compaction can be disastrous. When the base moves, you can run into a slew of major challenges that will cost you time and money in the long term.

Let's look at some of the methods for determining which Plate Compactor is best for your job.

How much compaction force do you need?

When choosing a compactor to utilise, this is arguably one of the most significant factors to consider. The compaction force required for proper compaction is determined by the base material being laid down and how it is laid down.

Make sure you know how much compaction force you'll need for the job. Under-compacting can lead to major problems down the road, and while it may appear that buying a smaller plate compactor will save you money, the troubles it can create in the future will eat up those savings.

What size is the area you are compacting?

When deciding which compactor to utilise, the size of the area is also a major consideration. A larger plate covers more ground per pass, but travel speed must also be considered. Varying compactors have different travel speeds measured in feet per minute.

Along with the plate's size, this is a crucial factor to consider. If you have a somewhat larger footprint yet the plate compactor travels at a significantly slower speed than another unit, the larger footprint may not be beneficial to you. You should be able to easily compute the production differential.

One thing to keep in mind is to purchase a plate compactor that is appropriate for the typical size of job you perform. If you buy something for a one-time requirement, you can end up having something that doesn't work well with the rest of your company.

What features do you want?

The majority of plate compactors for sale are simple machines with comparable features. The most significant distinction is between forwarding and reversible possibilities. The key difference between those plates, as you might expect, is that a forward plate can only go forward, and a reversible plate can go both ways.

Which elements will be most useful for you will depend on the type of compaction you're doing and the layout of the job site. In most cases, reversible plates are preferable in tighter spaces because you don't have to turn the machine around; instead, you can simply walk backwards.

The shape of the plate is another element to consider. The plate's form might assist you in manoeuvring around various obstacles and moving around in tighter spaces. After determining what you really want and need from your compactor, you should have a very good idea of which device will best serve you.