Wirtgen North America has introduced its SP 33 slipform concrete paver to the U.S. market, a successor to the SP 15 model. Available in two configurations, the SP 33 is versatile enough to pave curbs, berms, concrete safety barriers up to 52 inches high, drainage and gutter profiles, and concrete slabs. In its offset paving mode, the machine can handle slabs up to 7 feet wide, or 8 feet with a trimmer. When switched to the Crosspave configuration, the SP 33 can pave slabs as wide as 10 feet, across its direction of travel.

Jim Holland, vice president of sales for Wirtgen North America's concrete products, explains that the ability to toggle between the two configurations is made possible by two cylinders on the paver's rear leg.

"This machine is equipped with a Crosspave function," Holland explains. "With the additional cylinder, we can rotate the track, and also the front tracks, 90 degrees. By doing this, we can attach a 10-foot paving mould underneath it and switch to Crosspave mode, all without needing any further adjustments to the machine except installing the premium mount for the mould."

Switching between offset and inset configurations takes less than two hours, and even faster if the conveying system is left in place.

Other notable improvements in the SP 33 include a streamlined conveyor system, reducing maintenance, and an upgraded scraper. "We've simplified the conveyor, lowered its height, and reduced the number of rollers, making it easier to maintain," says Holland. "We've also enhanced the scraper, which was a common challenge in curb and gutter applications."

Another key feature is the ability for operators to switch between a conveyor and an auger, with the auger being the same as the one used on the SP 15, depending on the specific application.