HAMM’s VIO Dual-Action Drum Boosts H 13i Roller Compactor Productivity

    Posted On: June 29, 2020

    A HAMM H 13i VIO earthworks roller compactor with its dual-action drum recently sped up a highway recycling project in Michigan. (Photo courtesy of Wirtgen Group.)

    The unique HAMM VIO compaction system endows a single soil compactor drum with the ability to switch from conventional vibration to oscillation to achieve the required density in fewer passes than a traditional approach. A Michigan contractor recently demonstrated the VIO’s time savings during a “crush-and-shape” of State Road 72 near Grayling.

    A Case Study

    D.J. McQuestion & Sons of LeRoy, Michigan, began the recycling in situ process using a Wirtgen WR 240i cold recycler. The Wirtgen ground the asphalt 8 to 10 inches (200 to 250 millimeters) deep in a single pass to reach the roadway’s gravel base. The project included two miles of concrete-curbed, four-lane urban pavement and five miles of rural asphalt with 6-foot (1.8-meter) shoulders on both sides.

    Next, McQuestion ran a HAMM H 13i VIO earthworks roller compactor in vibration mode twice over the aggregate. “Then we put the drum in oscillation mode and compacted for two to three passes. Doing this, we increased the density with every pass,” says Jeff Mertz, project foreman for McQuestion. “The oscillation really pulls the reclaimed material together in a way we don’t get with conventional vibratory compaction.” The contractor achieved 98% density on the project using the HAMM H 13i VIO.

    After the Wirtgen and HAMM pulverized and compacted more than 100,000 square yards (83,600 square meters) of material, the contractor put down 7 in. (178 mm) of hot mix asphalt on the urban street and 4 in. (102 mm) of asphalt on the rural stretch.


    A HAMM VIO drum can shift its imbalanced shafts’ positions to change from vibration to oscillation and vice-versa. (Photo courtesy of Wirtgen Group.)

    How VIO Works

    With the press of a button, a VIO drum can change its imbalance shafts from rotating in phase to create up-and-down vibrational bouncing to its imbalances shifted by 180 degrees to effect clockwise/counterclockwise rotational oscillation. During oscillation, the heavy drum is continuously exerting pressure on the ground, speeding up compaction and reducing the number of passes needed. Oscillation also yields a more even surface with more longitudinal flatness, HAMM says.

    "We get density significantly faster with the VIO roller, which boosts our productivity,” says Mertz.

    The HAMM H 13i VIO Compactor

    The H 13i VIO is a 27,805-pound (12,612-kilogram) compactor with an 84.3-in. (2.14-m) drum width. Its 154.1-horsepower (115-kilowatt), four-cylinder engine conforms to EU Stage V and EPA Tier 4 emission standards using DOC (a diesel oxidation catalyst), a DPF (diesel particulate filter), and SCR (selective catalytic reduction).

    Source: Wirtgen Group



      Blog Archive
    What's New At Sandhills Global
    Posted 7/17/2026
    Find out about the latest Sandhills news, including AI to write your asset descriptions, the new UCC Search app, a new e-commerce solution, and more. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Sandhills Market Reports Show Continued Inventory Declines Across Used Equipment and Truck Markets
    Posted 7/6/2026
    New Sandhills Global market reports show ongoing inventory declines across several key used equipment and truck markets in June. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Submit Free Equipment Rental Quote Requests Easier Than Ever On RentalYard.com
    Posted 6/24/2026
    Finding the right construction equipment, farm machinery, trucks, trailers, or attachments to rent or lease just got simpler on RentalYard.com, thanks to the new dedicated Request A Quote page. ...
    Read the full blog post
    What's New At Sandhills Global
    Posted 6/4/2026
    Find out about the latest Sandhills features and news, including the new Bloomberg/Sandhills dealer survey, the new parts hub, Hot Lists, and more. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Used Construction Equipment Rentals Remain Strong as Sales Cool
    Posted 6/4/2026
    Used construction equipment inventory levels continued to decline in May, led by crawler excavators and wheel loaders, according to the latest Sandhills Global market reports. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Liebherr Debuts Generation 8 Material Handlers At IFAT 2026
    Posted 5/14/2026
    Liebherr recently debuted its Generation 8 material handler prototypes, the LH 18 M Industry and electric LH 22 M Industry E, with the new emCAB cabin and Mobility Kit battery options supporting magnets and recharging during use. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Bobcat Introduces Rental-Ready PA375V Portable Air Compressor
    Posted 5/14/2026
    Bobcat’s new PA375V portable air compressor combines reliable air output, simplified service access, and long runtime for rental environments, contractors, and utility customers. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Used Truck Fleets Continue to Age Amidst Ongoing Inventory Decline
    Posted 5/7/2026
    According to the latest Sandhills Global market reports, inventory levels of used trucks on TruckPaper.com and other Sandhills platforms are down over 20% compared to last year and is continuing a downward trend. ...
    Read the full blog post
    New Vermeer TR6500TX Trommel Screen With Tracks For Enhanced Jobsite Mobility & Efficiency
    Posted 5/1/2026
    The TR6500TX features a tracked undercarriage, a large hopper, a digital drum angle readout and a full-function remote control to help optimize jobsite productivity and efficiency. ...
    Read the full blog post
    What's New At Sandhills Global
    Posted 4/30/2026
    Find out about the latest additions to Sandhills platforms, including TruckPaper.com’s new trailer model names and BoatHarbor.com’s new mobile app. ...
    Read the full blog post