The asphalt paving industry has witnessed significant technological change over the last two decades. VÖGELE has been an industry technology leader and remains on the cutting edge of new processes and techniques that will shape the future, such as incorporating thermal imaging into the paving unit. Even in the midst of new technologies, mix designs and specification changes, the objective has remained the same — to produce high-quality, long-lasting asphalt pavement at the lowest practical cost. Best practices, team building and operational training are still the keys to success.
At Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc., our experience has shown us that a robust, on-the-job training session at the time of demonstration or delivery of a new paver is the best way to teach and reinforce these concepts. A crew that is well-versed in the correct operation and technical capabilities of an asphalt paver is more productive, confident and safe. A crew equipped with proper maintenance of the paver will result in lower operating costs and greater efficiency over time. Our philosophy is to achieve these training goals from the beginning to enhance the ownership experience for our customers. Having in-house asphalt paving expertise in conjunction with the reliable team for VÖGELE gives us more latitude and flexibility to accommodate our customers’ needs.
Our VÖGELE asphalt paving and compaction expert at Kirby-Smith is Robert Perkins, who has 19 years of industry experience. He has worked in the contracting sector as a project manager and estimator, and at the manufacturing level as an application specialist for WIRTGEN AMERICA. He now works at the distributor level directly with our customer base. His experience level and easy demeanor make Perkins a great asset as a trainer, advisor and source of information for our customers.
As Perkins explains, “Each customer has different needs based on the crews’ experience level, the equipment that they are putting into service, and the job to be performed. Our paving customers range from small cities doing minor street repairs and overlays to large highway contractors building major projects for TxDOT. In any case, teaching the fundamentals of best practices, operational team building and achieving good densities are essential to a good delivery. Job safety is always a priority with us. Beyond the initial training, I like to establish a good relationship with our customers so they feel that they can call on me for advice in the future. It’s always good to return to a happy customer to help them with any job issues that they may have.”
More than ever, the asphalt paving business is demanding and competitive. With increasing costs and skilled labor in high demand, the challenges of our COVID-19 environment are clear. Whether you are a city or county administrator trying to stretch budget dollars to do more work, or a contractor in the private sector seeking to be more competitive, paving fundamentals and best practices are essential to success. Investing in our customers’ success with expertise and training is another way that Kirby-Smith adds value.
Learn more about how Kirby-Smith helps customers in the paving industry
