ForConstructionPros.com

Of all the equipment in a pavement repair arsenal, infrared repair equipment probably requires the least maintenance. With few moving parts, these units come to work everyday ready and raring to go. Still, to keep them in top shape requires some attention to details - details that if left untouched can put a damper on your pavement repair effort for the day.

There are two critical components to an infrared repair job: an infrared heater used to re-soften the pavement and an asphalt reclaimer/storage unit, often called a "hot box," where new material to be used in the repair is stored and heated. These components are sold together as "combo" packages or separately, and come in various configurations (towed behind a pickup or mounted on a truck chassis). Unlike other maintenance equipment with similar design features, infrared repair equipment differs considerably from manufacturer to manufacturer, so some maintenance procedures are also different.

Keizer-Morris International, Imlay City, MI, manufactures five infrared recycler models, the most popular being the KM 4-48. Designed as a folding trailer to be towed behind a pickup, this model features four independent heating zones that allow users to recycle an area ranging from eight square feet up to 48-sq. ft.

The controls, heating elements, and combustion technology are identical on all five models, says Bryan Burke, Keizer-Morris general manager. The units employ a series of ceramic blankets to convey infrared radiation from the heating system to the asphalt surface. A blower, powered by a 12-volt battery system, provides the combustible air/fuel mixture required to generate the infrared heat.

"Most infrared units are relatively maintenance free," Burke says. "Keeping the batteries maintained is a requisite for operating the blower, and they should be charged up after every use. The caster wheels on our trailer unit need to be routinely lubricated and operators should give the recycler a good visual inspection prior to going to the field."