ForConstructionPros.com

Expansion into the stabilization market did take additional investment. "When you go into stabilization, obviously you have spreader trucks," says Tyrrell. "You have more compaction equipment and graders to finish the product. So it is more equipment and more people."

The cutting end
Whether your emphasis is in reclamation or stabilization, it's important to select the right reclaimer/stabilizer configuration for your situation and site conditions.

Tooth and drum selection are important to make sure the reclaimer/stabilizer can meet gradation specs. "There are a wide variety of teeth on the market that promise different gradations, whether you are working in thicker asphalts, thinner asphalts, more soil, less soil," says Edwards. "We have certain cutter bits that we use strictly in FDR." There are also combination bits that do both FDR and soil stabilization.

"Then you have the components within the drums, like breaker bars, that will assist the gradation. Some machines have more actual cutter bits than other machines," Edwards explains. "With the older machines that we use mostly for soil stabilization — the prequel to the reclaimers — they didn't have as many teeth." As technology continues to improve — with increased drum speeds and breaker bars — the machines are better able to achieve gradation.

Reclaimers/stabilizers also come with two types of cutter housings: fixed and variable chamber.