Compaction Specifications

What actually separates one roller from another - and it isn't the brochure.

A real single-drum soil compactor comparison, in the same terms our own engineers use - what centrifugal force actually means, how amplitude and frequency combine to compact a lift, and a first look at the real numbers behind four manufacturers.

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The Dataset

Real depth, not a marketing number.

One machine class, fully normalised - here's what that actually looks like in practice, before you see a single value.

11
Spec categories tracked
65+
Individual fields per machine
4
Manufacturers compared
2
Unit systems - metric & imperial
A Real Comparison

Single-drum rollers, four manufacturers, real numbers.

A sample of the real data behind this class, pulled from across the full spec sheet - not just the flattering rows. Manufacturers are anonymised here as A–D; every value is real.

Field Manufacturer A Manufacturer B Manufacturer C Manufacturer D
Telematics
Summary
Available StandardStandard–No
Driveline
Power Source → Internal Combustion Engine
Aspiration Turbocharged–TurbochargedTurbocharged
OutputkW [hp] 95 [128]117 [156.9]149 [200]119.6 [160.4]
Transmission
Hydrostatic
Transmission HydrostaticHydrostaticHydrostaticHydrostatic
Axles And Tracks
Steering Axle
Steering ArticulatedArticulatedArticulatedArticulated
Wheels And Tyres
Wheels \ Tyres
Tyre Size 23.1 - 26–23.1 - 2623.1 - 26
Brakes
Parking
Secondary Brakes Service Hydro-Mechanical–Multi DiscSpring On / Hyd Off
Dimensions
Transport Dimensions → Length
Overall Lengthmm [in] 6220 [245]6100 [238.8]6240 [246]6117 [241]
Static Dimensions → Height
Ground Clearancemm [in] 490 [19]429 [16.9]450 [18]461 [18]
Static Dimensions → Diameter
Drum Diametermm [in] 1500 [59]1535 [60.4]1536 [60]1504 [59]
Performance Dimensions
Steering Envelope
Turning Radius - Insidemm [in] 3880 [153]3700 [145.2]3300 [130]4131 [163]
Capacities
Fluids → Fuel
Fuel TankL [gal US] 250 [66]264 [69.7]255 [67]280 [74]
Performance
Dynamic → Machine → Drum Vibration
Centrifugal Force - 1kN [lbf] 285 [64071]301 [67653]330 [74190]290 [65195]
Gradeability - Without Vibration% 49654958
Travel Speed 1kph [mph] 5 [3.1]11.4 [7.1]4 [2.5]12.1 [7.5]
Electrical
VoltageV 1224––
Weights
Static → Machine
Operating Weightkg [lb] 14000 [30865]14336 [31605]16200 [35700]14275 [31471]
The Terminology

The numbers, defined in plain English.

Compaction spec sheets lean on vibration engineering terms that rarely get explained. Here's what the ones that actually matter for comparing rollers really mean.

Linear Drum Load
The drum's static weight spread per unit of drum width. This is the baseline compaction force a roller applies before vibration is switched on.
Centrifugal Force
The dynamic force a vibrating drum exerts on the ground, usually quoted at two amplitude/frequency settings - a higher-amplitude stage for depth, a higher-frequency stage for finish.
Amplitude & Frequency
The two vibration settings that combine to produce centrifugal force: amplitude is how far the drum moves per cycle, frequency is how many cycles per second (Hz). Different stage combinations suit different lift depths and soil types.
Gradeability (With vs. Without Vibration)
The steepest slope a roller can climb - quoted twice because engaging vibration changes the traction available at the drum.
Oscillation Angle
How far the drum can pivot relative to the frame on uneven ground, keeping full drum-to-ground contact rather than rocking on one edge.
Drum Split
Whether the drum is divided into two independently rotating sections. A split drum tightens the turning radius and reduces ground scuffing when steering.
Articulated Steering Angle
The maximum angle between a roller's front and rear frame sections. A larger angle cuts a tighter turning radius on site.
DOC / DPF / SCR
The three main diesel emissions aftertreatment technologies: DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst) reduces CO and hydrocarbons, DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) traps soot, and SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) uses DEF fluid to cut NOx. Which combination a machine uses affects DEF tank size and service intervals.
Static vs. Dynamic Linear Load
Linear Drum Load is the static weight only; the force actually applied to the ground rises once vibration and centrifugal force are engaged - two different numbers describing the same drum.
Rolling Width
The width of the drum actually in contact with the ground. Narrower drums concentrate force into a smaller footprint; wider drums cover more ground per pass.
The Full Picture

65+ fields tracked for every machine in this class.

The sample above shows real values for a curated set of fields. Beyond that, here's the depth by category - individual field names, units and the order they're tracked in are reserved for subscribers.

2
Telematics
11
Driveline
1
Transmission
1
Axles And Tracks
3
Wheels And Tyres
2
Brakes
15
Dimensions
4
Performance Dimensions
5
Capacities
18
Performance
4
Weights
How This Is Verified

Every figure above traces back to the manufacturer's own literature.

The values in this comparison are sourced from published OEM documentation and checked by our own engineers - not scraped and left as-is.

See Exactly How We Verify Every Spec →

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