Terex and Bomag agree tests

Two of the three single-drum roller manufacturers, Terex Benford and Bomag, have agreed a programme and signed a contract with the Transport Research Laboratory to test their products' ability to meet the Highways Authorities and Utilities Committee's (HAUC) requirements.
Mortimer Manufacturing, the third and smallest of the trio, is not testing its equipment as the cost was "too high for such a small company".
HAUC has extended the deadline for the test results until 1 January 2004 to accommodate the late-running programme.
A Terex Benford spokesman said: "We are confident we will get the right result." He added that sales of single-drum rollers had recovered to almost pre-HAUC levels. "Contractors couldn't wait any longer to replace their machines," he said.
There remains considerable bitterness at the need to undertake testing at all, as manufacturers feel their equipment has been outlawed without any evidence that it was causing reinstatement problems.
Nick Mortimer, joint proprietor of the family-owned Mortimer Manufacturing, said: "It's nonsense, there's no rhyme or reason for it."
While its machines may not be legal for road-reinstatement work, Mortimer said the company plans to continue manufacturing rollers as they can still be used for non-road work such as laying driveways and playgrounds. It will also continue its all-makes roller remanufacturing operation.