Boral has unveiled the world’s first forward moving aggregate spreader, which promises to be safer, more efficient and deliver a better final product.

The first-of-its-kind design does away with the need for road crews to work alongside reversing trucks that apply aggregate through an elevated tipper body. Instead, to improve safety and maximise visibility, the Boral front moving aggregate spreader (FMAS) disperses aggregate from the front of the truck via a conveyor belt and spreader box.

Boral says the FMAS will allow for faster completion of works, while significantly reducing the risk of damage to overhead objects such as contacting power lines, trees and bridges.

Stuart Partridge, Boral’s National Asset Manager – Asphalt, says the FMAS was developed following VicRoads call to industry as a result of a serious accident involving a VicRoads worker some years ago.

“Surfacing roads has remained one of the most potentially challenging tasks faced by construction crews because of the nature of the material being used and the way that material is applied,” Partridge says.

“Rollover accidents, blind spots, and high reversing tippers that can be at risk of interfering with power lines or overhanging trees are just some of the problems associated with the current range of spreaders.

“So, the task here was to come up with a solution to improve safety for road crews, including drivers, while at the same time making the process quicker, and more efficient with higher quality.

“This invention allows locally manufactured and approved trucks to be substantially modified while still meeting regulatory standards, which is why VicRoads has mandated that forward moving aggregate spreaders should be in use on all its projects by 2022 – a move we hope will be followed by other state road authorities nationally”.