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Posted June 16, 2021

Rental Solutions: Small but MIGHTY

The BVP 18/45 plate compactor proves excellence of BOMAG light equipment.


BOMAG is perhaps best known in the United States for the kind of heavy equipment you’ve seen on the road at construction sites across the country – including big rollers and pavers and milling machines. 

Bomag BVP 18-45 plate compactor

One use of the BVP 18/45 plate compactor is dirt compaction, and it hits at 4,050 pounds vs. 3,400 pounds for a comparable unit. The roughly 20 percent harder hit equates to gaining a 20 percent production advantage.

Bomag BVP 18-45 plate compactor

In terms of quality, performance, durability and overall value, the BOMAG BVP 18/45 single-direction plate compactor is a machine that literally can’t be beat, says Rob Devlin, BOMAG northeast rental sales manager.

While BOMAG continues to lead from the forefront with compaction and road-building equipment, northeast rental sales manager Rob Devlin is on a mission to spread the word about what he calls the company’s best-kept secret: BOMAG also has more than 60 years of expertise in the manufacture and support of light compaction equipment as well.

BOMAG’s BVP 18/45 single-direction plate compactor is a case in point, says Devlin. The plate exemplifies three of the qualities that make BOMAG a byword for quality in heavy and light compaction equipment: performance, durability and value. 

“Our single-direction plate is a design that has a proven track record to be durable and perform,” says Devlin. “There’s not much to change. It’s a workhorse that gets the job done.”

The BVP is built to be rental-tough. “We want this thing to be a tank,” says Devlin. “As any independent rental yard will tell you, renters are going to use and abuse it, yet I’ve seen a plate compactor that was 22 years old. To get 10 years or more out of one requires consistent maintenance, so that in itself is a testament to the plate’s toughness. It’s going to take a beating, second to none.”

The design of the BVP 18/45 is based on smart engineering principles gained from decades of real-world experience in the field. Rather than being forged into the plate, the exciter is a free-standing component. “Because of its modular design, you can replace just the exciter motor or just the plate if you need to, not all of it,” says Devlin.

Built for durability
The plate is made of ductile steel, which means you get the strength of steel but with greater pliability. “The plate compactor weighs roughly 200 pounds, so if it slips off the back of a truck and falls on a corner, the cast steel might crack. Ours won’t.”

The V-belt that delivers power to the unit is protected by a housing that is sealed and lubricated. The belt is kept tight with a self-tensioner that automatically adjusts as it ages and expands, which reduces maintenance needs. 

The plate is designed to be self-cleaning. “Most of our competitors have what they call a sealed system to keep the dirt and aggregate out,” says Devlin. “But if there’s movement, there’s space, and if there’s space, there’s room for dirt and aggregate to get in. All you’ve done is create an environment that’s capturing the unwanted material.”

The BOMAG design makes it easy for the job site material to fall off from normal vibrations. “If worse comes to worst, at the end of the
day, users can take a hose and wash it off, so you’re starting off fresh every single day.”

There are three main factors that BOMAG keeps in mind when making a product, says Devlin: “the application, the person using it and the person maintaining it.” The dampening system directs power to tamping, not shaking the operator. “When you grab one of our units, there’s very little hand-arm vibration to it,” he says, “We also have a foldable system that collapses, making it more convenient for transport and storage.”

Beyond the technical specifications of the machine, however, there are important intangibles that make the BOMAG plate a wise investment for contractors and rental houses.

Reduce labor costs
“One of the things you can’t physically see that separates us from the competition, besides the quality, is performance,” Devlin says. “The

No. 1 cost for our customer’s customer base – the end user – is labor, across the board. If you can reduce the amount of time they use the equipment, you save them money.”

One use of the BVP 18/45 is dirt compaction. “Dirt loves to get hit hard. The harder you hit it, the more it compacts. We hit at 4,050 pounds vs. 3,400 pounds for a comparable unit, so we’re hitting roughly 20 percent harder. Right there, you’re gaining a 20 percent production advantage.”

Devlin says he’s also done comparisons for speed. “We’ve been proven to be a little bit faster than the competition. So, a combination of hitting harder and running faster nets about a 25 percent overall production improvement that you get compared to our general competition. If you can do this job 25 percent faster, that’s 25 percent fewer dollars toward labor and operating costs.”

Combine that performance with the plate’s proven durability, and the value proposition writes itself. “If you’ve got a unit that’s going to last you five or 10 years or more, times 25 percent production improvement and a reduced labor and operating cost, it will pay for itself in no time. Not everyone realizes that the company has more than 60 years of experience perfecting equipment specifically for compaction,” he says.

The real value of the BVP 18/45 plate is in the results. “We’ve all heard the story that a house built on a weak foundation will not stand,” says Devlin. “It’s no different with roads. A road is bad not because of what’s on top, it’s what’s on the bottom. How did they set up the base? Did they properly compact it, is it consistent, did they make sure there wasn’t anything deeply below that was a problem?”

Devlin compares it to building a backyard patio. “Unless the soil has been thoroughly and evenly compacted, and the sand on top of that, water is going to seep through the pavers and erode the foundation, and you’re going to end up with that ‘roller-coaster’ wavy pattern.” 

When you buy a BOMAG product, you’re getting access to an extensive and well-equipped support network as well. “One of the things service techs and managers love about BOMAG Americas is uptime support,” says Devlin. The free BOMAG Service app, available from the Goggle Play store, puts service manuals and parts manuals at the user’s fingertips. 

“BOMAG has been around for more than 60 years,” says Devlin. “People know us mostly for the big stuff that you see from the highway, the big dual-drum rollers and so forth. I’ll hear from people, ‘We didn’t realize you made the small stuff.’ But what really sells them is when they can see the plate in action.”

In terms of quality, performance, durability and overall value, the BOMAG BVP 18/45 single-direction plate compactor is a machine that literally can’t be beat. 

Visit the BOMAG Americas website www.bomag.com and click on the locator to find a BOMAG Americas authorized dealership near you to schedule your own demonstration. 

This advertorial originally appeared in the July-August issue of Pro Contractor Rentals magazine. © 2021 Urbain Communications LLC. All rights reserved.

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