Bomag Compactors

A single-direction Bomag plate travels forward only and uses a lighter frame, usually in the range of approx. 60–100 kg, which suits block paving and layers up to roughly 20–25 cm. A reversible (two-way) model travels forward and back and can also work on the spot; it typically weighs from approx. 150 kg to over 300 kg and consolidates thicker layers in the order of 30–50 cm. The higher mass and centrifugal force mean a higher price, but also more output on roads and foundations.

Bomag compactors prepare the ground under foundations, roads, yards and block-paved pavements, and they are also used when backfilling trenches after underground utilities have been laid. Light single-direction models consolidate layers up to approx. 20 cm during finishing work, while heavier reversible machines handle layers in the order of 30–50 cm on road sub-bases and manoeuvring yards. Machines of this brand are also used in surface repairs, where aggregate has to be compacted evenly before the next layer goes down.

Sandy, loose soil compacts fairly easily, so a lighter single-direction plate weighing approx. 60–100 kg and making a few passes over a 15–20 cm layer will do the job. Clay and cohesive soils need higher impact energy, which makes a vibratory rammer or a heavier reversible machine above 150 kg the better choice. Aggregate and road sub-bases, where layers reach 30–50 cm, call for a reversible compactor with higher centrifugal force, because a light single-direction plate will not consolidate that thickness in a single pass.

A Bomag vibratory plate has a flat steel base plate that vibrates vertically and spreads pressure over a wide strip of ground, which suits open areas, block paving and sub-bases, with a working width usually of 30–50 cm. A vibratory rammer (jumping jack) strikes with a narrow foot approx. 15–30 cm wide, delivers high impact energy and hops forward, reaching places a plate cannot enter — narrow trenches, utility connections and foundation corners. The rammer copes better with cohesive ground, the plate with loose soil and aggregate.

Bomag compactors belong to the professional equipment segment — a solid exciter unit and base plate allow long working days on site, with a typical service schedule of roughly 100 operating hours for the engine and roughly 300 operating hours for the exciter. The brand has specialised in soil compaction machinery for decades and covers both light single-direction models and heavier reversible machines above 150 kg, so the components are engineered for long-term use rather than occasional jobs. NORWIT.PL additionally keeps consumable parts and service available, which shortens downtime on site.

NORWIT.PL stocks consumable parts for Bomag compactors — air filters usually replaced roughly every 25 operating hours, fuel filters on diesel-engined versions roughly every 100 operating hours and exciter oil roughly every 300 operating hours, along with rubber components and protective mats for work on block paving. Availability of a specific part depends on the machine model and is shown on the product page or confirmed through the contact form. Servicing and the selection of replacement components cover the whole Bomag compactor series carried in our range.

The engine of a Bomag compactor needs its first oil change after approx. 20 operating hours and then every 100 operating hours or so, while the air filter is worth cleaning as often as every 25 operating hours in dusty conditions. The exciter unit — the eccentric weight that drives the plate — runs on separate oil changed less frequently, roughly every 300 operating hours or once per construction season. Regular greasing and checking V-belt tension limit overheating of the centrifugal clutch and add further seasons to the machine's working life.

In narrow trenches and along foundation edges, where a vibratory plate simply will not fit, the better choice is a Bomag vibratory rammer (jumping jack) — it strikes with a foot approx. 15–30 cm wide and reaches corners and the faces of formwork. Wider trenches, above approx. 40–50 cm, and backfilling work can be handled by a light single-direction plate provided there is room for its full working width. Right at the edge of a foundation it pays to keep a gap of a few centimetres to avoid damaging the formwork or the waterproofing.