Rollers

A single-drum roller has a smooth drum that compacts material with pressure and vibration across the whole contact surface — ideal for aggregate, sub-bases and surfaces that need an even finish. A padfoot roller has a drum with protruding pads that sink into the ground and compact it from the bottom of the layer, so it handles cohesive soils such as clay and silt better. A smooth drum compacts layers up to about 20–40 cm, while a padfoot drum drives energy deeper, into cohesive layers 30 cm thick and more. In the range, smooth drums are used by the Bomag BW and Wacker Neuson RC models, while the padfoot type is the Bomag BMP 8500 ECONOMIZER.

A roller for soil compaction is chosen by the type of ground and the scale of the job. For granular soils (sand, gravel, aggregate) and sub-bases, a smooth single-drum roller is best — for example the Wacker Neuson RC 50 or Bomag BW 138 AC-5, compacting 20–40 cm layers. For cohesive soils (clay, silt) a padfoot roller such as the Bomag BMP 8500 is more effective. For narrow trenches, pick a compact walk-behind roller of about 0.3–1.5 t (Bomag BW 55 E); for larger yards a ride-on unit of 1.5–5 t.

The mass of a road roller depends on the class of machine. Compact walk-behind rollers (small and mini) usually weigh about 0.3–1.5 t, ride-on tandem rollers for earthworks about 1.5–5 t, and large road rollers for roads and embankments from several to a dozen or more, even several dozen tonnes. The NORWIT.PL range is dominated by compact classes — up to a few tonnes — matched to urban, road and earthwork jobs. The greater the mass and drum diameter, the greater the compaction depth (over 40 cm) and output, but the harder the transport.

A padfoot roller has a drum with pads that penetrate the ground and compact it from the bottom of the layer, so it is used mainly for cohesive soils — clay, silt and soil-and-stone mixes. It performs well when building embankments and road sub-bases and compacting trenches in 30–40 cm layers, where a smooth drum struggles to press soil deeper than 20 cm. The pads aerate the top layer while compacting the lower one, which speeds up the drying of wet soils. In the range this role is filled by the Bomag BMP 8500 ECONOMIZER.

A walk-behind roller is operated on foot behind the drawbar — the operator walks behind the machine, which usually weighs about 0.3–1.5 t and has a small working width, so it reaches narrow trenches, utility connections and spots near foundations. A ride-on roller has an operator station on the machine, weighs about 1.5–5 t and more, has a wider drum and an output measured in thousands of m² per hour, so it suits roads and yards. Walk-behind units include the Bomag BW 55 E and BW 71 E-2 D/E, while a ride-on one is the Bomag BW 138 AC-5.

The price of a road roller depends above all on the type and operating mass. The cheapest are compact walk-behind rollers (about 0.3–1.5 t) for narrow trenches; more expensive are ride-on tandem rollers for earthworks (about 1.5–5 t) with a wider drum and higher output. Price is also affected by equipment and brand (Bomag, Wacker Neuson, Enar). Current net prices and availability are given on each model's product page.

For narrow trenches, utility backfills and work near foundations, a compact walk-behind roller of about 0.3–1.5 t with a small working width is best, as it fits between the trench walls. In the range this role is filled by the Bomag BW 55 E and Bomag BW 71 E-2 D/E — operated on foot, with vibration compacting backfill layers up to about 20–30 cm. In very tight spots the alternative is a plate compactor or a vibratory rammer (jumping jack).

Operating ride-on road rollers professionally requires an earthmoving machine operator licence — in Poland the operator's booklet issued after a course and an exam before a board. The course usually runs from a dozen to about 30–50 hours of theory and practice. Small walk-behind rollers (up to about 1.5 t) operated on foot in many cases do not require a formal machine licence, but health-and-safety training and the manufacturer's manual always apply. Confirm the exact scope with an accredited training centre.

A roller compacts the ground with a rotating drum that combines static pressure with vibration, and travels over large surfaces — roads, yards, sub-bases — compacting 20–40 cm layers. A plate compactor works with a plate that vibrates in place and moves forward, compacts 15–30 cm layers at the surface and is lighter and more maneuverable, so it performs better on small areas, around paving blocks and in tight spots. A roller offers greater output and compaction depth, while a plate offers greater precision and mobility.

A vibratory roller is a roller whose drum, on top of its own weight, produces vibration thanks to a rotating eccentric (an unbalanced shaft) inside the drum. Vibration at a frequency usually around 30–70 Hz drives energy deep into the ground and packs the soil grains more tightly than static pressure alone. As a result a vibratory roller compacts thicker layers (20–40 cm) faster and at a lower mass than a purely static roller. The vibration can usually be switched off so the final pass smooths the surface with the drum's weight alone.