Asphalt Distributor

VAD Series Asphalt Distributors

An asphalt distributor is a road construction machine made up of an insulated tank, either truck-mounted or towed, and the heating, pumping and spraying systems connected to it.

Its job is to spray the bitumen- or emulsion-based binder that bonds the existing and new pavement layers onto the road surface at a set rate, evenly and under control. If the amount of material per square metre is wrong, the pavement either fails to bond or the binder bleeds to the surface; that is why the precision of the distributor directly determines the life of the road.

Vimpo has been building asphalt distributors with the experience it has gained since 1997. Today the VAD Series consists of five models: from the towed VAD-T for spraying binder before patching, to the VAD 5400A, which performs fully automatic proportional spraying across a 5,400 mm motorway section. All five models share the same engineering platform - the same insulation, the same heating architecture, similar Vimpo bitumen pumps - and differ in spray width, level of control and scale of work.

Which Asphalt Distributor Model Should You Choose?

Three questions lead you to the right model:

What spray width do you need?

Up to 3,000 mm: VAD Mini; up to 3,600 mm: VAD 3600M or 3600A; up to 5,400 mm: VAD 5400A. For spot work that does not require a spray bar: the hand-lance VAD-T.

Should the machine or the operator set the application rate?

The VAD 3600A and 5400A are fully automatic proportional: they read vehicle speed and spray width in real time and keep the material per m² constant. On the VAD 3600M, the operator makes this adjustment from the cab. The VAD Mini is available with both control types. The VAD-T is manually operated.

What type of work is it?

New road construction and wide sections: 3600A / 5400A; urban and narrow roads: VAD Mini; spraying binder before patching: the towed VAD-T.

Asphalt Distributor Model Comparison Table

The technical data of all five models are compared below. The full technical specification of each model is also given under its own heading.

Note: "-" indicates that the feature is not present on the model. As the VAD-T is a towed unit without a spray bar, spray width, spray section and spray bar movement do not apply.

VAD Series Models

VAD-T - Asphalt Maintenance Distributor

A compact towed distributor designed to spray binder onto deformed roads before patching. A durable patch in pothole and crack repair depends on applying the right amount of binder to the underlying surface. The VAD-T does this job without the need to bring a large distributor to site.

Thanks to its on-board diesel engine, it draws no power from the vehicle and needs no other power source. Its compact design lets it work in both urban and rural areas. With the 6-metre hand lance, the operator applies binder exactly where it is needed. Its heating system keeps it working efficiently all day; the crew can move from one patch to the next without waiting. It is designed for municipal road maintenance crews and repair contractors.

Highlights

• 1,500 litre tank · twin torsion axles, 3,600 kg capacity
• Diesel engine - no power draw from the vehicle
• 6 m hand lance
• Vimpo VD40 gear pump · digitally controlled diesel burner

Technical Specifications

VAD Mini - Mini Asphalt Distributor

A compact model for urban, narrow-road and small-scale work. With five 600 mm spray sections, it sprays between 600 and 3,000 mm. Thanks to the foldable extension bars, the bar stays folded on narrow streets and opens as far as needed at the spraying point.

The control type can be selected as manual or proportional. This allows a crew on a limited budget to start with manual control and move to the proportional system when needed. It is the entry-level distributor for small municipalities, contractors and maintenance crews. The external diesel engine and rear-view camera options make work easier on vehicles without a suitable PTO output and in confined areas.

Highlights

• 600 - 3,000 mm spray width · 600 mm × 5 pneumatic sections
• Manual or proportional control option
• Max. 6,000 litre tank · VN Series bitumen pump
• Foldable extension bars

Technical Specifications

VAD 3600M Manual Asphalt Distributor

It shares the same mechanical platform as the 3600A; the difference lies in the control method. The amount of material to be sprayed is set by the operator through the electronic card in the driver's cab. After selecting the spray width, the operator controls the pump with the flow adjustment lever. The display shows, in real time, the target amount per m², total material sprayed, asphalt pump speed, spray width, vehicle speed and total distance travelled.

With six 600 mm spray sections, it sprays between 600 and 3,600 mm. It is the right choice for crews working with experienced operators who prefer not to take on the initial investment of a proportional system. As workload grows, it can be upgraded to automatic proportional spraying without replacing the machine.

Highlights

• 600 - 3,600 mm spray width · 600 mm × 6 pneumatic sections
• Manual flow control from the cab, real-time kg/m² display
• 3" VA bitumen pump, 60 m³/h · two suction and two discharge lines
• Upgradable to automatic proportional spraying on request
• Foldable extension bars

Technical Specifications

VAD 3600A Proportional Asphalt Distributor

It offers the same proportional control logic as the 5400A at a spray width of 3,600 mm. Six 600 mm spray sections provide a spray width of 600 to 3,600 mm. The system processes vehicle speed, spray width and the target application rate together and adjusts the pump flow automatically.

The spray width can be increased or reduced during spraying, and the operator can speed up or slow down according to road conditions; the amount of material applied does not change. In-cab and rear control panels are standard. It is the most balanced model in the series for work requiring precise spraying at standard road widths.

Highlights

• 600 - 3,600 mm spray width · 600 mm × 6 pneumatic sections
• Fully automatic proportional control
• 3" VA bitumen pump, 60 m³/h · two suction and two discharge lines
• In-cab and rear control panel
• Foldable extension bars

Technical Specifications

VAD 5400A - Proportional Asphalt Distributor

The widest-spraying model in the series. With eighteen 300 mm spray sections, it provides a spray width of 300 to 5,400 mm in 300 mm steps; the spray bar moves hydraulically. The wide spray bar allows wide sections such as motorways and airports to be sprayed in fewer passes. Fewer passes mean fewer joints and shorter application times.

The material per m² set by the operator is kept constant by reading vehicle speed and spray width data in real time. Thanks to the 300 mm section precision, the spray width can be matched to the lane, shoulder or junction; no material is wasted on areas that do not need it. The spray bar locks, position, spray width and movement are managed from the control panel in the cab; the operator does not need to leave the vehicle. It is designed for motorways, airports and wide road sections.

Highlights

• 300 - 5,400 mm spray width · 300 mm × 18 pneumatic sections
• Hydraulic spray bar movement and mechanical joints (Teflon + copper-thread sealing)
• 3" VAD bitumen pump, 80 m³/h
• Fully automatic proportional control
• Foldable extension bars

Technical Specifications

How Does Fully Automatic Proportional Spraying Work?

Proportional spraying means keeping the amount of material per square metre constant. The operator enters the target value (for example 0.8 kg/m²). The system continuously reads vehicle speed and the spray width currently open and adjusts the pump flow to these two variables in real time. If the vehicle slows down, the pump flow drops; if it speeds up, the flow increases; if the spray width is narrowed, the flow is reduced proportionally. The result: when the operator speeds up, slows down or changes the width according to road conditions, the amount of material reaching the surface does not change.

In practice, this means material savings and pavement quality. With a manually adjusted spray, speed changes inevitably lead to over- or under-application; the proportional system eliminates this margin.

Optional Equipment

Mounting, Shipping and Commissioning

VAD Series asphalt distributors are designed to fit the customer's existing, new or used trucks in their own country, and are mounted there. This eliminates high truck import costs. Because the equipment is designed to fit into a 40 ft container in disassembled form, shipping costs are also reduced. After 5 - 7 days of on-site mounting and operator training, the machine is ready for work.

Asphalt Distributor Frequently Asked Questions

What does an asphalt distributor do?

It sprays a bitumen- or emulsion-based binder onto the road surface at a set rate, evenly and under control. This binder bonds the existing pavement to the new layer laid on top. It is used on motorways, urban roads, car parks and in stabilisation work.

What is the difference between a proportional and a manual distributor?

On proportional models, the machine reads vehicle speed and spray width in real time and adjusts the pump flow automatically; the amount of material per square metre stays constant. On the manual model, the operator makes this adjustment with the flow adjustment lever in the cab. The proportional system reduces material waste and makes spraying quality independent of operator experience. The VAD Mini is available with both control types.

What tank capacity should I choose?

Tank capacity is determined primarily by your truck's payload capacity. Options of 8,000 - 16,000 litres are offered on the VAD 3600M, 3600A and 5400A, and up to 6,000 litres on the VAD Mini. The tank on the VAD-T maintenance distributor is 1,500 litres. Your daily spraying volume and the distance to the site are decisive; the right capacity is the one that saves you frequent return trips for refilling.

Can I work with polymer-modified bitumen (PMB)?

Yes. With the thermal oil heater option fitted to the system, the tank and all piping are heated and the material is kept at high temperature. If you will be working with PMB, this option is mandatory and must be specified at the order stage.

Can it be mounted on my own truck?

Yes. The VAD Series is designed to fit existing, new or used trucks in the customer's country and is mounted there. No truck import costs are incurred.

How long does installation take?

The equipment is shipped disassembled in a 40 ft container. On-site mounting and operator training take 5 - 7 days in total.

Do the pump or lines freeze during spraying?

No. At the end of spraying, the material remaining in the spray bar is returned to the tank through the pump, which prevents freezing inside the pump. The thermal oil heated spray bar option provides additional protection in cold weather.

Get an Asphalt Distributor Quote

Tell us your spray width, daily workload, your truck's payload capacity and the type of material you will use; our team will recommend the right model and tank capacity for your needs. Vimpo engineers design the machine to suit your own truck.