Kennametal Inc. has introduced a new series of road planing tools — the Road Razor RZ Series — designed for improved performance and longer life.

Reengineered from tip to tail, the RZ series tools are more reliable, more impact resistant, stronger, and have greater protection against tip loss, according to the manufacturer.

“We assembled a complete team of engineering, manufacturing, and Energy, Mining and Construction Group leadership at Kennametal to improve the quality of these tools,” said Tom Whitehead, Kennametal’s construction marketing manager. “A big issue in road milling is tool rotation, another is body wear. We’ve come up with some processes to address both.”

Specifically, the carbide of the RZ Series tip was reengineered making it harder. A new tip profile geometry improves rotation for longer tool life and less chipping in hard cutting conditions. The carbide tip and tool body are forged with an advanced process making the tip the hardest part of the tool. There’s also some improvements in the body design, and a new system that the carbide is brazed to the steel body which protect against tip loss.

“We have completed quite a few tests and compared wear characteristics,” for quite a few months Whitehead said. “There will be substantial increase of tool life, we’re even impressed with what we have accomplished.”

Tool rotation also is improved by a more precise and more balanced body configuration.

“By improving all of these specifications — the retainer, the washer, the body, the carbide, the rotation of the tool is enhanced,” Whitehead said.

The retainer clip, for example, is pre-compressed and the washer is pre-installed halfway up the tool body for easy installation, saving downtime, reducing carbide fractures and giving better quality to customers.

Initially, the RZ Series tools will be available in eight styles with carbide tips of different lengths, diameters, shapes, and grades of hardness for various asphalt-cutting conditions. They also will be available in two body styles, one with a puller groove to assist in tool removal and another without the groove for customers who use a hand or air punch to remove the tool.

For more information, visit www.kennametal.com.

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