A team with diverse international and industry experience, "exciting" new compaction and paving products, along with re-entry into the milling machine business, are among the "strengths behind Ingersoll Rand."

And, while there are differences in equipment specifications for various markets, the company is finding that its policies have started to pay off in terms of global design platforms.

Gary Michel, president of Ingersoll Rand Construction Technologies, said that Ingersoll Rand''s brand new advanced line of vibratory asphalt compactors, the new DD22 and DD24 (on display at Intermat) is an excellent example of this.

It was joined by the new Alexander 95 compactor and the new tracked Titan 7820, equipped with the new EPMII paver control system.

The question of what are the major technical differences between compaction machines for US and European markets, depends very much on which compactor is being discussed, he said.

"Soil compactors, for example, have essentially globally applicable designs. Some markets, such as Europe, are much more likely to require cabins, but there is a growing requirement to provide cabins in North America as well so we are now able to design one machine for global markets.

We believe the majority of contractors worldwide hold output in terms of drum performance as a primary consideration in achieving superior performance in this area as well as providing the required gradeability.

"Likewise small tandem rollers have very similar requirements wherever they are used. Perhaps the biggest differences come in the large asphalt class. The preferences in machine style that have developed historically as well as application differences from different asphalt mixes and paving speeds have prompted manufactures to differentiate their models."

He said that in Europe, Ingersoll Rand will continue to introduce rollers specific to these regional application needs and operator preferences, such as the Alexander 85 and 95 models that it currently produces.

But, what is Ingersoll Rand doing to its compaction machines to meet European needs?

"If we focus on the machines we had at Intermat, it could be seen that our latest 9.5tonne rigid frame roller, the Alexander 95, with improved drum performance, and our new 2.5tonne class small tandems with both 1m and 1.2m drum widths, strengthen our range in the key European rental markets.

"Equally exciting is the expansion of our manufacturing capability through the manufacture of soil compactors in Hameln (Germany) to support rapidly growing sales in Europe."

As for the differences between how the US and European compaction markets operate, and how these market differences are being addressed by Ingersoll Rand, Michel said the company has a global sales and manufacturing footprint.

"It would be fair to say that we experience differences between adjacent countries, not just between continents. However, our strength is that we have a team with diverse international and industry experience.

"A good example of this is the interaction of our marketing and engineering teams, which for the past few years have been structured on a global-functional basis rather than just concentrating on individual geographies.

"This has really started to pay off in terms of specifying and creating global design platforms, capable of manufacture in any of our plants with a minimum of tailoring needed to optimise for local markets. The DD24 on display at Intermat is an excellent example."

While the company never left the European compaction market, it is now applying much more focus on this sector than in the recent past.

"Currently our soil compaction designs are gaining a great deal of traction in Europe. We have found that rental companies and contractors alike appreciate the high levels of drum performance and climbing ability, and the fact they will be capable of doing everything we expect them to be able to do.

"Likewise, our small tandem designs are well accepted but we plan to grow market share rapidly with our new and extended range, particularly in the key 2.5tonne class. Perhaps our biggest challenge right now is to introduce larger articulated tandem rollers, which will improve our ability to offer our large asphalt customer-base high quality compaction equipment from the same source as their Titan pavers."

Although Ingersoll Rand is not directly involved in rental, Michel says that it is certainly true in Europe that Ingersoll Rand cannot adopt a "one size fits all" approach in that each national market has unique characteristics.

"That said, sales to rental operations do form a key part of our actions in Western Europe, particularly in the UK, France, and Spain. Here we will leverage the already good relationships built up with the rental industry by the Utility and Attachments parts of our Construction Technologies operations.

"We also have excellent relationships with paving contractors through many years of experience with our Titan pavers in Europe. In other areas one of our main challenges is to strengthen and expand our distributor network."

The company does, however, offer (in some areas) a rent-to-buy service where customers are able to rent equipment with the option to purchase.

"This also enables us to offer customers machines at a variety of ages and price points to suit their immediate requirements. A good example of this is being done at our company store locations in Bensheim and the surrounding region in central Germany."

And as Ingersoll Rand continues to expand its product offerings, it says it will continue to ally with the best possible partners within each region, and utilise the brand strength of its Titan pavers to develop its compaction sales.

Michel said: "Obviously the road building community in Europe is very familiar with Ingersoll Rand Titan pavers and this does help us with sales, not only to those contractors but also to rental companies that road building contractors utilise.

"In addition, Ingersoll Rand has a strong presence in the rental market through the success of its Utility and Montabert (breakers and hammers) businesses, giving us an opportunity to include the compaction equipment in a broad rental offering."

He added: "We are very excited about all our new products, including our new 0.5m and 2m milling machines, which will be available later this year."