HAMM AG has discontinued production of the compaction roller GRW 18 at its Tirschenreuth location. The last unit in the series left the plant in the Upper Palatinate, marking the end of a long-standing product line for the manufacturer, which belongs to the Wirtgen Group conglomerate. The GRW 18 was one of the trench rollers in HAMM's product range, specifically designed for compaction in narrow trenches and in utility construction.
The discontinuation of the GRW 18 series comes at a time when the construction machinery industry is heavily focused on electrification and new drive concepts. Whether HAMM will replace the product line with a successor model featuring alternative drives remains unknown. In recent years, the manufacturer has increasingly concentrated on the development of electrified compaction solutions, which suggests a realignment of its product portfolio.
Trench rollers like the GRW 18 are designed for use in civil engineering work and the utility sector, where narrow working widths and high compaction performance are required. The machines must deliver sufficient operating weight and compaction force within a narrow construction width to achieve the required Proctor densities in the trench area. The end of the product line could have implications for operators who depend on spare parts availability and service support.
For the Tirschenreuth location, where HAMM has been manufacturing rollers for decades, the production end of the GRW 18 represents a turning point. It remains unclear whether and how the production transition will affect the number of employees. HAMM is part of the internationally operating Wirtgen Group, which in turn belongs to the US-based construction machinery conglomerate John Deere. The parent company has repeatedly consolidated product lines and shifted manufacturing capacity between locations in the past.
The strategic realignment at HAMM takes place in a market environment characterized by stricter emissions regulations and growing demand for low-emission or zero-emission construction machinery. Other manufacturers such as BOMAG and Ammann have already unveiled electrified roller models. Whether HAMM will come up with an electric successor to the GRW 18 series will become clear in the coming months.
