very narrow and extremely manoeuvrable machine H17

The Hofmann H17 is a very narrow and exceptionally manoeuvrable self-propelled road marking machine designed for medium-capacity work on urban roads, rural routes, tunnels, and other confined marking environments. Its compact footprint — just 1,210 mm wide in base configuration — makes it one of the slimmest machines in the Hofmann self-propelled line-up, well suited to projects where restricted lane widths, tight bends, and limited site access are routine challenges. Despite its narrow build, it supports the full range of Hofmann application technologies across both cold and hot material types.

Power comes from a water-cooled Kubota 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine with a 1,500 cm³ displacement, delivering 33.0 kW at 3,000 rpm. The Hofmann H17 is available in two emission variants: Variant I (Non-Label, comparable to EU Stage IIIA / EPA Tier 2) and Variant II (EU Stage V / EPA Tier 4 Final), the latter equipped with a diesel oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filter. The hydraulic wheel-motor drive system provides stepless speed regulation, and the hydraulic disc parking brake ensures secure positioning on gradient surfaces. Compressed air output of 800 to 1,200 litres per minute at 7.5 bar supports bead gun operation, and a pressurised bead tank of 100 litres is included as standard.

The H17 accommodates five application techniques — cold paints, 2-component cold plastics, sprayable 2K cold plastics, thermoplastics, and sprayable thermoplastics — with tank capacities up to 370 litres for cold materials, up to 420 litres for thermoplastics, and up to 250 litres for sprayable thermoplastic configurations. Documented deployments include thermoplastic tunnel marking work in Italy using the MultiDotLine® Universal Extruder at 30 cm width, and cold paint airless applications in Belgium. Line widths from 10 to 60 cm are achievable depending on equipment configuration, and the machine’s overall dimensions of 3,580 × 1,210 × 2,270 mm (base unit) keep the working profile notably compact.

Leader Infra offers the Hofmann H17 as a proven solution within its road marking equipment range, serving contractors who require a manoeuvrable machine without sacrificing material versatility. The operator workstation is relocatable to either side of the machine, with controls transferable across and the seat unit repositionable — a genuinely flexible arrangement for both left- and right-hand marking tasks. All-round visibility, including during reverse travel, and good accessibility to the mechanical components for service work contribute to reliable day-to-day operation.

FAQ — Is the H17 suitable for tunnel marking work? Yes, the H17 has been deployed specifically for tunnel marking, as documented in footage from Italy where it was configured with a MultiDotLine® Universal Extruder at 30 cm width for profiled thermoplastic application. Its very narrow body width of 1,210 mm makes it particularly practical in confined tunnel environments where larger machines would have insufficient clearance or manoeuvrability.