The Caterpillar AP500E and AP555E pavers feature more screed options and an exclusive system that redirects fumes away from both paver and screed operators. They are available with both vibratory screeds and tamper bar screeds with vibration.

Many users will match the pavers with the AS4252C, a high-performance screed with tamper bars and vibratory screed plates. The AS4252C screed, with extensions, paves at widths up to 23 feet with the wheeled AP500E and up to 26 feet and 4 inches when used with the tracked AP555E.

The standard, extendable paving range of 8 feet, 4 inches to 16 feet, 4 inches makes this screed and pavers versatile for smaller jobsites as well. Variable frequency tamper bars and vibratory screed plates provide initial compaction, while electrically heated tamper bars, screed plates, and optional heated end gates optimize flow under the screed. Rigid, double-width extenders ensure performance at wide paving widths and can be equipped with foldable end gates that reduce the transport size. 

The CatFumes Management System collects fumes from the auger chamber as well as the conveyor tunnel and routes them through the exhaust stack. In addition, the front-mounted cooling fan is positioned between the operator station and the hopper. It blows fumes away from the hopper and the paver operator.

The Mobil-Trac undercarriage on the AP555E offers excellent mobility on the jobsite as well as when moving between starting points. It provides excellent flotation and limits disturbance on soft base materials, ensuring uniform mat thickness. Large oscillating bogies and hydraulic accumulators progressively overcome surface irregularities with minimal tow point movement limiting the effects of mix piles and manholes for a smoother mat. The Mobil-Trac undercarriage can be equipped with one of two belt designs. The tread-bar design provides better traction when grade conditions are soft, while the smooth belt provides more contact surface for good performance when pushing trucks and less base disruption when turning.   

A position sensor located in the left steering cylinder helps maintain consistent travel speeds when making turns by adjusting the drive speed of the propel motors according to the steering angle of the front wheels, leading to better mat quality and less wear on the drive system. The front wheel assist option provides power to the front bogie wheels for added traction when pushing trucks or working on soft bases, while the all-wheel drive option provides power to the front and rear bogie wheels, maximizing tractive effort.

The AP500E and AP555E feature a Cat C4.4 engine with ACERT Technology that produces emissions equivalent to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 3 and European Union (E.U.) Stage IIIA levels. The 4-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine provides 106 kW (144 metric hp, 142 imperial hp) of power. A deck-mounted cooling system provides cool intake air to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize emissions.