Construction Equipment articles from August 2008

Construction Equipment archives from August 2008

Skid Steers Draw 25 Percent of First Cost At Resale.
August 1, 2008... By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor Managers spend only about 40 percent of a skid steer's original purchase price on repair parts and labor before replacing them Fleet managers spend only about 40 percent of a skid-steer loader's...

Production vs. Precision No Longer a Choice.
August 1, 2008... By Mike Anderson, Senior Editor Crawler dozers once resigned as grunt production machines only may now find double duty as fine-grading finishers Traditionally, the worlds of finish and production dozers collide within the 100- to...

Buying File Gallery.
August 1, 2008... By Staff Case Mike Anderson L-Series Model Has Single-Lever Control The first Case crawler dozer above 100 horsepower to move to the L Series, the 1650L is powered by a six-cylinder, 6.7-liter, turbocharged Case Family IV...

Defeat Skepticism.
August 1, 2008... Rod Sutton, Editor in Chief On the drive into our office in suburban Chicago, pavers, cranes, excavators and myriad other machines line the tollway adding lanes in an industrious program slated to continue through 2009. It's funded without...

Financial Ratios That Matter.
August 1, 2008... By Mike Vorster, Contributing Editor Relationships derived from the balance sheet help managers understand how their decisions affect financial performance A balance sheet is one of two standardized financial reports produced on a...

On-Site Testing Reveals New Kobelco's Strengths.
August 1, 2008... By Mike Anderson & Walt Moore, Senior Editors Kobelco's SK350LC Acera Mark 8 hydraulic excavator goes bucket-to-bucketwith its predecessor in a Construction Equipment field test Sometimes, after choosing the flattest spot around to...

FLD-SD Has Old-School Style, Modern Mechanicals.
August 1, 2008... By Tom Berg, Truck Editor The last of Freight-liner's long-running FLD series proves as pleasant to drive as anything our editor has handled You like to drive? This is a truck for you, especially if you've got some years and miles...

Gorman-Rupp Pumping Water for 75 Years.
August 1, 2008... By Keith Haddock, Contributing Editor Small company started by two Ohio entrepreneurs during the Great Depression became a world leader in pump manufacturing -- this year celebrates 75 years in business Back in 1933, two Ohio...

Online Video Showcases Kobelco Excavator.
August 1, 2008... Staff Weighing in a shade below 80,000 pounds, Kobelco's SK350 Acera Mark 8 hydraulic excavator is a Tier-3-compliance upgrade from the SK330LC Dynamic Acera. However, the new emissions-compliant Hino engine in place of the earlier model's...

Breaker Maker Earns High Marks.
August 1, 2008... Staff A leading manufacturer of breaker attachments and systems for the construction and mining industries has been recognized by the provincial government in Ontario, Canada, because of its commitment to apprenticeship training. ...

Never Buy a Stolen Machine.
August 1, 2008... Staff Check a used machine's product identification number (PIN) to find out if it is stolen before you buy it. For $39.95 (or less, with volume discounts), you can use an e-mail service from the National Equipment Register (NER) to...

Skyjack Buys Volvo's Telehandlers, Forklifts.
August 1, 2008... Staff Skyjack finalized its purchase of Volvo's Material Handling Equipment business -- formerly the Ingersoll Rand telehandler and forklift lines based in Shippensburg, Penn. The Volvo Material Handling Equipment complements Skyjack's...

AEM and NRWA Host ICUEE 2009.
August 1, 2008... Staff The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) will host the co-located International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) and the H2O-XPO exhibition, scheduled for Oct....

Qualcomm Stops Selling Direct.
August 1, 2008... Staff Qualcomm, a provider of business-to-business wireless enterprise applications, is transitioning to deliver the GlobalTRACS Suite for fleet management via original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and dealers only. The new business...

Highway-Funding Cuts Threaten Construction Projects and Jobs.
August 1, 2008... Staff Highway construction projects across the United States could suffer as a result of a possible $14 billion decrease in federal highway funding in 2009, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). ...

Status and Forecast.
August 1, 2008... Staff Consumer Confidence Index Staff Consumer confidence has fallen to a deep recession level, closely tracking gas-pump prices. Steady gas prices for a month through mid-July suggest no further large drops in confidence soon...

Komatsu to Produce Its First Hybrid Excavator.
August 1, 2008... Staff Komatsu launched a version of its flagship PC200-8 (right), which could be the world's first commercially available hybrid construction machine, according to Komatsu. The company claims an average 25 percent reduction in fuel...

Crane Industry Demands New Safety Standards.
August 1, 2008... Andrew Baltazar Toppling cranes seem to have grabbed more construction-related headlines in 2008 than rampage backhoe-loaders in Jerusalem or diesel thefts from construction sites. Just when you think we've seen the last deadly crane...

Terex Stretches Paver-Wear-Parts Warranty.
August 1, 2008... Staff Terex Roadbuilding's new Super Paver Wear Guarantee for all asphalt pavers purchased in 2008 significantly extends the warranty period of critical wear components. The standard Terex warranty of one year, unlimited hours, applies to...

Most Builders Raising Truck Prices.
August 1, 2008... Tom Berg Most American heavy truck manufacturers say they are raising prices by about $900 to $1,600 per vehicle, and put the blame on steeply rising material costs. Price hikes and surcharges are going into effect this summer, according...

Dump Trailers Replace CDLs.
August 1, 2008... Staff Tally Construction uses seven 14-foot Bri-Mar Dump Trailers to move demolition debris and materials without Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs). In Tally's Tenafly, N.J., market, moving typical roll-off dumpsters requires a CDL. But...

IronPlanet Auctions Grow 42 Percent in 2007.
August 1, 2008... Staff IronPlanet (www.ironplanet.com ), an online auction company for used construction and agricultural equipment, gained significant market momentum in 2007, with gross auction sales of $231 million, an increase of more than 42 percent...

How to Keep the Right Parts on Hand.
August 1, 2008... By G. C. Skipper, Contributing Editor Managers must determine adequate inventory without sacrificing cash efficiency Parts management is a matter of balance: balancing parts inventory with shop needs, and balancing the need to reduce...

Mixed Fleet, Mixed Signals.
August 1, 2008... By G.C. Skipper, Contributing Editor Managers of heterogenous fleets with varying proprietary machine-management systems struggle to collect the data they need An equipment manager's life would be much easier if he could go to a single...

Eager Beaver.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor The latest trailer in the Easy Loader Series, the 25 XPL has an 8-degree loading angle for safe and simple loading. At a deck width of 8 feet 6 inches, length of 22 feet, and height of 34 inches, the...

Terex.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor With a 7-degree loading angle and a self-contained power unit, Load King 503 DFP folding gooseneck trailers are designed for easy loading and transportation of low-ground-clearance equipment. The 503 DFP...

Towmaster.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor Ideal for hauling multiple pieces of construction equipment, the 2009 Towmaster T-70PFHTH and T-70PFHTL perimeter frame trailers are available in lengths of 48 and 53 feet. Getting equipment to the...

Trail King.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor Wind tower sections can be lifted onto this gargantuan trailer without the need of a crane. Trail King's 13-axle Hydraulic Schnable System uses hydraulic cylinders to connect the gooseneck to a wind...

The Advance Metalworking Co.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor Able to be hydraulically raised or lowered while remaining level, the Lift-a-Load elevating-platform trailer can be safely loaded without the need of a slanted ramp. Its elevating-platform feature also...

Trail-Eze.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor With capacities of 100,000 and 120,000 pounds, and a frame composed of high tensile steel, the TE100DG and TE120DG detachable gooseneck trailers from Trail-Eze are ideal for hauling heavy equipment....

Ditch Witch.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor Built around structural steel frames and torsion axles, Ditch Witch's T7B tandem-axle trailers are tough, reliable and easy to maintain. The no-tilt feature adds to the T7B's stability; and the...

Landoll.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor Landoll's 835 model detachable lowboy line of trailers has a new ramp option, allowing asphalt pavers to be loaded to the lower deck. The 4-degree load angle allows for proper clearance under the paver...

Kalyn Siebert.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor Boasting a four-beam design with machine-welded T-1 steel construction, the KHSA-3-53T hydraulic sliding-axle trailer has a high strength-to-weight ratio. With an upper-deck length of 10 feet 8 inches...

Bri-Mar.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor With 20-inch fold-down sides, transporting anything from mulch to lumber is simple with Bri-Mar's new Deckover Dump Trailers. The DT610-DP, with a 6x10-foot bed, comes in either 7,000 or 10,000 GVWR,...

Reinke.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor Available in sizes of up to 53x8.5 feet, Reinke's steel and aluminum drop-deck trailers are equipped with Reinke's "Super Floor" and S-shape neck design. Beam capacity is 50,000 pounds. A redesigned...

Side Dump.
August 1, 2008... By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor Designed for general contractors, home builders, farmers and more, the Contractors Series trailers can haul loads of up to 4 cubic yards. It can be tilted to 45 degrees for dumping, and the nylon pivot...

Project Stakeholders Stay Connected.
August 1, 2008... By Mike Anderson, Senior Editor Trimble's Connected Community brings together established product 'pillars' via fully integrated, two-way data transfer and real-time communications Providing respective stakeholders with the tools to...

Volvo Swings at Pipelayers with an Excavator.
August 1, 2008... By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor Crane-like load management, long booms, and 360-degree load positioning suggest production advantages over tractors with side booms Volvo Construction Equipment challenges pipe-laying convention --...

A Best-Practices Approach to Recruiting.
August 2, 2008... By G.C. Skipper, Contributing Editor Kokosing Construction, AEMP's 2008 private-fleet Fleet Masters Award winner, has developed the company's recruiting and hiring program into a best practice by using a formalized, thoughtful and...

Critical Issues.
August 2, 2008... By Stan Orr, CAE It is not news to anyone that we are living in challenging times at all levels of our personal and professional lives. So it stands to reason there are critical issues facing the asset-management profession. As such, it is...

Meeting Construction's Communications Challenge.
August 2, 2008... By G.C. Skipper, Contributing Editor AEMP is taking a lead role in moving the industry toward a common communications protocol. "What we have here is a failure to communicate." That often-recited line from the movie Cool Hand Luke...

What Have You Done for Me Lately?
August 2, 2008... By Dick Brannigan, CEM, 2008-2009 National President Ever have one of those days? I suppose all of us have them, but lately they seem to occur more frequently. Today was certainly one of them with the nonstop phone calls, phones stuck to...

Keep Cool With ELCs.
August 2, 2008... By G.C. Skipper, Contributing Editor Longer drain intervals and improved performance are just a few of the benefits of extended life coolants. Despite the fact that extended life coolants (ELC) have been on the market since 1985--and...

How to Develop a Training Program.
August 2, 2008... By G.C. Skipper, Contributing Editor Large or small, every construction company should be investing in its future with an employee training program. If employee training isn't high on your priority list, it may be time to reconsider....

Technology Summit Set.
August 2, 2008... By Staff AEMP will host the industry's first-ever Technology Summit August 6-7 in Chicago. All major OEMs who have responded to invitations will be a part of the Summit, including Caterpillar, John Deere, Komatsu, Volvo, and Manitowoc. The...