Construction Equipment articles from January 2004

Construction Equipment archives from January 2004

The silver lining is clouded.(Sutton Report)
January 1, 2004... We first received reader outlooks for 2004 with some disappointment, because their cautionary view of business wasn't more optimistic. No doubt the year will be good, according to the results from our 2004 Annual Report & Forecast, but the...

Bomag.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... Featuring a series-type hydraulic travel system, the BW900-2 one-ton, tandem-drum roller performs better on steep grades. The system offers enhanced performance when working on severe approaches and steep embankments, Bomag says. It also has...

Ditch witch.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... In addition to featuring the highest horsepower in its 12,000-pound class, the JT1220 Mach 1 compact HDD is said to produce the least amount of noise--less than 100 dB(A). According to the company, the machine's 10-degree setup angle makes...

Morbark.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... Significant improvements to the Model 1300 tub grinder include redesigned mill base and lowered tub flare, resulting in improved feed and flow of material as well as an increase in tub capacity. The discharge conveyor belt has been increased...

Vermeer.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... The T555 Commander II with rockwheel attachment is powered by a 185-hp Tier 2 engine. Its microprocessor-based electronic control system gives the operator use of separate, stand-alone components, while keeping operation easy with fewer...

Dynapac.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... The CA 150 single-drum roller has a turning radius of only 6.9 feet. Configurations include smooth drum, padfoot drum, and padfoot drum with blade. With smooth forward/reverse control, fingertip vibration control, and excellent rear view,...

Hyundai.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... Second largest in Hyundai's 17-model wheel loader range is the new Tier-II HL770-7. Featuring a new Cummins QSC8.3-C engine with electronic control, the loader incorporates the Ergopower automatic transmission, designed to shift smoothly under...

Komatsu.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... The PC308USLC-3 is a tight-tail-swing excavator with plenty of power. The machine has a width of 10 feet 9 inches with 33.5-inch shoes, and the 18,000-pound counter-weight extends just 17 inches past the track shoes. The PC308, says Komatsu,...

Caterpillar.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... Equipped with Tier 2, turbo Cat 3046 engines, the D3G, D4G and D5G track-type tractors produce 70, 80 and 90 horsepower, respectively. The machines have more standard features including two heavy-duty, 12-volt 900 CCA batteries, a turbine-type...

Terex.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... The Telelift 3713 SX telehandler is designed for the rental market, and the Telelift 3713 Elite is for construction markets. Both models feature Perkins power, hydrostatic drive, four-wheel drive, three-mode steering, load-moment indicator and...

Ditch witch.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... Offering many standard features, the T7B and S6B trailers are built with structural steel frames for strength and torsion axles for reliability and ease of maintenance. They have steel-mesh, skid-resistant ramps; tie-down points; complete...

Gehl/Arnco.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... Gehl now offers Arnco's SuperFlex polyurethane flat-proofing material as an option on select skid-steers and telehandlers. A SuperFlex-filled tire functions similar to an air-filled tire, Arnco says, and it is an ideal product to use when ride,...

Morbark.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... The 6600 Wood Hog balances ease of portability with the highest production rate in its class, according to the company. It features the Morbark Iqan Feed System, which automatically adjusts feed rates, pressures, and feed wheel positions to...

Bronto skylift.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... Designed for electric-utility-line work, Model SI 100 features a 100-foot platform height and up to 2,100-pound platform capacity. The truck-mounted machine is insulated for live line work. Standard features include identical control stations...

ICON.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... Designed for maximum capacity with less than 12-foot-wide transport, the pull-type E Series 18- and 20-yard scrapers team up perfectly with the new 500-hp tractors. They are available with the tough Swingwall Eject System. Operators control the...

Dynapac.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... The PL350S compact planer has a working width of 14 inches and a cutting radius of only 4 inches--ideal for cutting around manholes, curbs and drains. Its maximum operating weight, including ballast, is 9,481 pounds. Standard four-wheel drive...

Komatsu.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... The WA320-5 wheel loader, with 166 horsepower, features the company's Advanced Technology Hydrostatic Transmission, a hydrostatic drive system that replaces the conventional drive system used by its predecessor. The system's Variable Shift...

Gehl.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... Models CTL60 and CTL80 feature a dedicated rubber crawler track design with rated operating loads of 1,620 pounds and 2,470 pounds, respectively. Both machines provide a 93-inch dump height and have lift heights to 126 inches. Standard...

Grove.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2004... Replacing the RT875C and RT875BXL, the RT800E 80- to 90-ton rough-terrain crane features a 38-142-foot, five-section, sequenced synchronized full power Megaform boom. With standard boom, maximum tip height is 150 feet. A standard 31-56-foot...

Caterpillar announces new chairman/CEO.(Manufacturer News)
January 1, 2004... Caterpillar's Board of Directors appointed James W. Owens, vice chairman, to be the next chairman/CEO of the company. Owens will replace Glen A. Barton, who will be retiring Jan. 31, 2004, after 43 years of service with Caterpillar and 5 years...

Ghost voltage pinpoints broken wires.(Tech Tip)
January 1, 2004... Digital voltmeters are so sensitive that the Earth's magnetic field will induce a very small voltage in voltmeter leads that are not touching. You get the same result--a rapidly fluctuating, low voltage reading called ghost voltage--when the...

How rental yards dispose of equipment.(Exclusive Research)
January 1, 2004... How Rental Yards Dispose of Equipment (% responding) Sell direct to end-users 94% Sell through third-party auction houses 46% Sell to used-equipment dealers 28% Sell via own website ...

Chopper commemorates Miller's 75th anniversary.(Manufacturer News)
January 1, 2004... Miller Electric kicked off its 75th anniversary celebration with a new motorcycle it commissioned the Orange County Choppers (OCC) to design and build. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On Friday, Dec. 12, OCC owner Paul Teutul Sr. and chief...

Fix sluggish starters.(Maintenance Tip)
January 1, 2004... Got a lazy starter? Don't just replace the battery. Compare two voltage drops to pinpoint the problem's cause. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] 1. Measure voltage across the battery terminals while cranking the engine. A 12-volt battery should make...

AEM elects new officers.(Association News)
January 1, 2004... The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has elected Ronald DeFeo chairman of the association. DeFeo is chairman and CEO of Terex. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Other elected officers include: First Vice Chairman Charles Stamp Jr.,...

Total construction spending.(Status & Forecast)
January 1, 2004... Total construction spending rose 0.9% in October, the fifth consecutive monthly gain. The increase was all in residential; both heavy and nonresidential markets fell slightly. Spending is expected to remain near this through the spring with...

Highway construction spending.(Status & Forecast)
January 1, 2004... October highway spending dipped slightly from September, but the past two months averaged 13 percent higher than the May 2003 low point. A 5- to 6-percent growth pace returns with a new federal transportation funding plan. New contracts let...

Equipment price index.(Status & Forecast)
January 1, 2004... Construction equipment prices have been nearly steady for five months, rising only at a 0.3-percent annual pace. But expect higher price increases early in 2004. Prices jumped 2.5 percent early in 2002 before the initial economic recovery...

Manufacturing construction spending.(Status & Forecast)
January 1, 2004... October's 6.4-percent decline in factory construction project spending is counter to the expected strong rising trend over the next few years. Future construction activity depends on industrial production that has been inching up since May and...

Consumer confidence index.(Status & Forecast)
January 1, 2004... Consumer confidence jumped 10 points to 91.7 in November as consumers' assessment of their present economic condition soared to the highest level in more than a year. The November present-economic-condition sub-index equaled the January to June...

Komatsu loader trades gears for fluid power: the new hydrostatic-drive WA250-5 wheel loader, less torque converter and conventional transmission, is easy on fuel and delivers added production.(Field Test)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2004... The old adage says that we shouldn't tamper with success. That thought may have crossed the corporate mind at Komatsu when the company decided to significantly change the design of its WA250-3 wheel loader. This 3-cubic-yard machine (competing...

The upside of the curve.(Introduction)
January 1, 2004... Forecasting has been difficult the past couple of years as the country has wrestled with a recession, a terrorist attack on home territory, and a war that promises to stretch further than many had anticipated. Our industry is affected by...

Erratic start to the next growth cycle.(Economic Outlook)
January 1, 2004... Construction spending will expand 3.4 percent this year, up only marginally from 2.7 percent in 2003. The construction cycle bottomed in 2002-03, and 2004 will be the first year of a multiyear growth cycle. Both the mix of projects and the...

Uncertainty dogs contractor outlook.(Contractors)
January 1, 2004... In 2002, contractors surprised the industry by outperforming expectations. Last year, the opposite happened. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] After more than a decade of accurately forecasting business performance, contractors have missed the mark...

Vocational firms hope to turn corner.(Nonconstruction)
January 1, 2004... Nonconstruction business was as predicted last year for materials producers and utilities. Mining and energy companies continue their struggle, reporting that 2003 was below expectations. Materials producers Materials producers...

Funding shortfalls continue.(Government)
January 1, 2004... It was a bad year for funding in the government sector last year, but not as dire as forecast. When asked in late 2002 what funding looked like for 2003, half of state fleets and one-third of local fleets expected funding to decrease. States...

Upbeat business forecast.(Rental)
January 1, 2004... Rental dealers just missed the business year forecasts from last year, scoring an "average" year v. the "good" predicted. Dealers forecast 2004 to be a "very good" year. Although this year's survey went solely to members of the American Rental...

A solid rebound.(Distributors)
January 1, 2004... Distributors reported the third straight year of sub-par business, chalking up 2003 as "poor," just slightly below the "off" in late 2002. Projections for 2004, however, are up to "good," which is a solid rebound from the slide and would match...

Reliable, low-cost braking is a matter of discipline: maintaining the foundation brake is largely a matter of avoiding shortcuts and taking the time to inspect wheel ends thoroughly.(Prevention Illustrated)
January 1, 2004... Brake maintenance means more than passing roadside DOT inspections. Peak braking performance is a requirement for safe, cost-effective operation. Maintaining peak performance requires that service technicians preserve brake balance, avoid...

Conventionals retain solidness of its low COEs: destined only for the United States and Canada, these serious trucks could make some serious inroads in the midrange market.(Hands-on Trucking)
January 1, 2004... Hino is not a major factor in the American medium-duty-truck market, and while you may have seen a few of its low cab-over-engine (COE) trucks, you might not know how the name is pronounced--Hee-no. But the Japanese builder's U.S. arm aims to...

Options expand to catch soaring demand: today's vast array of telehandlers offers a rare chance to customize purchases with choice of low or high booms, single-joystick or dual-stick controls, rear-wheel or front-wheel steering.(Buying File)
January 1, 2004... Use of telehandlers has been expanding so rapidly that the equipment industry is cranking out product innovations to attract buyers. According to Construction Equipment's Universe Studies, the number of telehandlers at work in the United States...

Caterpillar: choices expand to fit more jobs.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... With the B Series, Caterpillar focused on improving capacity at reach and, in the process, expanded the range of lift heights of its machines with 6,000- and 7,000-pound capacities. Models with 30-, 36-, and 56-foot lift heights were added to...

Terex: low price for single-stick control.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... A single joystick controls all boom functions of the Terex C Series. Dual sway cylinders, which allow 10 degrees of oscillation either side of center, stabilize the machine and reduce wear on the right front axle. Terex is proud of the...

JLG: four-wheel steer soars.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... The parent company for venerable telehandler brand names Gradall, Lull and Sky Trak took "Gradall" off the all-wheel-drive models it had been selling under the JLG/Gradall name, shortened the moniker to JLG, and in October introduced two new...

Case: a-frame clears the view.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... The boom on Case G Series telescopic handlers is mounted on an open A-frame, allowing good visibility over the operator's right shoulder. Internal cushioning of the boom cylinders helps reduce wear and tear. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Pettibone/traverse lift: fixed- and traversing-boom options.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... The load-transferring boom of Pettibone's T8044 can place an 8,000-pound load at heights up to 44 feet. There are fixed-boom alternates of the first four models in Pettibone's line that have the ability to land a 5,000- or 8,000-pound load on...

Sky Trak: stability adjusts automatically.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... The Stabil-TRAK rear-axle stability system, like that featured on the Lull Place-Ace machines, is standard on the Sky Trak 6042, 8042, 10042, and 10054 modes. When the boom is raised higher than 40 degrees, it automatically locks the handler's...

Gradall: attachments stretch utilization.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... The blue telehandlers in JLG's Gradall line got John Deere engines to bring the D Series into compliance with EPA's Tier II emissions limits. A full range of attachments--including fork carriages, truss booms, buckets, boom-mounted winches,...

Bobcat: lightweight lifts big loads.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... Bobcat credits its rigid, unitized frame with endowing the lightweight VersaHandler line with great lifting power. For example the V518, which weighs 10,850 pounds, has a rated lift capacity of 5,500 pounds--that's 500 pounds more than...

Ingersoll-Rand: hydraulics upgraded with tier-II engines.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... Ingersoll-Rand upgraded hydraulic systems in its C Series telehandlers at the same time that they were adjusting the design to accommodate new, emissions-compliant engines. Refined pilot hydraulics improve hydraulic response and feedback to the...

Gehl: turbochargers upgrade RS models.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... Gehl replaced the 553, 663 and 883 models with the all-wheel-steer RS5, RS6 and RS8 models last April featuring new turbocharged diesel engines. Gross engine horsepower jumped from 80 to 99, retaining the option for a 115-hp diesel. ...

New Holland: tool carrier with pick-and-place reach.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... New Holland emphasizes the tool-carrier features of its telehandler line. The LM models are equipped with high-strength, tool-carrier-style booms mounted low for maximum transfer of crowding force. Boom sections are made from two U-shaped...

Haulotte: Franco-Italian venture hits popular sizes.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... Pinguely-Haulotte, a French manufacturer with international presence in aerial-work platforms, gained access to the telehandler market by taking a 40-percent position in a joint venture with Italian manufacturer Faresin. The goal of the...

Load Lifter: a product line of one.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... Load Lifter's 842-D Reach model fits right in the most common size of telehandlers, with the ability to land a 6,000-pound load at a maximum lift height of 42 feet. The all-wheel-steer unit's rated capacity is 8,000 pounds. [ILLUSTRATION...

Liftking: load-sensing placing refinement.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... Liftking added load-sensing hydraulic systems to its line of machines. Improved hydraulic sensitivity, combined with Liftking's carriage-mounted boom that hydraulically shifts the load forward 6 feet, dramatically improves the line's placing...

Mustang: clean engines boost horsepower.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... Changing the standard engine in the 634 and 638 from naturally aspirated to turbocharged power (like their RS counterparts from Gehl) increased gross horsepower to 99. An optional 115-hp engine is still available. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Manitou NA: crane-like handlers top lift heights.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... Like most competitors in the telehandler market, Manitou North America (formerly K-D Manitou) updated models in 2003 with Tier-II-compliant engines. And it's using the mandatory design change to tout some value-added options. Manitou's two...

Lull: load-transfer with 360-degree view.(Gallery of Telehandlers)
January 1, 2004... Two new models in the PlaceAce Series--the 644E-42 and 944E-42--fix the base of Lull's boom on a raised carriage to achieve what parent-company JLG claims is the first load-transfer machine with 360-degree visibility. Both PlaceAce machines are...

Attention to daily details helps control operating costs: understand machine application and operation to better manage actual operating costs.(Equipment Executive)
January 1, 2004... In October, we separated owning and operating costs to show how decision-making can be improved by managing each with the skill, care and attention that it deserves. We ended the year by looking into the cost of capital and depreciation as...

How Pre-PM inspections boost profit: Phelps Dodge finds that spending some time on a quick inspection before a machine is due for preventive maintenance saves downtime and cuts costs.(Great Managers)
January 1, 2004... Question: As long as you're changing the oil in your machines regularly, what more can you expect to accomplish with preventive maintenance--how much can an oil change improve a fleet's profitability? Answer: Phelps Dodge Mining credits...

Electronic-steering system eases operator fatigue: Wacker's latest ride-on trowel provides a lightweight alternative to hydrostatic and mechanical models.(Paving Report)
January 1, 2004... Among Wacker's 2004 World of Concrete introductions is the CRT-48-31V-ES--the industry's first concrete trowel with electronic steering, according to the company. Wacker hosted a group of editors at its Milwaukee headquarters to preview and...

Driving Mercedes' quiet diesels, smooth-shifting AGS: M-B engines still powerful and quiet, and new automated gearbox relieves driver of much work.(Truck Report)
January 1, 2004... Mercedes-Benz engines for 2004 have been equipped with a simple form of exhaust-gas recirculation and refined turbochargers to meet more stringent emissions regulations, but the newly configured medium- and heavy-duty diesels remain powerful...

Factory-installed system simplifies grading: Caterpillar's new G-Series track-type tractors feature new engines, more standard equipment, and optional AccuGrade Laser Grade Control System.(Earthmoving)
January 1, 2004... In late November, Caterpillar demonstrated the difference between operating a new D3G track-type tractor manually versus operating a new D5G with the AccuGrade Laser Grade Control System--the first factory-installed laser system in the...

Cat's C13 in a Peterbilt 357: whistlin' while you work; Double turbocharging adds low-end 'grunt' to old C-13, while setback front axle lets the Pete turn more sharply.(Truck Report)
January 1, 2004... Peterbilt's Model 357 dump-truck chassis is a best seller in many markets, and more often than not you'll find a Caterpillar diesel under its hood. So it is with this blue tri-axle dumper, and the engine was the first production ACERT C13 I've...

Teletrac.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... FleetDirector, the company's main fleet-tracking system, now includes the Prism--a device for locating vehicles using GPS technology. The Prism communicates the vehicle's location information to the Internet-based FleetDirector software via...

Hiniker.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... The HDX line of extreme-duty snowplows for 4X4 pickup trucks features a polyethylene moldboard to keep friction minimal and provide a corrosion-free plowing surface. Ten laser-cut ribs give vertical strength to the 30-inch-tall moldboard...

Trimble.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... The SCS900 Site Controller System enables contractors to complete site measurement and staking tasks without surveyors or stakeouts. The mobile system mounts on a rod or on an ATV. It supplies real-time coverage maps for staking and grade...

Horton.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... For on- and off-high-way applications without RAM air, the Drive-Master Tow-Speed Fan Drive alternates between low-speed operation and spring-actuated high-speed operation for precise, efficient temperature control. Under most operating...

Coleman cable.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... The company has expanded its family of Luma-Site lighting products with six new work lights in two product groups. Floodlight Series is available in high-visibility yellow and consists of three models. These lamps have tempered glass lenses,...

TrynEx Int'l.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... Vee Pro 8000 carries up to 1.5 cubic yards of salt and sand. The hopper is constructed of heavy-duty polyethylene, which makes it corrosion-resistant. A 2+5 warranty provides a 2-year guarantee on all parts and labor from the day of purchase....

Ground heaters.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... The E1100 Ground Heater features various improvements over the previous unit, including easier maintenance and an easy-to-view pressure gauge, return thermometer and flow indicator. The heater has 1,100 feet of Heat Transfer Hose, and can bring...

HammerHead.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... The HammerHead HydroGuide HG12 is a winching system designed for use in pipe-bursting, slip-lining and cable-pulling applications. The HG12 features a self-deploying, downrigger system that hydraulically extends and retracts to the proper...

Caterpillar.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... Available in mid 2004, the C18--the company's first off-high-way ACERT engine--has five ratings from 575 to 765 horse-power. To meet emissions requirements, ACERT engines have a cross-flow design with four valves per cylinder, which provides...

Hendrickson.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... Long-life System (HLS) wheel ends are factory installed to ensure proper bearing adjustment, internal cleanliness and seal performance. Customers can choose from ductile iron, AID (Dura-Light) or aluminum hub materials. HN or HP axles are...

Allison transmission.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... Allison automatic transmissions have higher ratings and new designations to better indicate intended duties. The Rugged Duty Series (RDS) is for vocational trucks, like dumps and mixers, while the Highway Series (HS) is for freight-hauling...

Lincoln electric.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... The Ranger 10,000 provides 10,000 watts peak power. The AC/DC stick welder and AC auxiliary power generator allows operators to simultaneously weld and use the AC generator power for maximum productivity. A full-KVA 120V/240V outlet will run...

Rayco.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... The RG 1631 gas-powered self-propelled stump cutter provides 31 horsepower, fingertip controls and variable travel speeds. Other features include single-wheel or posi-traction select drive, an anti-creep hill brake and a Quick Stop cutter wheel...

Vermeer.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... The 5.5-inch Survey While Boring (SWB) Mud Motor has an up-front transmitter that gives the operator the current location of the bit in the bore path. SWB's low-flow, high-torque design provides a 1-to-1 ratio of flow to rpm to increase bit...

Asphalt solutions.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... AS Cherry liquid odor suppressant eliminates odors emitted during production and paving with asphalt. It may also be used in cold-mix and medium-cure applications, emulsions, reclaimed recycled fuel, re-refined fuels and roofing asphalt. Add...

FCI-burndy.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... The LPHY750 Kompressor remote-operated, low pressure, hydraulic crimping tool features a visual crimp indicator to ensure proper connection for each crimp. It is double acting for hydraulic ram advance and retract. In case of hydraulic pressure...

Dana.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... The Dana Spicer D190 series of single-reduction tandem drive axles provide gross axle weight ratings from 52,000 (D52-190) to 60,000 (D60-190) pounds. Options include a driver-controlled wheel differential system for both front and rear axles,...

Sage Oil Vac.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... Sage Oil Vac now sells its quick-fluid-change and bulk-material-handling equipment through ConocoPhillips marketers. The Oil Vac uses air pressure and vacuum to extract and deliver oil and industrial fluids. Fluid changes for mobile equipment,...

Cummins.(Market Watch Lite)
January 1, 2004... Now available on the company's ISX and ISM engines, Load-Based Speed Control (LBSC) helps engines operate at low speeds to save fuel. LBSC limits usable engine speed during low and intermediate power requirements. When high power is required,...

The "Big Red Teams": International Harvester staged its "Industrial Power Roundup" in 1954.(Iron Works)
January 1, 2004... International Harvester announced its 180-hp TD-24 crawler tractor in 1947. This new heavyweight of the earthmoving industry made headlines across the construction press as the world's largest crawler tractor, clipping the title from the...