Construction Equipment articles from January 2005

Construction Equipment archives from January 2005

Years of Decline Turned Around for Vocational Firms.
January 1, 2005... Staff Nonconstruction firms have turned the corner, it seems, as each of the three vocations--materials producers; mining and energy; and utility--expect solid years this year. Even so, some caution is seen within individual forecasts....

Spending Mix Turns Favorable.
January 1, 2005... By Jim Haughey, Director of Economics Real construction spending after inflation will expand between 2 and 2.5 percent in 2005, a decline from the approximate 4.5-percent gain expected in 2004. Nominal construction spending, including...

Patience Is the Watchword.
January 1, 2005... By Rod Sutton, Editor in Chief Contractors took the cautious route a year ago when forecasting 2004 business trends. It's hard to believe that we were explaining that caution in terms of the delay to pass a new Federal transportation bill....

Budgets Limping Along.
January 1, 2005... Staff Look no further than the blue map at the right to see that government fleets experienced a second straight year of funding decreases in 2004. For some regions, it was the third year in a row that money has dried up. The positive...

Rental's on the Upswing.
January 1, 2005... Staff Rental dealers exhibited a certain prescience last year; it's almost as if they knew what was coming. As a group, they forecast 2004 would be a "very good" year, and they nailed it, according to the actuals. Expectations for next...

Breaking It Open.
January 1, 2005... Staff Equipment distributors burst through business barriers last year, and there is no sign of slowing. After three years of horrendous business reports ("off" and "poor," distributors blew by their conservative forecast for 2004 of...

The Final Pieces.
January 1, 2005... Rod Sutton, Editor in Chief Each year since the recession, this special report has framed itself by explaining the tempered optimism within the industry. Uncertainty clouds the view of 2005, too, and it's especially frustrating as the same...

Grade Controls Mold Curb-and-Gutter Machines.
January 1, 2005... By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor Electronic controls automate the highest-production trim-and-pour machines and make trimmerless mid-range units competitive on more jobs Grade-control technologies used to guide bulldozer and...

Buying File Gallery.
January 1, 2005... By Staff Gomaco Larry Stewart Electronic-Control Choices Abound The GT-3600 with GOMACO's proprietary G21 digital operating system will slipform curb and gutter, barrier, parapet, sidewalk, and widths up to 10 feet;...

Repair Roulette.
January 1, 2005... Rod Sutton, Editor in Chief It's the time of year when this industry heads to Las Vegas. Although many gamble at the slots, the tables, or the roulette wheels, few souls would admit that they gamble with their equipment. Yet a recent...

Inspection and Prevention Improve Reliability.
January 1, 2005... By Mike Vorster, Contributing Editor Repair before failure, but ensure maximum component life, too Successful equipment managers focus on reducing unscheduled field breakdowns and improving machine reliability. They emphasize prevention...

Mechanics Fix Machines Faster With Computers in Their Toolboxes.
January 1, 2005... By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor A key measure of machine productivity--repair hours per working hour--falls steadily in four years since field mechanics have been equipped with laptops Schlouch Inc. is claiming the benefits that...

Double-Duty for Cat's 930G Wheel Loader.
January 1, 2005... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor Caterpillar's newest loader is designed to combine dedicated-loader productivity and tool-carrier versatility. We'll give you our professional operator's opinion Caterpillar's new 149-hp 930G is an...

Cat's C15 Easily Handles This Job.
January 1, 2005... By Tom Berg, Truck Editor Heavy specs for heavy hauling include the most powerful truck diesel on the market--the 625-horsepower C15 Hauling big, heavy machinery is interesting and challenging, but it becomes real work when you're...

Strength from the Past; Power for the Future.
January 1, 2005... By Keith Haddock, Contributing Editor Caterpillar celebrates the crawler tractor's 100th anniversary Caterpillar celebrated 100 years of the crawler tractor during a worldwide press event in Peoria, Ill., this past November. Few...

Liebherr.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor The R 994 B Litronic excavator is designed for mining trucks in the 110- to 165-ton category. Operating weight ranges from 661,500 pounds with the backhoe attachment or 675,000 pounds with shovel attachment....

Finlay Hydrascreen.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor Model 683 Supertrak is now available with three undercarriage configurations: remote-controlled tracks, heavy-duty triple-axle wheels, or combination of tracks plus wheels that attach in five minutes for...

Caterpillar.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor Available in five different configurations, the 240-ton 793D mining truck features a new common rail hydraulics system, which allows functions to be controlled, allowing for reduced parasitic power loss....

John Deere.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor The 1512E Fixed-Blade Ejector and 1512C Carry-All Scraper have been added to the company's scraper lineup. They are designed with plenty of heaped capacity and hold 15.5 cubic yards of fill. Both models...

Case.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor The 721D XT, a 170-hp (net) tool-carrier is rated to handle a standard 3-cubic-yard bucket. It is the largest of the three Case models now available. The latest tool-carrier incorporates new features, which...

Bandit.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor Beast Recyclers can now be equipped with an electric power unit. The electric motors are similar to those used on heavy-duty rock crushers. Bandit says the big advantage of these motors is that they cost...

Liebherr.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor With a 3,650-hp 20-cylinder MTU/DDC diesel engine (the most powerful commercial vehicle engine available), the T 282 B haul truck offers a payload capacity of 400 short tons. Improvements were made to...

Ditch Witch.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor Packing 20,000 pounds of pullback and a 30-gpm drilling fluid system, the JT2020 Mach 1 is said to have the highest ratio of power to size in its class, according to the company. Its rack-and-pinion thrust...

Komatsu.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor The SK1026-5 skid-steer loader, with an operating weight of 8,134 pounds, pushes the company's skid-steer line into heavyweight territory. The new model has a standard rated operating capacity of 2,650...

Mauldin.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor The 550E Classic Compact Paver is available in crawler or rubber-tire models. Extendable augers provide for 6-inch mats up to 13 feet wide. Gear-driven steering provides precise control and a true neutral...

Link-Belt.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor Link-Belt has refined the design of its 50-ton-capacity HTC-8650 Series II telescopic truck crane with a more powerful engine and a new operator's cab. The new engine, a Cat C-11, rated at 365 horsepower...

Caterpillar.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor Replacing Model 994D, the new 994F wheel loader features improved productivity, operator comfort, serviceability and safety. Engine power is up 14 percent; hydraulic flow increased 10 percent, hydraulic...

International.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor The 7700 vocational truck has a forward-set steer axle for bridge-formula states, strong but lightweight 12.25-inch-high frame rails, and clean cab-to-rear-axle treatment for easy mounting of bodies. Its...

Komatsu.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor Rated at 250 tons capacity, the 830E-AC haul truck is designed for extreme performance in deep-pit mining operations. With large mines evolving to steeper and longer haul-road grades, Komatsu says it...

Caterpillar.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor Key changes made to the 980H wheel loader include a new Tier 3 Cat C15 ACERT engine with 318 net horsepower, Electronic Clutch Pressure Control, and a new cooling system. Increased cab insulation reduces...

Pettibone.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor Featuring nearly 6 feet of horizontal boom travel at any lift height, the rough-terrain Model T8044 can travel where some traditional telehandlers can't go. With its low-profile design, the unit operates...

Bomag.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor BW284 is an 84-inch, tandem-drum vibratory roller. Designed for Superpave, Bomag says the BW284 has operating frequencies up to 4,000 vpm, which allow it to work at up to 4.5 mph while maintaining 10...

Link-Belt.
January 1, 2005... By Katie Weiler, Managing Editor With a boom-swing-radius of 130 degrees and a tail swing of only 5 feet 4 inches, the 18,400-pound Link-Belt 80 Spin Ace hydraulic excavator is designed for working in confined spaces. Equipped with...

Nation's Top Heavy-Equipment Technician Honored by AEMP.
January 1, 2005... Staff V. Rick Barker, a technician and certified crane inspector for the Tennessee Valley Authority, took home the 2004 Technician of the Year Award presented by the Association of Equipment Management Professionals. The award, sponsored...

AEM Offers Spanish Safety Manual.
January 1, 2005... Staff The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) introduced a Spanish version of its backhoe-loader safety manual. The 52-page book contains information on the safe transportation, operation and maintenance of backhoe-loaders. It...

Beefed-Up Breather.
January 1, 2005... Staff You can keep dusty operating conditions from reducing injector life very simply by using a better filter on the fuel-tank vent. A 2-micron breather filter is inexpensive, because air comes through it very slowly. The $15 filter...

Hard Dollar Offers Toughbook.
January 1, 2005... Staff Hard Dollar, a provider of integrated estimating and job control software, has become a Panasonic Toughbook Premier Partner. The partnership enables Hard Dollar to offer a turnkey software/hardware solution for contractors who use...

Wheeling after Backhoe Business.
January 1, 2005... Rod Sutton Duval Pilot Equipment has started to see some success pitching wheel excavators as an alternative to backhoe-loaders in some applications. The Jacksonville, Fla., distributor is finding that some government agencies are...

Status and Forecast.
January 1, 2005... Staff Manufacturing-Construction Spending Manufacturing-construction spending has improved for four months. The continuing declines in factory employment suggest that the construction activity is still largely renovation. Significantly...

Raising Hours Stop Rising Cost.
January 1, 2005... Staff Downtime management may be the greatest value in repairing components before failure, particularly with crawler dozers. Construction Equipment lifecycle research suggests that the average machine's utilization falls off fairly...

ConocoPhillips.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor A new premium line of grease products is formulated for machine users in the construction and mining industries. The products, says ConocoPhillips, "ultimately provides customers with greater...

Toro.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor The Power Box Rake for Toro Dingo compact utility loaders transforms construction-damaged terrain into soil that is ready for seed or sod. The adjustable Rhino-Hide barrier allows the operator...

Volvo Penta.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor With improved low-rpm performance and more torque, this compact 16-liter engine offers more power than its predecessor. Power levels are increased to 604 kW. The electronic Engine Monitoring...

Enerco/Mr. Heater.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor Two portable, high-capacity, indirect-fired heating systems feature "powerful, clean, heated air" for construction sites, says the company. HS180ID and HS300ID models, powered by diesel fuel,...

Sawtec.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor The Sawtec JS-90 joint-clean-out saw also doubles as a concrete saw and a trench cutter. Its cut depth (to a maximum of 3 inches) is easily set and gauged, says the company, and a double...

Dust Boss.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor Dust Boss fully automatic oscillating ducted fan incorporates a high-pressure misting system. It uses 30 spray nozzles and 150-psi booster pump to create an ultra-fine mist that attracts dust...

Numa.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor Patriot 50 and Patriot 80 down-hole hammers provide fast penetration rates for horizontal and vertical rock-drilling projects. The Patriot 50 and Patriot 80 drill holes from 5A' to 6 1/8...

Dana.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor 54R300 and 58R397 axles accommodate the trend toward larger load-haul-dump (LHD) and underground-mining trucks. The 58R397 fits 20- to 25-ton LHDs and 55- to 60-ton mining trucks. A specially...

Wobble Light.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor The portable Wobble Light eliminates the set-up phase: simply connect it to an electrical source. The lights can be strung together via extension cords, which means only one power source is...

Holmbury.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor ISO A Series quick-disconnect couplings are interchangeable with all brands that meet ISO7241-A standards. Available in sizes from A- to 2 inches, they are rated to 3,000 psi working pressure...

Caterpillar.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor Two off-highway engines meet Tier 3 requirements: the C32 and C27 (shown). With a displacement of 32 liters, the C32 ACERT has ratings from 860 to 1,300 horsepower at 2,100 rpm. It weighs...

Ingersoll-Rand.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor A line of 13 mobile generators features environmentally friendly performance. A fluid-containment system isolates all fluids from the jobsite, and a compact design keeps the generators running...

Vermeer.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor The ColorMaster CM101 coloring system, for use on Vermeer horizontal grinders, is designed to "convert low value wood waste into profitable, color-enhanced landscaping mulch," Vermeer says....

Keytroller.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor The Keyenabler theft-deterrent system is an ignition disabling/enabling system for engine-powered vehicles of any make or model. A wireless relay snaps where the starter relay would normally...

Cummins.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor The company has enhanced the QSK19 engine to meet Tier 3 emissions within the 510- to 700-hp range. For applications meeting Tier 2 requirements, the engine is available up to 800 horsepower....

Rayco.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor The company's new line of brush chippers begins with the RC 6D. The 6-inch-disk chipper has a 25-hp Kohler V-twin engine that produces torque ratings of 39.5 ft.-lbs. at 2,800 rpm. Ideal for...

Allmand.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor The LSC100 Light Sequence Commander--billed as the industry's first automatic lighting sequence and command control system--allows the light tower to be automatically turned on and off as...

Slide Sledge.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor The Slide Sledge Heavy Equipment hammer can deliver the impact of a 21-pound sledgehammer, says the company. An optional 5-pound handle weight provides up to 26 pounds of power. The hammer's...

Hendrickson.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor HTB rear air suspension for use on Class 8 trucks is a premium alternative to industry-standard suspensions, says Hendrickson. Weighing 570 pounds, including axle brackets, the suspension...

McLaughlin.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor The self-contained VT250D keyholing VaXcavator from McLaughlin safely exposes utilities buried beneath concrete or asphalt surfaces. It then returns the surface to a usable condition. Features...

Lincoln Electric/Genie.
January 1, 2005... By Heather Burlingame, Senior Production Editor Lincoln Electric and Genie jointly designed the ArcPro 275 boom-welding system. The unit is available on the Genie S-80/85, S-60/65 and S-40/45 telescopic booms. It has a hydraulically driven...

No Strings Attached.
January 1, 2005... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor This hi-tech curb-and-gutter machine works with no string line, steers itself and automatically adjusts its mold Crossland Construction Co., established in 1978 and headquartered in Columbus, Kan., has...

First Glimpse of New Iron At the Big Show.
January 1, 2005... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor We're pulling back the curtain just a bit for a quick look at a handful of new products that will pack display areas at Conexpo-Con/Agg 2005 Bomag Americas Walt Moore Similar in design to the...

Perkins Eases Engine Changeover.
January 1, 2005... By Rod Sutton, Editor in Chief 1100D Series diesels set the stage for Tier 3 and beyond Perkins 1100D Series diesels give the company a worldwide engine platform that enables manufacturers to pick and choose engine configurations...

AGL.
January 1, 2005... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor The AGL 316 Skid-Steer System is an entry-level automatic dual receiver system for small machines that use one or two hydraulic cylinders for blade control. A motor-grader attachment for skid-steer loaders is...

Trimble.
January 1, 2005... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor Trimble has two basic three-dimensional machine-control systems, SiteVision and BladePro 3D. SiteVison is a GPS-only system, which, says Trimble, is accurate to 30 mm (0.1 foot) and allows operators to perform...

Topcon.
January 1, 2005... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor Topcon's Millimeter GPS machine-control system enhances the vertical-measurement capability of its conventional RTK GPS-based systems. The new system supplements the RTK setup with a laser signal (Lazer Zone),...

Leica Geosystems.
January 1, 2005... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor GradeStar 3D machine-control systems can be based either on GPS technology (GradeStar 3D GPS) or robotic-total-station technology (GradeStar TPS, for Terrestrial Positioning System). In the latter system, the...

Laser Reference.
January 1, 2005... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor In the Laser Reference product line, the ProShot L1-ASm Magnum slope laser (pictured) can be used in machine-control applications, as well as the self-contained laser receiver and visual-display unit--the...

Caterpillar.
January 1, 2005... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor Caterpillar's AccuGrade Laser Grade Control System is designed to assist dozer operators attain grade in fewer passes. The system is aimed at fine-grading applications and provides flat, single-slope or...

Level-Best.
January 1, 2005... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor The Level-Best Grading Box, made by ATI, is designed to provide finish-grade elevations to within 0.125- to 0.250-inch of specifications, depending on the laser system used. An ATI-designed hydraulic system...

Apache.
January 1, 2005... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor Apache's Bullseye 6 machine-control laser receiver can be fitted to hydraulic excavators and backhoes to provide offset/on-grade readings. An angle-compensation feature automatically calculates and corrects the...

Ford SuperDuty Pickups Look Stronger, And Are.
January 1, 2005... By Tom Berg, Truck Editor Trailers can be towed with more authority, while a built-in controller stops them smoothly, too Ford's 2005 F-250 and F-350 SuperDuty pickup trucks (which began showing up at dealers last fall) look stronger...