Construction Equipment articles from March 2004

Construction Equipment archives from March 2004

Reconnaissance report.(Sutton Report)
March 1, 2004... We attend several equipment-related shows and conferences during the first couple months of the year that give us an opportunity to lay January's Annual Forecast predictions against the early-year reality. It's also an opportunity to discern...

Liebherr.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... Four wheel loaders introduced to America include Models L 538, L 544, L 564 and L 580. Tipping loads range from 19,850 to 39,360 pounds. All loaders use an advanced hydrostatic travel drive, and the tractive force control and standard limited...

Kubota.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... Kubota's first Utility Vehicle, the RTV900, comes in four configurations. It has variable hydrostatic transmission and hydraulic power steering. Three-range shifting provides diverse operational speeds for climbing hills and hauling or towing a...

Bobcat.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... Replacing the 863 skid-steer loader, the S220 features a 2,200-pound rated operating capacity. Powered by a 75-hp Kubota diesel engine, the S220 produces 5,500 ft.-lb. of lift breakout force, 6,550 ft.-lb. of tilt breakout force, and a...

Allmand.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... The 3,950-pound TLB-325 compact backhoe-loader delivers a 4,611-pound digging force and a 9 foot-8 inch digging depth. Dual cylinder, 180-degree hydraulic cushioned swing allows precise work in tight areas. Allmand says its ESL backhoe design...

Bobcat.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... Featuring a 2,500-pound rated operating capacity and a radius path lift arm design, the T250 compact track loader works well in adverse weather conditions. It has 18-inch tracks, providing 4.1-psi ground pressure. The 7-inch longer frame allows...

Caterpillar.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... Models 953C and 963C track loaders have been improved with Cat's 3126B ATAAC electronic engine, which meets worldwide emissions standards. The engine increases net power by 6 percent in the 953C while providing high torque rise in both...

Komatsu.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... Model PC300LL-7 can be configured for two applications--Log Loader or Roadbuilder. The former can be equipped with two types of grapples, and the latter is designed to be the "first machine in the woods," having an excavator front with a JRB...

Bandit.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... Model 4680 Beast Recycler's mill is 57 inches in diameter and 63 inches wide with a 40-inch-high by 60-inch-long opening. It can process stumps and logs 40 inches in diameter and larger. Weighing 73,000 pounds, the unit is easy to transport and...

Caterpillar.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... Model TH220B and TH330B telehandlers feature electronically controlled engines, new controls, more work tools, and extended service intervals. With an operating weight of 14,771 pounds, TH220B has a rated load capacity of 5,500 pounds and a...

IHI.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... Weighing 2,060 pounds, the 9NX mini-excavator features more than 9 feet of reach and a digging depth of 5 feet 2 inches. It has a zero tail swing design and comes with an expandable undercarriage of 27.5 to 37.5 inches. It comes...

JLG.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... With a 125-foot platform height, Model 1250AJP Ultra Boom aerial-work platform is an articulating and telescoping unit with 63 feet 2 inches of horizontal reach. The JibPLUS jib boom rotates 130 degrees vertically and 125 degrees horizontally....

Henderson.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... First Response 3-N-1 snow-and-ice control system dispenses granular material, pre-wetted granular material, or liquid anti-icing material--all from one platform. Enhancements include a completely enclosed cabinet to house all pumps, valves,...

Bomag.(Market Watch: Bauma 2004 Preview)
March 1, 2004... Bomag's BW 100/120 AD light tandem rollers and BW 100/120 AC combination rollers minimize noise and vibration to the operator. Ideal for applications such as asphalt repair and resurfacing, BW 100/120 AC rollers have a steel front drum and four...

Gehl.(Market Watch: Bauma 2004 Preview)
March 1, 2004... Gehl introduces the high-capacity 7000 Series, which includes the 7810--billed as the largest skid-steer loader in the world. Designed for big construction jobs, the Series features a bucket breakout force of nearly 7,900 pounds and lift...

Volvo.(Market Watch: Bauma 2004 Preview)
March 1, 2004... Designed with feedback from equipment operators and buyers, the second model to Volvo's backhoe-loader line--the BL60--will participate in a demo at Bauma 2004. With a digging depth of 14 feet 9 inches and breakout force of 8,936 pounds, the...

Perkins.(Market Watch: Bauma 2004 Preview)
March 1, 2004... Designed with Caterpillar's ACERT technology, Perkins' Tier 3 compliant 4- and 6-cylinder 1100D Series engines feature ratings to 250 horsepower. Fuel consumption shows improvement over existing Tier 2 engines, says Perkins, and new combustion...

JCB.(Market Watch: Bauma 2004 Preview)
March 1, 2004... JCB's JS 130 features Auto mode, which automatically senses hydraulic requirements and adjusts engine and hydraulic horsepower accordingly. Cab improvements include increased visibility at the rear of the machine, and from the cab to the right...

Mack to develop diesel/electric hybrid.(Innovations)
March 1, 2004... Hybrid passenger cars, which combine a gasoline engine and an electric-drive system, are now routinely available at dealer showrooms. Now, Mack Trucks will soon begin developing a hybrid work truck, which will combine a diesel engine with an...

Train powered-access operators to be safe.(Resources)
March 1, 2004... With over 100,000 trained operators worldwide, the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) now provides training classes for the safe operation of powered access equipment in the United States. So far, IPAF has conducted one training...

Beating brake-shoe rust jacking.(Maintenance Tips)
March 1, 2004... Trucks exposed to winter deicing chemicals are prone to have rust-jacking problems with their brakes. Rust-jacking is the buildup of rust and corrosion between the brake shoe and the lining, sometimes to a thickness of 1/8 inch or more. As...

Backup wrench saves fitting torque.(Quick Tip)
March 1, 2004... Use a backup wrench while tightening hydraulic fittings with a swivel fitting to help prevent twisting. Dennis Kemper, applications engineer with the Gates Hose & Connector Group, emphasizes the importance of preserving the torque spec. "A hose...

Sky Trak telehandlers.(Correction)(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2004... In Construction Equipment's January issue, page 71, the list of telehandler brands and their websites unfortunately did not include Sky Trak. We regret the omission. You can find product information at www.omniquip.com/skytrak/index.

Shake-up among hydraulic hammer manufacturers.(Manufacturer News)
March 1, 2004... Effective Jan. 1, 2004, Atlas Copco ended the 30-year distribution agreement Krupp had with Allied in the United States and Canada. Krupp-branded products will now be marketed in North America by the Atlas Copco organization, and Allied has...

Fleetguard introduces recycled coolant.(Supplier News)
March 1, 2004... Fleetguard recently added recycled coolant to its range of heavy-duty antifreeze products. The company has struck a collaborative agreement with EET Corp., Harriman, Tenn., to supply the recycled coolant. According to Fleetguard, of the 2...

Total construction spending.(Status & Forecast)
March 1, 2004... Construction growth slowed to less than overall economic growth at the end of 2003 after rising at a strong annual pace during the rapid expansion of housing starts. Construction spending is expected to grow even more sluggishly through the...

Highway construction spending.(Status & Forecast)
March 1, 2004... Spending rose 14 percent in the second half of 2003 but is now on hold until the federal transportation funding bill is approved and state DOT funding comes in the next fiscal year. Then sustained increases in spending should resume beginning...

Gross domestic product.(Status & Forecast)
March 1, 2004... Economic growth was halved to 4 percent in the 4Q 2003. The slower growth was largely due to less stimulus from tax cuts and cheap credit. Now both are back. Taxpayers will receive the second installment of the 2003 tax cut in their annual tax...

Construction equipment price index.(Status & Forecast)
March 1, 2004... The index has declined slightly in the past few months, but the trend will remain under 1 percent inflation for most of the year. Then a stronger equipment market--both in the United States and elsewhere--and a stronger dollar that stops the...

Industrial production index.(Status & Forecast)
March 1, 2004... Factory production has been rising for nearly a year, but it had only spread beyond semiconductors and computers at the end of 2003. Output is expected to expand 5 percent this year and 6 percent in 2005 after falling 4 percent in the previous...

"Hitachi had the best power, and we tried them all.".
March 1, 2004... Bevins Contracting, Inc., headquartered near Oklahoma City, provides excavation work associated with residential water and sewer inspection, repair and upgrade. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We used to provide just the video inspection work...

All-new design for Cat's ambidextrous TH220B: this two-section-boom telehandler, a new size for Caterpillar, is designed to be as good at loading as it is at lifting.(Field Report)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2004... Caterpillar, in the past year, has completely overhauled its telehandler line--not only developing a fresh, technically advanced design for the new models, but also expanding the product range to more closely match machine capabilities with...

How to keep hydraulic couplings leak-free: match replacement fittings to ports on the machine and the hose used; then install assemblies properly to dry up costly drips.(Prevention Illustrated)
March 1, 2004... Leaky hydraulic systems cost so much to maintain that many equipment managers have made leak-free couplings one of their top maintenance concerns. It's easier said than done, but with attention to matching replacement fittings to those on the...

37 tools for the task: you're asking your machines to be more productive; these attachments will add versatility to your fleet.(Special Report)
March 1, 2004... Trench with a Skid-Steer FFC Attachments' Mini-Hoe provides 5 1/2 feet of digging depth with a skid-steer loader. It is available with 12-, 18- and 24- inch buckets. A 3- by 16-inch cylinder provides increased breakout force. The hoe...

SuperDrive system claims high fuel gains: low-rpm engine, hydrostatic transmission also cut pollutants and weight, the company says; and driving it is so easy, it's almost boring.(Hands-on Trucking)
March 1, 2004... Fuel economy is not as big a deal with operators of construction trucks as it is with over-the-road truckers. So the prospect of saving a minimum of 20 percent on fuel may not grab your attention. If not, how about cutting 1,000 pounds or so...

Regulation sparks a paver revolution: in two years, Superpave has caused big boosts in paver horsepower and weight; in five years, operator-health concerns have shifted many buyers to electric screed heat.(Buying File)
March 1, 2004... The revolution that Superpave is bringing about in asphalt road design is the catalyst behind significant increases in the horsepower and weight of highway-class asphalt pavers. Finicky finish standards and compaction requirements are also...

Caterpillar: new Mobil-trac among 8-footers.(Gallery of Asphalt Pavers)
March 1, 2004... At 40,800 pounds with a 174-hp 3056E DITAAC diesel, Cat's new AP-655C looks much like the new AP-1000B (and Barber-Green BG-260C), but it is mounted on Cat's rubber Mobil-tracs. The AP-655C has an 8-foot standard screed, so it weighs about...

Vogele America: 13-footer squeezes into small jobs.(Gallery of Asphalt Pavers)
March 1, 2004... Vogele relaunched its 780 WB wheeled paver with an electrically heated 8-foot EZ III screed that can stretch to 13 1/2 feet using front-mounted extensions. The 27,700-pound 780 WB has 190 cubic feet of hopper capacity, but it's only 17 feet...

Roadtec: heavy crawler paves in tight spaces.(Gallery of Asphalt Pavers)
March 1, 2004... The 43,000-pound, 10-foot Roadtec RP-195 is the second rubber-tracked asphalt paver in Astec's line and the largest crawler in the line. But Astec says its track flotation and counter-rotating ability allows the RP-195 to pave tight spots...

Cedarapids/Terex: wheeled paver matches crawler's numbers.(Gallery of Asphalt Pavers)
March 1, 2004... Horsepower in the Cedarapids 552 rubber-tired paver jumped 40 percent when Terex began installing the 240-hp Cummins QSB engine in all 500 Series Tier 2 asphalt pavers. A hydraulically driven cooling fan controlled by the engine's computer...

IR/ABG: troubleshoot by phone.(Gallery of Asphalt Pavers)
March 1, 2004... A digital control system developed by Ingersoll-Rand ABG for its Titan pavers monitors the paving process and the condition of all major components. An integrated diagnostic system records all significant events to support maintenance and...

Marini America: new Euro competition in the states.(Gallery of Asphalt Pavers)
March 1, 2004... Marini pavers are new to North America, but the ltalian company has been in business overseas for 100 years. There are four track-mounted machines and two on wheels, in weights ranging from 30,400 to 44,750 pounds. The new HS500...

IR/Blaw-Knox: refined material control is standard.(Gallery of Asphalt Pavers)
March 1, 2004... Ingersoll-Rand made a few features standard equipment on track-mounted 2004 Blaw-Knox pavers to improve control of the head of material in front of the screed. The operator can hydraulically adjust tunnels and containment baffles (chain...

Dynapac: roll the rubber-tracked machines.(Gallery of Asphalt Pavers)
March 1, 2004... The company's first rubber-tracked machines, the F30CR and F25CR, are on the market. Electric screed heat is now standard throughout the Dynapac paver line. Highway-class models: 6 New models: F30CR and F25CR Product-line...

Honda.(Utility Vehicles)
March 1, 2004... Four Trax Rancher AT has an all-new 397cc air-cooled, overhead-valve, four-stroke engine. The longitudinally mounted engine allows direct drive-shaft alignment to both front and rear wheels. Large-diameter tires and rugged frame provide 7.2...

Bobcat.(Utility Vehicles)
March 1, 2004... The 5600 Toolcat Utility Work Machine offers rough-terrain capability, hauling and transportation around the jobsite. In addition, the Toolcat is equipped with a number of attachments such as brooms, augers and buckets. The machine has...

Kubota.(Utility Vehicles)
March 1, 2004... RTV 900 is Kubota's first utility vehicle, available in four configurations with a variety of accessories. It features an exclusive 3-range variable hydrostatic transmission, which provides low, mid and high operational speeds from 0 to 25 mph....

Polaris.(Utility Vehicles)
March 1, 2004... Utility Task Vehicles come in 4X2, 4X4 and 6X6 configurations. Low/super-low transmission gearing and four- or six-wheel drive provide traction on the toughest terrain, the company says. The rustproof cargo box holds 1,000 pounds, with towing...

John Deere.(Utility Vehicles)
March 1, 2004... Buck models are heavy-duty task vehicles featuring ground-engaging performance with gear-on-gear transmission capable of delivering high torque at low speeds. Machines have 500cc 4-stroke engine, progressively locking all-wheel drive,...

Kawasaki.(Utility Vehicles)
March 1, 2004... Prairie 700 4X4 replaces the Prairie 650 with more engine displacement and torque. It features selectable four-wheel drive with variable locking differential control and dual front disc brakes. Liquid-cooled, four-stroke, 90-degree V-twin...

Bombardier.(Utility Vehicles)
March 1, 2004... Traxter MAX is specifically designed for two riders, providing stability and control that's required when carrying a passenger. The 498cc engine is repositioned more centrally in the extended chassis to optimize weight bias for both single and...

Arctic Cat.(Untility Vehicles)
March 1, 2004... Multi-Rack Platform (MRP) is designed with open channels to accept numerous attachments to the base rack. A construction package MRP is available that allows users to securely haul and hold gear. Attachments designed for contractors include:...

Software convinces Rinker Materials to make cost-cutting investments: carefully justified machine replacements, rebuilds, and spending on support technologies drop Georgia quarry's cost per ton by nearly 30 percent.(Great Managers)
March 1, 2004... Operations managers at the Rinker Materials granite quarry in Macon, Ga., were pretty sure they had an availability problem. In 2000, they hired Dave Venrick and challenged him to identify the source and the solutions. "Everybody was...

How estimates affect cost calculations: sound historical data enable equipment managers to accurately gauge how much a piece of machinery will cost to perform.(Equipment Executive)
March 1, 2004... The only sure way to calculate the owning and operating cost of a machine is to add up all the money spent and divide by the hours worked. This is certainly an important thing to do, but the secret to success and the real challenge lies in...

Grundoburst 2500G handles big pipe: new pipe-bursting system performs in-place replacement of steel and ductile-iron pipe up to 48 inches in diameter.(Underground Report)
March 1, 2004... If you need a static pipe-bursting system with lots of pull, check out the new Grundoburst 2500G from TT Technologies. The machine is rated at 625,000 pounds of pulling force, and it is designed to open up existing steel and ductile-iron pipe...

Marini launches paver line in the U.S.: 100-year-old Italian manufacturer brings heavy, wheeled commercial pavers and offers some of the widest paving widths available on highway machines.(Paving Report)
March 1, 2004... Italian asphalt-paver manufacturer, Marini, brought its eight-paver line to North America late in 2003. There are five track-mounted machines and three on wheels, in weights ranging from 10,200 to 44,750 pounds. The two smaller machines come...

International to build a Class 4-5 low-cabover: the truck was designed for and will be built in North America, and will include a Ford version.(Truck Report)
March 1, 2004... After a long layoff, International Truck & Engine is returning to the low-cabover-engine market with a new Class 4 and 5 CF Series due out early next year. The CF, for cab-forward, will also be the first use of a new V-6 diesel, and the first...

Stanley LaBounty.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... MSD Saber Series mobile shears feature a two-way reversible, bolt-on "Saber Tip," which allows users to rotate or change a tip in 15 minutes. This results in less welding and down-time, says the company. The upper jaw is supported with slide...

Soloco.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... The Bravo Mat System can be configured in multiple patterns for a variety of uses. Rubberized surfaces on both sides provide traction as well as resistance to weather, oil and chemicals. A two-person crew can lay out and install a 20X50-foot...

Parker hannifin.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... The MiniKrimp Portable Hose Assembly System delivers quality, factory-style assemblies on the jobsite or in the plant in seconds, says the company. It weighs 35 pounds and measures 15.5X7X5 inches. It requires no electricity and has no gauges...

Lincoln electric.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... The company now offers two spool guns: the Prince XL and Magnum SG. The Prince XL is rated at 200 amps at 100-percent duty cycle. At speeds to 900 inches per minute, the gun can feed wire from 0.030 to 1/16 inches in diameter onto spools 4...

Perkins.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... With a noise reduction of 1 to 3 dB(A), the 800 Series is quieter than its predecessor, the 700 Series. A family of two 4-cylinder engines, the 800 Series fits in the company's 58- to 80-brake-horsepower power band. Buyers can choose either...

Sweepster.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... The QC Angle Broom features a quick-change core. The brush drive slips easily out of the core without removing hydraulic lines from the wheel motor. The brush core is reversible from end to end for even brush wear. The broom comes in 5-, 6-, 7-...

Televigation.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... TeleNavTrack allows users to track fleets from any PC and send a message directly to the driver's Motorola Java mobile phone with GPS capabilities. The field worker is able to receive detailed job instructions, as well as visual or audible GPS...

Multiquip.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... New to the Night Hawk Series, the LT-12D and LT-12P light towers have a maximum mast height of 30 feet and rotate 360 degrees. Built to withstand gusty winds, the towers feature four metal halide floodlights, a 30-gallon fuel tank that provides...

OEM controls.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... Service Trackers log machine hours and indicate when service intervals are reached. The module installed on the machine communicates via infrared interface with any Palm or similar hand-held device. Model ST-200 offers more memory than ST-100,...

Bomag.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... Redesigned remote controls for the company's BPH80/65S reversible plate and BMP851 multi-purpose compactors weigh only 3.5 pounds (versus previous remote designs that weigh up to 6 pounds). The controls are secured to the operator with a waist...

Miller.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... Billed as the smallest and lightest 9-foot cable lifeline on the market, the Miller Black Rhino Self Retracting Lifeline (SRL) features a quick activating, internal braking mechanism to arrest free-falls within inches. All models include a...

Baldor.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... This new line of coupling guards is ideal for harsh environments and easy to install. The guards aim to eliminate all guard maintenance, says the company. Risers are available to raise the coupling to the appropriate level on installations...

Mosebach mfg.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... The HotBox portable industrial heater warms winter jobsites without fumes, carbon-monoxide risks and refueling hassles of kerosene or propane heaters. About the size of a medium-sized toolbox, the unit fits in the back of a pickup truck. The...

Expander Americas.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... The Expander System aims to eliminate pivot wear in heavy equipment. After the old pin is removed, a pin axle with a special expansion sleeve at each end is inserted into the pivot, and then the nut, or bolt head, is tightened on each end....

International.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... The in-line 6-cylinder (I-6) family of engines for the company's 4000 and 7000 Series and 8500 trucks features cooled EGR and variable-response turbochargers. The fuel system offers more precise timing control for optimized fuel delivery, and...

Vermeer.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... Powered by either a 115- or 170-hp John Deere diesel engine, the BC1800XL brush chipper can cut through 19-inch-diameter material. Increased drum speed allows the unit to process larger, harder material with greater chip-throwing velocity and...

Multiquip.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... The MVC-64 Series of plate compactors offers numerous improvements over the predecessor MVC-60H compactors. Dual bottom plates extend the life of the compactor and offer optimal plate-cleaning characteristics. Impact force is 2,275 pounds with...

Thompson pump.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... The company's 2- and 3-inch Diaphragm pumps handle solids as large as 2 inches and have a maximum capacity of 90 gpm. A spring attached to the connecting rod reduces damage from objects lodged in the 2-piece replaceable pump casing. Diaphragms...

Hoss equipment.(Market Watch Lite)
March 1, 2004... The company has teamed with Remote Monitoring Technologies to provide the SiteWatch Camera Tower Surveillance System. Built to withstand remote, rugged and harsh environments, the system provides real-time wireless video monitoring and...

America's first hydraulic crane: hydraulic advancements enabled cranes to become mobile, and this truck-mounted version was one of the first.(Iron Works)
March 1, 2004... In the early 1940s, Roy O. Billings, president of the Milwaukee Hydraulics Corp., saw the need for a small mobile crane that would be safer, easier to operate, and lower-priced than the heavy friction-operated cranes of the day. With more...