Construction Equipment articles from March 2007

Construction Equipment archives from March 2007

Potential Benefits Heat Up as Temperature Cools.
March 1, 2007... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor Warm-mix asphalt looks promising, but caution prevails,lest we step backward in regard to present pavement quality Not too long ago, some smart people in the asphalt-paving industry got to thinking about...

Asphalt Pavers Out to Do More.
March 1, 2007... By Mike Anderson, Senior Editor Manufacturers starting to look beyond single tasks with their highway-class machines If the current generation of construction equipment has one overwhelming differentiation, it is in the proliferation...

Buying File Gallery.
March 1, 2007... By Staff Caterpillar Mike Anderson Wheels, Tracks, or the Best of Both Caterpillar recently announced changes to its high-production asphalt paver line that results in two new 10-foot-class models. Powered by a new...

Working to Make Concrete Pavements Good Neighbors.
March 1, 2007... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor An army of researchers is investigating ways to make concrete pavements quieter -- at the very point where rubber meets the road If you're going to have an international conference about noise, what better...

KXO80-3 Excavator Carries Kubota Beyond Minis.
March 1, 2007... By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor The 18,300-pound crawler excavator is among the largest 8-ton swing-mounted booms Kubota dug into the utility-class excavator market, for the first time reaching beyond mini-excavators, with the...

Bigger Tools in the Box.
March 1, 2007... Rod Sutton, Editor in Chief The groundhog told us spring would come quickly this year, but 10 days later a blizzard reminded us that we live in the upper Midwest. As one wheel loader operator explained how he had to drive in circles around...

How to Produce Actionable Cost Information.
March 1, 2007... By Mike Vorster, Contributing Editor To avoid drowning in details, consider how to divide cost and fleet information into levels of information When someone shouts "Fire," it is important to know which exit to take. It is exactly the...

Ultra-Low Sulfur Takes the Dirt Out of Diesel.
March 1, 2007... By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor While only required in 2007 engines, the transition to almost-sulfur-free fuel is changing the shape of U.S. diesel use EPA required a 97-percent reduction in the sulfur content of highway diesel fuel...

You Sure This Is a Skid-Steer?
March 1, 2007... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor Gehl's 7810E has the capacity to handle big buckets and serious attachments, yet maintains skid-steer nimbleness When Gehl delivered a new 7810E skid-steer loader to the Apprenticeship and Skill Improvement...

Heavy Hybrid Motors Smartly.
March 1, 2007... By Tom Berg, Truck Editor Prototype diesel-electric truck for the U.S. Air Force is easy to drive, and it could lead to commercial production in 2009 What's this -- a flying dump truck? Sort of. The U.S. Air Force operates thousands of...

Thew Steam Shovel.
March 1, 2007... By Keith Haddock, Contributing Editor Captain Thew's unique steam shovel was America's first fully revolving excavator of any type Captain Richard Thew is credited with building America's first fully revolving shovel and, like most...

Climb Up, Over With Moveable Controls.
March 1, 2007... By Rod Sutton, Editor in Chief National Crane's 1300H features patented control console that folds up for transport, then moves to where operator wants it for lifting chores National Crane's new Series 1300H stand-up control crane...

Push On for Full Natural Gas Use in New York State.
March 1, 2007... Mike Anderson As pleased as Joseph Darling is by the New York State Department of Transportation's use of natural gas fuel today (see Great Managers, February issue), he knows there's so much more that can be done. Darling, the...

Volvo to Acquire IR Road Development Business.
March 1, 2007... Staff Volvo will purchase Ingersoll Rand's road development division for $1.3 billion, pending government approval, later this year. The purchase includes heavy compactors,asphalt pavers and milling machines, as well as Ingersoll...

Rental Grows Among Big Contractors.
March 1, 2007... Larry Stewart Every year about 65 percent of contractors responding to CE's Annual Report & Forecast survey say they have used short-term rentals, but 82 percent of firms with fleet replacement values of $10 million and more say they rent...

Survey Shows Dealer Technicians Aging.
March 1, 2007... Staff Recent research by The AED Foundation shows that 20 percent of technicians working for construction equipment distributors are older than 50. Nine percent are 56 years old or older. Respondents also indicated that they expect 5.3...

LoJack Guide to Theft Protection.
March 1, 2007... Staff Keep accurate, detailed records. Label all machines in multiple locations with unique identifying numbers, including the manufacturers' product identification numbers (PIN) and an owner applied number. Keep accurate inventories,...

New Emissions Technologies Come With Their Share of Headaches.
March 1, 2007... Staff J.D. Power and Associates' 2006 Heavy-Duty Truck Engine/Transmission Study released Oct. 5, 2006, indicates that the average number of reported engine problems has increased to 74 PP100 (engine problems per 100 vehicles) -- up from...

Trimble to Acquire Meridian.
March 1, 2007... Staff GPS grade-control provider, Trimble, plans to acquire privately held Meridian Project Systems, developers of enterprise project-management and lifecycle software. Building owners, constructors, engineers, and government agencies use...

PacLease Targets Vocational-Truck Users.
March 1, 2007... Staff According to Olen Hunter, director of sales for Paccar Leasing Co. (PacLease), the company rolled out a new full-service leasing program for users of vocational trucks. When we visited with Hunter at the recent World of Concrete...

Status and Forecast.
March 1, 2007... By Jim Haughey, Director of Economics Total Construction Spending Jim Haughey Spending declined 3 percent since the peak level in April 2006, with the slow decline likely to continue into the opening months of 2007. Construction...

Design Overhaul for Wacker's New Ride-On Rollers.
March 1, 2007... By Walt Moore, Senior Editor These models are more powerful and maneuverable than the machines they replace Wacker recently introduced its new generation of ride-on asphalt rollers, models RD 12-90, RD 12A-90 and RD 16-90, all of which...

Roadtec.
March 1, 2007... By Mike Anderson, Senior Editor Capable of cutting 102 inches in width and 21 inches in depth, the SX-7 can prepare a 24-foot road in three passes. Powered by a 700-hp Cat engine, the four-wheel-steer SX-7 can be controlled from any of the...

Bomag Americas.
March 1, 2007... By Mike Anderson, Senior Editor With the January introduction of the MPH122-2 model, Bomag Americas offers a number of improvements in its smallest of three recycler/stabilizer sizes. The MPH122-2 features a Tier-3-compliant Deutz V6...

Wirtgen.
March 1, 2007... By Mike Anderson, Senior Editor Capable of milling and recycling to a depth of 20 inches, the WR 2400 provides a working width of 94.5 inches. This places it between the 79-inch WR 2000 and the larger 96-inch WR 2500 S and 120-inch WR 3000...

Caterpillar.
March 1, 2007... By Mike Anderson, Senior Editor Caterpillar introduced the RM-300 and RM-500 rotary mixers as replacements for the RM-250C and RM-350B reclaimer mixers, respectively. At 350 and 540 horsepower, the RM-300 and RM-500 utilize Tier 3...

Terex Roadbuilding.
March 1, 2007... By Mike Anderson, Senior Editor The four-wheel-drive RS425C is the newest of four reclaimer/stabilizer models offered by Terex Roadbuilding, featuring an enhanced drive locking system that divides oil flow between the front and rear drive...

Astec.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor Double Barrel combination aggregate dryer and HMA drum mixer can run up to 50 percent reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) without using additional fuel and virtually eliminates blue smoke emissions, says...

Gradall.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor Model XL 4300-II excavator offers a tilting, telescoping boom and wheeled mobility on and off paved surfaces. High-pressure, load-sensing hydraulics automatically deliver the appropriate power and...

Multiquip.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor AR Series tandem and combination vibratory rollers are available in 10 diesel-powered models with drum widths from 31 to 51 inches and centrifugal forces ranging from 2,925 to 10,790 pounds. Standard...

TransTech Systems.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor New to the line of asphalt testing instruments, paver and compactor accessories is the patented SQI Soil Quality Indicator, a non-nuclear soil gauge that employs electrical impedance spectroscopy in a...

LeeBoy.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor The Rosco Maximizer 3 asphalt distributor features a hydraulically controlled, continuously variable spray bar that can be extended in 4-inch increments to 16 feet wide. Spray operations are performed...

Mountain Valley Equipment.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor Stehr Manhole Cutter SKF 950 is a skid-steer attachment for new road construction as well as surface repaving and repair. The machine enhances productivity by dry cutting through asphalt at the rate of...

Roadtec.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor A 4-foot milling machine with a rear-mounted drum, the RX-400 is designed for commercial work and other projects requiring a compact machine. The operator can begin the cut directly in front of curbs,...

Wirtgen.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor Two mid-sized asphalt cold-milling machines will be introduced. Model W 120 F features a milling width of 4 feet, provides front-end loading of RAP via a larger two-part conveyor system, cuts to 12.6...

Stone Construction Equipment.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor Designed to provide compaction in confined areas, WolfPac ride-on asphalt rollers feature hydrostatic drive, power steering, non-corrosive water systems, and high-capacity fuel and water tanks. Four...

Sakai.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor Asphalt rollers and accessories line includes double-drum vibratory asphalt rollers that deliver 4,000 vibrations per minute high frequency; the GW750 vibratory pneumatic tire roller; combination steel...

TSD Integrated Controls.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor Paver System Five offers fast, accurate screed control for high productivity and smoothness on asphalt or concrete-paving jobs, according to the manufacturer. The controller can be used alone or with...

Bomag.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor Model 4413 self-propelled asphalt paver uses a 60-hp turbocharged diesel engine said to deliver 40 percent more output torque than the engine on the previous model. The load-sensing hydraulic system...

Ames Engineering.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor Profilers use state-of-the-art smoothness measuring technology that reportedly provides accurate and repeatable measurements when compared to true rod-and-level profiles. The Deere Gator-based...

BLS.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor Improvements have made polyurethane Tufpads Blues track pads 15 to 30 percent more durable than their black polyurethane predecessors, according to BLS. Designed for rough applications such as asphalt...

Cimline.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor The second generation Magma Series melter/applicator line incorporates a new hose design, new wand construction and improved external pump design. The crack sealers are available in 110-, 230-, and...

Caterpillar.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor The CB-564D double-drum vibratory asphalt compactor features the Versa Vibe vibratory system, which offers four amplitude selections and two frequencies for a choice of high amplitude or high frequency...

Ingersoll Rand.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor The PF-6110 highway-class track-mounted paver improves control of material flow using an auger system that is independent of the conveyor system. Auger and conveyor drives use sonic sensors. Conveyor...

E.D. Etnyre.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor For safe handling of hot materials, the Black-Topper Centennial asphalt distributor delivers accurate liquid-asphalt applications with fingertip control of distributor functions and computer-controlled...

Everpads.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor Evertire bolt-on track pads, designed for maximum performance on high-production cold-mil-ling planers, are made of wear-resistant rubber of high elasticity that absorbs shock and reduces noise. The...

Coneqtec-Universal.
March 1, 2007... By Diana Granitto, Contributing Editor The AP Cold Planer skid-steer attachment features an open drum said to increase productivity and reduce re-milling, dust, noise and uneven cuts; a front-down design that contains debris and in the...