Construction Equipment articles from May 2004

Construction Equipment archives from May 2004

Gamesmanship.(Sutton Report)
May 1, 2004... Curiouser and curiouser. That's Alice's description of Wonderland, but it also fits a 52-word phrase buried in the Senate's version of the highway reauthorization legislation--the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity...

Power curbers.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... The 5700-SUPER-B slipform paver features many enhancements, including a 50 percent increase in horsepower. It also has a repositioned, redesigned operator's platform; new hydrostatic direct-drive conveyor; and new tension adjuster on the...

Caterpillar.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... The 267B, 277B and 287B Multi Terrain loaders, replacing their A-Series predecessors, feature a new turbo-charged engine with more horsepower, more breakout force, redesigned operator's compartment and, according to the company, design changes...

Komatsu.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... The PC400LC-7 hydraulic excavator, with a maximum operating weight of 103,000 pounds, features an optional variable-gauge track, designed for increased lateral stability and lifting capacity. Compared to its predecessor model, says Komatsu, the...

New Holland.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... B Series wheel loaders feature more torque, increased breakout force, and more efficient hydraulics, the company says. With respective operating weights of 22,567, 26,376, and 30,982 pounds, Models LW110.B, LW130.B and LW170.B are powered by...

Astec underground.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... Powered by a 185-hp Cummins turbo diesel engine, the ML 185 trencher is said to operate up to 10 hours. It features a hydrostatic trencher drive that operates through the planetary gearbox, and a 30-inch tailwheel provides smoother chain...

Komatsu.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... The PC40MR-2 compact hydraulic excavator has an operating weight of 10,560 pounds and 39.4 horsepower. Maximum digging depth is rated at 11 feet 6 inches, and drawbar pull is 9,435 pounds. The machine is compatible with Komatsu's new Road Liner...

Bobcat.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... The newest compact track loader in the Bobcat line is the model T180, featuring radius-path lift arms and a direct-injection Kubota engine, rated at 56 horsepower. It has a rated operating capacity of 1,800 pounds and a lift height of 114.5...

Caterpillar.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... The TH560B weighs 26,450 pounds and has a rated load capacity of 10,000 pounds. Maximum lift height is 44.25 feet and forward reach is 30.2 feet. It has three steering modes--two wheel, crab, and circle steer--and a turning radius of only 12.7...

Link-Belt.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... The 248 HYLAB 5 lattice-boom crawler, with a rated lift capacity of 200 tons, is fitted with an SML-10 rated-load indicator, slab-type counterweights and counter-weight-removal system. The machine is powered by a Mitsubishi 6D24-TLA2h diesel...

Caterpillar.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... Using a variable-displacement pump, the 268B skid-steer loader provides hydraulic-oil flow up to 33 gpm and pressures to 4,060 psi. The 268B's load-sensing, pressure-compensating hydraulic system is designed to provide maximum power to the work...

Komatsu.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... The WA200-5 wheel loader and WA200PT-5 tool carrier feature Advanced Technology Hydrostatic Transmission with traction-control and Variable Shift Control systems. They use a 120-hp Komatsu engine, and the loader can be equipped with buckets...

ASV.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... The RC-85 All Surface Loader has a rated operating capacity of 3,400 pounds and is powered by a Cat 3054C diesel engine rated at 86 horsepower. Like all ASV loaders, the RC-85 features a suspended rubber-track undercarriage designed to provide...

Sakai.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... The SV505 Series vibratory soil compactor comes in a smooth-drum configuration--the SV505D--for rock fill, granular soils and semi-cohesive materials; and the SV505T padfoot for cohesive silts and clay. Both models feature drum drive combined...

Bobcat.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... According to Bobcat, the MT52 mini track loader features the only ride-on platform that can be removed in a matter of minutes. The machine measures 6 feet long and 3 feet wide, which makes it ideal for working in tight spaces. More than 18...

Transcraft.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... A forklift kit is now offered as a factory-installed flatbed trailer option, and it does not void the factory warranty. The forklift kit will accommodate most forklifts on the market today. The unit can be lowered and ready to unload your...

Caterpillar.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... Three utility asphalt compactors--the CB-214E, CB-224E, and CB-225E--share many features of the company's intermediate-sized machines. Weighing 5,400 pounds, the CB-214E is a double-drum unit with a 39-inch compaction width. The double-drum...

Bell.(Market Watch)
May 1, 2004... Building on the pulling power of its 4206D wheeled machine, Bell now has the 4206D/T, a 422-hp rubber-tracked model that develops 1,486 lb.-ft. of engine torque and 65,000 pounds of drawbar pull. According to Bell, the machine has the capacity...

Equipment management: rebuilding little things, too.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... At Rinker Materials' quarry in Macon, Ga., Cat 980G loaders are brought in new, run three years, and with 15,000 hours on the hour meter they're rebuilt from the power train to the hydraulic hoses. "When we do a power train, we pull and...

Maintenance tips: match parts for leak-free hose.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... When making hose assemblies, make sure the hose and coupling are compatible. Components for reusable and permanent couplings are not interchangeable. The ferrules of two-piece permanent couplings must match their stems. Those ferrules may be...

Manufacturer news: bobcat helps kids play.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... Bobcat has donated use of its equipment to help KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization that helps build playgrounds throughout the United States. Bobcat relies on its dealer network to donate and deliver the equipment. Gary Hornbacher,...

Resources: Crane Guide for sale.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... Heartland Construction Group has released Hot Line Crane Guide Volume III, which provides serial numbers, specifications, and 40 pages of actual retail prices of more than 40 crane manufacturers. The Guide is published in six categories,...

Manufacturer news: bell supplies U.S. market from German plant.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... Bell Equipment, with manufacturing headquarters in South Africa and U.S. facilities in Savannah, Ga., recently opened a new factory in Eisenach, Germany. The company's 4206D construction tractors are now being built in the new European facility...

Maintenance tips: five PM tips for extended life.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... Heavy equipment and trucks will provide better service life with a rigorous, proactive preventive-maintenance system, says Allen Perry, product technical service coordinator for ConocoPhillips. Key to that system is lubricants. Here are a few...

Industry events: registration open for MINExpo.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... Held every four years, MINExpo International 2004 will feature nearly 1,300 exhibitors showcasing equipment, products and services for the mining industry. It will be held Sept. 27-30, 2004, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Registration,...

Total construction spending.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... Total spending declined 0.9% in the first two months of the year. But the 71,000 new construction jobs in March confirm that much of this drop was weather-related. Still, construction activity is in a 6- to 9-month pause after the end of the...

Highway construction spending.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... Highway spending tumbled 3% in February and has dropped 7% since November. Although month-to-month spending is volatile, the recent decline is largely due to the delayed federal highway funding legislation. Steel price spikes and delivery...

Construction equipment price index.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... Equipment prices rose 1.2% year-to-date after increasing only 1% in 2003. Key price drivers suggest that prices will rise several percentage points more by year-end. Steel prices will not ebb until late spring. Import prices are rising more...

Manufacturing construction spending.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... Factory construction spending continues to sink slightly lower, but a quick turnabout is expected at midyear. Factory capacity utilization, excluding electronics, has rebounded to near 77%. This is usually the threshold of a strong period of...

Consumer confidence index.(Managers Digest)
May 1, 2004... The index remains stuck in the 85-90 range, but it is likely to jump significantly higher in the spring. March's 308,000 new jobs will boost confidence in job security, removing the major negative item in the index. Consumers expect economic...

Design overhaul for Wacker's trench rollers: these new trench rollers retain the company's traditional features, but add liquid cooling, a redesigned vibratory system and simpler, safer controls.(Field Report)
May 1, 2004... Articulated-frame steering and in-drum exciters--these are the two distinctive features that Wacker has always emphasized when talking about its trench rollers. The former helps the roller snake through narrow trenches without having to pause...

Equipment partnership thrives: J & L Management works closely with its dealer to purchase, rent, lease and maintain its fleet.(Special Report: Up & Comers)
May 1, 2004... In August 2000, Philip Kennedy and Eric Saunders decided the time was right to pool their knowledge and experience and start their own demolition contracting company, J & L Management. Less than four years later, the company has completed...

Fleet expands with market: Cavaliere's move into full-service milling required more machines for the work.(Special Report: Up & Comers)
May 1, 2004... When Cavaliere Industries moved into a spacious new facility earlier this year, it was a milestone for this successful contractor. Its growth over the past 5 years into a full-service asphalt milling company spurred the need for larger...

Equipped for specialty work: TCB Grading teams skid-steers and track loaders with an array of attachments.(Special Report: Up & Comers)
May 1, 2004... In 1999, Patricia Nichter decided it was time for a change. Since the age of 20, she was a successful realtor in the Louisville, Ky., area. Nichter gave up her office for an outdoor job moving dirt as a contractor specializing in site...

How to build an effective PM program: the success of a PM program relies on its structure. Here's how to build a good one.(Maintenance)
May 1, 2004... Maybe you've been asked to build a new preventive maintenance program from the ground up. Maybe you've been asked to slap the paddles to the chest of a PM program that flat lined under a previous manager. No matter. Any successful PM program...

Electronic fuel injection redefines wheel loaders: exhaust-reducing controls open the door to better transmissions, hydraulic systems and cooling systems, raising the productivity bar in 100- to 200-hp loaders.(Buying File 100- to 200-hp Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... Category creep has characterized the 100- to 200-hp range of loaders for a long time. The latest round of redesigns continues the trend to higher horse-powers, heavier machines and bigger buckets, but the new emissions-compliant engines have...

Komatsu: hydrostats shift for the operator.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... All Dash-5 wheel loaders from the WA150-5 to the WA320-5 have hydrostatic transmissions with one pump driving two drive motors. When lots of torque is needed to dig, climb or change direction, both motors work. As the machine gains speed and...

Link-Belt: works like a Z-bar and tool carrier.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... Link-Belt's L120, L125 and L130--introduced at Conexpo/Con-Agg 2002--are the company's first wheel loaders. Their Power-Link front-end geometry is a departure from most Z-bar linkages, although Volvo and the small Terex machines have a similar...

Case: mid-mount cooling improves maintenance.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... The mid-mount cooling module in the new D Series changed the look and feel of Case wheel loaders. The module improves cooling by eliminating stacked coolers, and it moved the engine behind the rear axle. An electric motor lifts the one-piece...

Liebherr: hydrostats save fuel and tires.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... Liebherr just entered the wheel-loader market last year, bringing hydrostatically driven machines to compete in North America. The "2plus2" drive technology in the L544 and larger models applies two different-sized motors coupled independently...

Daewoo: clambering for cab supremacy.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... Daewoo claims its latest wheel loaders, the Mega-Series, offer operators the most cab space in their size classes. Hydraulic-suspension seat and tilting steering column are standard. There are two transmission-kickdown switches--one on the...

New Holland construction: networked computers boost performance.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... New Holland introduced its three loaders in this size class with emissions-compliant engines and a new electronic transmission that offers on-board diagnostics, programmable shifting and a choice of automatic or manual operation. Controllers on...

John Deere: solid state seals electrical reliability.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... Deere redesigned the electrical system in its J-Series loaders with a solid-state electrical distribution system, which replaces the fuses, relays and interconnects with a circuit board, solid-state switches and a vehicle electrical center. The...

Caterpillar: electronic power-train upgrades.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... When Caterpillar installed its 3056E engine in the 924G, 924Gz, 928G and IT28G for Tier-II emissions compliance, it increased those models' horsepower and torque rise, improved fuel economy, and added an automatic preheat system for cold...

Volvo: hydraulics adjust output to demand.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... Volvo's E Series loaders brought load-sensing hydraulics to the product range. The L60E, L70E and L90E are powered by a new six-liter Volvo diesel. With the E Series, Volvo increased the weight and horsepower of the L70E to boost its breakout...

Hyundai: transmission thinks on the go.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... Hyundai employs Cummins engines driving through electronically controlled Ergopower automatic transmissions in the Dash 7 wheel loaders. Proportional valves enable very precise control of the clutches, and a gear-change monitoring function...

Kawasaki: bigger engines, booms and buckets.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... The Isuzu diesel in the 60ZV stepped up 9 percent to 119 horsepower, compared to the 60ZIV-2 that it replaced. Breakout force increased more than 12 percent, and Kawasaki claims the lift-arm structures are 60 percent stronger. Standard bucket...

Dressta: updated controls simplify operation.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... With an electronically controlled transmission, a single lever mounted to the steering column of Dressta's E-Series wheel loaders replaces two shift levers used in previous models. Dressta also did away with the links and levers in the steering...

JCB: isolated radiator cools cleaner.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... JCB installed a single-face combination radiator/cooler to improve cooling efficiency when it changed to emissions-compliant engines. On models from the 436HT and 436ZX through the 456HT and 456ZX, the JCB cooling system is isolated from the...

Terex: hydrostatic drive with a loader-arm difference.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... Terex brings hydrostatic drive to the 100- to 200-hp loader class with the SKL863 and SKL873 SP. Loader linkage on both models is basically a Z-bar configuration, but flips the traditional connections over. The hydraulic cylinder connects to...

Coyote: hydostat offers tool-carrier versatility.(Gallery of Wheel Loaders)
May 1, 2004... The Coyote C28 has a hydrostatic transmission driven by a 101-hp water-cooled Deutz diesel. There's cab access on both sides of the machine. The unit's hydraulic, quick-attach coupler accepts 60 different attachments. [ILLUSTRATION...

Castrol.(Engine Lubricants)
May 1, 2004... Hypuron S has an advanced low-ash, soot-handling technology and is blended with a precisely selected partial synthetic base stock. The synthetic oil meets both Mack and Cat requirements with a high TBN and less than 1.3 percent sulfated ash....

Caterpillar.(Engine Lubricants)
May 1, 2004... Designed for diesels powering onhighway trucks and earthmoving equipment, this oil is the preferred oil for Cat engines. Benefits include soot dispersancy to enhance oil flow to engine parts, oxidation stability to reduce sludge and viscosity...

Shell.(Engine Lubricants)
May 1, 2004... Rotella T multigrade engine oil has advanced soot control and is marketed to mixed fleets. It is recommended for off-highway applications in addition to OTR, especially for all-season use. It exceeds requirements for low-emission and older...

76 Lubricants.(Engine Lubricants)
May 1, 2004... Guardol QLT multigrades deliver exceptional wear protection, soot control, and bearing corrosion protection in both conventional and EGR diesels. They help extend drain intervals in conventionals. High-dispersancy-detergency and a high alkaline...

Citgo.(Engine Lubricants)
May 1, 2004... Citgard 600 extends drain intervals. Features include protection against corrosion and wear, and superior oil consumption control optimizes engine life. It has increased protection against sludge and varnish, reliable performance when...

Kendall.(Engine Lubricants)
May 1, 2004... SHP synthetic oil is designed to protect in extreme environments and in long-service intervals. It's formulated to provide excellent protection in EGR diesels and extended drain intervals in conventionals. Oils have a high alkaline reserve of...

Chevron.(Engine Lubricants)
May 1, 2004... Delo 400 multigrade heavy-duty oils reduce operating costs with exceptional soot dispersancy and wear control to extend engine life to overhaul. Billed as a "world oil," it meets the engine performance requirements of North American (API CI-4),...

John Deere.(Engine Lubricants)
May 1, 2004... Plus-50 meets the needs of Deere engines. It exceeds API CI-4 levels for diesels and API SL for gas engines. The additive system is said to lower engine wear and provide superior protection against high-temperature thickening. Drain intervals...

Phillips 66.(Engine Lubricants)
May 1, 2004... Super HD II Multigrade uses an advanced diesel engine oil additive technology that protects modern, low-emission engines, conventionals and gasoline engines. Marketed to the mixed fleets, it meets the performance requirements of a variety of...

D-A lubricants.(Engine Lubricants)
May 1, 2004... Reliant lubricant is designed to provide extra protection against deposits and wear in heavy-duty off- or over-the-road applications. Chem-Guard additive system contains active diesel detergents and dispersants; anti-wear agents; and oxidation,...

Virginia DOT trims fleet based on utilization: by establishing acceptable ranges of utilization, then discussing the outliers with district operations people, VDOT begins to "right-size" its fleet.(Great Managers)
May 1, 2004... Deciding on the right size of a Department of Transportation equipment fleet isn't a new problem, but when the Virginia DOT began work on its Equipment Program Strategic-Business Plan in 2001, managers ranked fleet size and utilization among...

Keep control when utilization changes: with costs accurately based on annual usage, month-to-month variances can't be allowed to affect machine management.(Equipment Executive)
May 1, 2004... Nothing impacts the economics of equipment ownership more than utilization. The number of hours a machine works in a year determines the rate at which fixed annual costs are recovered. Understanding the hourly owning-and-operating cost...

Kawasaki flagship reaches for more productivity: more power, bigger bucket and stronger lift arms make the 60ZV, pound for pound, one of the strongest 2-cubic-yard loaders.(Earthmoving)
May 1, 2004... The emissions-compliant Isuzu 6BG1 diesel powering Kawasaki's new 60ZV stepped up 9 percent to 119 horsepower compared to the engine in the 60ZIV-2. The 60ZV's breakout force increased more than 12 percent, and Kawasaki claims the lift-arm...

Most 2007 diesels will continue with EGR: caterpillar to stay with ACERT, and all will use particulate traps to lower emissions.(Truck Report)
May 1, 2004... Truck diesels now using exhaustgas recirculation to lower emissions will continue to use EGR starting in 2007, manufacturers say, quashing speculation that another process might be used instead. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The good news for...

Bomag's BW161AD-4 HF reflects fresh design: this new roller, with a 66-inch-wide drum, has a stylish look and more performance.(Paving Report)
May 1, 2004... Climb into the operator's station of Bomag's new BW161AD-4 HF tandem vibratory roller, and one of the first features of its all-new design to arrest your attention is the wide-open visibility to the drums and sprinkler nozzles. ...

Rickson truck.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... Haul-Rite 19.5-inch wheels allow users to run commercial-duty tires on 3/4- and 1-ton trucks from Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet/GMC. The company's 19.5-inch tubeless radial tires run cooler and last longer than light truck and passenger tires, says...

MSA.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... The ClearCommand Helmet Communications System (HCS) consists of a helmet-mounted microphone and ear speaker assembly. The 5.3-ounce microphone/ear speaker assembly connects to a lapel microphone or basic push-to-talk unit, which contains a...

Trimble.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... The Spectra Precision GL742 is the company's premier product for machine control and general construction applications. Designed for accurate steep-slope grading, the GL742 provides a 2-way remote and a Y-axis grade range of 0 to 110 percent....

ZF industries.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... The company offers a new range of axles and transmissions for mobile excavators. Designed for machines with tractive torque from 400 to 700 lbs.-ft., the HL Series of transmissions includes the HL 250, HL 270 and HL 290, which replace the HL 70...

Multiquip.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... Replacing the ST Series, Mayco LS Series pumps have volume outputs from 40 to 60 cubic yards per hour and handle aggregate from 3/8 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Horizontal pumping distance reaches 1,200 feet, and vertical pumping distance...

Lincoln electric.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... Air Vantage 500 is a welder, generator and air compressor in one. The compressor is rated to produce 60 cubic feet per minute at 100 psi 100 percent duty cycle for arc gouging, plasma cutting or air tools. The generator makes 20,000 watts of...

Multiquip.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... Three portable, 2-inch submersible pumps--the ST-2037, ST-2040T and ST-2047--remove water from confined areas. Maximum flow ranges from 73 to 87 gallons per minute. Other improvements include internal pump casings and lower running amps. The...

Breaker tech.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... Ideal for contractors who want portable, high-capacity production, MBS Series Portable Rockbreakers have a low-profile design for road transportation. Users can install hydraulic breakers in the 1,100-ft.-lbs. class on the MBS 10--designed for...

Atlas copco.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... Designed from the Cobra 149, the Cobra Combi gas powered drill/breaker starts easier, operates quietly and produces fewer emissions. It weighs 55 pounds and is easy to transport. The unit delivers 2,600 blows per minute, drills to 6.5 feet at a...

Ground heaters.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... The Sahara Air Heater Model 1250 marks the company's entry into the air-heater market. The unit's 140 gallons of heat transfer fluid warms to 180 F, and fans blow the heat across a set of heating coils, delivering warm, dry, clean air into...

OEM controls.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... Two Palm-based software modules expand the paperless capabilities of OEM's Service Tracker data systems. In addition to recording machine hours, the FOG (fuel, oil, grease) Tracker collects data on consumables usage per machine. Inspection...

Atlas copco.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... Billed as the company's most powerful hydraulic hand-held breaker, the TEX 39H delivers 1,150 blows per minute. It requires a power source with a 7.9-gpm hydraulic-oil flow and working pressures of 1,520 to 1,810 psi. The 71-pound breaker is...

Leading edge attachments.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... For excavators and backhoe-loaders over 11,000 pounds, the Multi-Ripper Bucket functions like a trencher, but uses the hydraulic excavator rolling action to rip. Multiple shanks are staggered on an arc, which means that each tooth hits the...

Wacker.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... BS 50-2i, BS 60-2i and BS 70-2i rammers feature the company's WM 80 2-stroke-cycle engine that uses an oil-injection system and a vented carburetor that evacuates air from the fuel to facilitate starting. The models also use a new...

Hilti.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... With an accuracy of approximately 1/16 inch, the PD 30 Laser Range Meter measures distances from 2 inches to 600 feet in less than 1/2 second. The pocket-sized laser calculates in cubic yards for concrete pours, and it stores the last three...

Allmand.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... Maxi-Lite 15330 and 20330 portable light towers have 15- and 20-kW AVR regulated generators. The towers rotate 360 degrees, adjust easily from the ground, and can withstand wind gusts to 65 mph. An optional Saf-T-Visor attachment reflects...

Q-star technology.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... Designed to prevent vandalism, the FlashCam-530 camera system is battery operated and mounts to buildings, poles and trees. It operates in total darkness with a range of 100 feet. Triggered by motion, the system flashes a bright light, takes a...

Topcon.(Market Watch Lite)
May 1, 2004... Billed as the first electronic total station with cable-free, remote data collection, the GTS-230W Series uses Bluetooth wireless technology. It communicates directly with the company's FC-1000, which eliminates cable-caused downtime and allows...