Construction Equipment articles from November 2003

Construction Equipment archives from November 2003

Diggin' some dirt.(Sutton Report)
November 1, 2003... Construction Equipment's Field Test revolutionized equipment journalism more than 10 years ago. In fact, it still stands out as one of the unique features this magazine offers the industry. Hold on tight, because we're launching another...

Tennant.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... The Sentinel sweeper is powered by an 83-hp Cat 3054C diesel and uses oil-bath, sealed, multidisc brakes. The 3.4-cubic-yard stainless-steel hopper can be elevated to 9.5 feet for dumping. This four-season sweeper, with its Vario Sweeping Brush...

Gehl.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... The RS Series of material handlers is available in 6,000-and 8,000-pound rated operating capacities. Respective lift heights for Model RS5, RS6 and RS8 are 34 feet 4 inches, 37 feet 6 inches, and 40 feet. Each machine features a center mounted...

Hyundai.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... Three new Robex-7 excavators include the R320LC-7, R360LC-7 and R450LC-7. They are fitted with Tier-II-compliant Cummins engines and feature an enhanced version of Hyundai's Computer Aided Power Optimization engine/pump management system....

Caterpillar.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... The 145,507 pound D1OR incorporates much of the technology featured on the D11R and D11R Carrydozer including electro-hydraulic dozer blade and ripper controls and automated dozer-blade functions. It is powered by an updated 580-hp Cat 3412E...

Bandit.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... Design changes to the 2680 and 3680 Beast Recyclers can increase production by as much as 50 percent while lowering operating costs, according to Bandit. Changes include new cutter-body design, new teeth, 60 percent increase in screening...

Stellar.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... Model 10628 telescopic service crane features an extended reach of 28 feet. The unit has a 55,000-ft.-lb. capacity and can lift a maximum of 10,000 pounds at 5 feet 6 inches and 1,925 pounds at 28 feet 4 inches. It uses a planetary winch system...

John Deere.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... With a reduced tail swing and high productivity, the 13.5-metric-ton 135C RTS and 22.5 metric-ton 225C LC RTS perform comparably to the 120C and 200C LC excavators. Powered by Isuzu engines rated at 88 and 147 net horsepower, respectively, the...

Hypac.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... According to Hypac, engine and drive-train improvements on the C810C Series single drum vibratory rollers have resulted in a 37-percent improvement in gradeability to 55 percent. The Series includes the C815C, a 7,275-pound smooth drum model;...

Vacuum source.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... The company offers a custom design of its vacuum-excavation system--trailer or skid-mounted, gasoline or diesel engines, 250- to 1,200 gallon collection tanks, 125-to 410-gallon water tank, plus any of the advanced features on its 32 standard...

Trencor.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... Powered by a 1,550-hp Cat 3512B engine, the 300,000-pound 3000SM Surface Miner can trench through rock 10 feet wide and up to 26 inches deep in a single pass. Its suspension can cut slopes up to 15 degrees to meet exacting road construction and...

Komatsu.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... The D65EX/PX/WX-15 and D85EX/PX-15 dozers feature Komatsu's Hydrostatic Steering System (HSS] with the company's Palm Command Control System (PCCS) travel joystick. The Tier-II compliant SA6125E-2 Komatsu diesel powers both models. The D65,...

Caterpillar: weighing 45,765 pounds.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... Weighing 45,765 pounds, the 815F soil compactor features a new engine and serviceability improvements. A 240-net-hp Cat 3176C engine meets Tier 2/Stage II emissions requirements and has the Cat Advanced Diesel Engine Module. Tamping wheels and...

Vermeer.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... The RT450 riding trencher/plow features a center mounted backhoe operator seat, automotive-style steering, servo-controlled ground-drive system, and uncluttered operator platform. Capable of trenching depths to 60 inches, it can trench widths...

Komatsu: replacing the PC150LC-6, Model PC160LC-7.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... Replacing the PC150LC-6, Model PC160LC-7 improves on productivity and stability while reducing weight. The Equipment Management Monitoring System keeps track of critical fluid levels and components. Lubrication intervals have been extended from...

Gehl: the Avantage AL20DX Series II.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... The Avantage AL20DX Series II compact utility loader offers the comfort of a sit-down loader, along with the performance/ maneuverability of an articulated loader, Gehl says. It has an SAE rated operating load of 700 pounds and 20 inches of...

Caterpillar: designed for urban contractors, the 304 CR mini-excavator.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... Designed for urban contractors, the 304 CR mini-excavator weighs 9,896 pounds with a cab and 9,786 pounds with a canopy. It delivers 36 net horsepower and accommodates two stick sizes. When equipped with an optional long stick, the unit has a...

Case.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... Three tandem-drum vibratory rollers--the DV201, DV202 and DV204--range in operating weights from 5,510 to 7,720 pounds, with drum widths from 39.4 to 51.2 inches. Drum frequency ranges from 3,180 to 3,720 vpm with centrifugal forces from 4,580...

Genie.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... Featuring the Automatic Leveling System, the TZ-34/20 trailer-mounted articulating boom provides 11 degrees of leveling capability from the ground controls. The self-leveling system allows it to be set up in less than 40 seconds when deploying...

Powerscreen.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... The Warrior 1400 Reclaimer is designed for high-capacity operation in sand and gravel, topsoil, coal, crushed stone, recycling and compost. The unit can be set up in about 20 minutes, and it screens up to 550 ions per hour. Hopper capacity is...

Auto Crane.(Market watch: a summary of the month's primary machine introductions and model changes)
November 1, 2003... Designed from the ground up, Auto Crane says its 3203 Series Electric over Hydraulic Telescoping Crones come with standard features nut found on other cranes in this size class (10,000 ft.-lb.). All four models provide 30 feet/minute line pull...

10 largest rental fleets.(Giants)
November 1, 2003... 10 Largest Rental Fleets Equip. Value Giants Company ($ in million) Rank 1. United Rentals $3,700 1 Greenwich, CT 2....

The right teeth stretch trencher life.(Maintenance Tips)
November 1, 2003... "Being educated on trencher teeth has made a big difference in trencher durability to us," says Barry Sawyer, owner of A&B Rent-All in Oklahoma City. He rents nine units--most of them in the 13-to 20-horsepower range--and says Ditch Witch...

Orlando to host World of Concrete.(Industry Events)
November 1, 2003... On Feb. 17-20, 2004, the World of Concrete will take place at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. With about 1,500 exhibitors converging across more than 700,000 net square feet of space, the event will showcase the latest...

Dual distribution supports Liebherr customers.(Manufacturer News)
November 1, 2003... Liebherr Construction Equipment (LCE) recently formed a new entity, Liebherr Equipment Source, to market the company's earthmoving equipment in select markets. "While Liebherr remains committed to the independent dealer marketing channel,"...

ZF consolidates off-highway production.(Supplier News)
November 1, 2003... ZF Industries recently relocated the manufacturing of off-highway axles to its facility in Gainesville, Ga. Axles previously were produced at the company's facility in Vernon Hills, Ill. The consolidation, says Herman Beck, vice president of...

Bobcat delivers skid-steers to United States military.(Managers Digest)
November 1, 2003... Earlier this year, Bobcat announced it hard won a government contract to supply its skid-steer loaders to the U.S. Army. In January, it had delivered the first of 238 units. The contract is good for 5 years and has an initial order worth $7-24...

Protect your tires in winter for spring performance.(Maintenance Tips)
November 1, 2003... According to Firestone, if you plan to leave your tires mounted on a vehicle all winter, it's best to remove all weight from the tires by storing the vehicle on blocks. If that's not possible, here are some tips to spare your tires from winter...

Acquisition strategies for management software.(Fleet Software)
November 1, 2003... Fleet organizations in various industries have gained substantial savings in equipment management costs by using mobile asset/maintenance management software But not many managers have considered using the software without actually buying it....

Grade-control systems with added dimension: properly applied, three-dimensional (3-D) grade-control systems can enhance jobsite efficiency and profitability.(3-D Grading Systems)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... All in the blink of an eye (actually, an eye-blink is exceedingly slow by comparison), a three-dimensional (3-D) grade-control system performs three bits of electronic wizardry. First, it locates the exact three-dimensional position of a...

Deere's 710G blends muscles and manners: professional operator Gene Held says this new backhoe-loader has power to spare and uncommonly smooth hydraulics.(Exclusive: hands-on earthmoving)
November 1, 2003... John Deere makes no small claims for its new 710G backhoe loader, available since the first of the year. The new machine, says the company, has the digging force and lift capacity of a 12-metric-ton hydraulic excavator, coupled with the loading...

Nissan's new titan: not a typical 'import': it's longer, wider and higher than most 1/2-ton models from Ford, General Motors and Dodge, and it's made in America.(Hands-On Trucking)
November 1, 2003... Ever since its Datsun days, Nissan's pick up trucks have been compacts. So have Toyota's, except for the midsize mid-'90s T100 and the current 7/8-full-size Tundra. Thus, most people associate "import" pickups with "small," and when focus-group...

Chain-drive innovations: boost trencher reliability: makers of chain trenchers under 100 horsepower battle for market share with trencher-drive innovations and rising horsepower.(Buying File)
November 1, 2003... Over the past 10 years, the utility industry has been so distracted by the rap idly developing directional-boring business that it may have been easy to overlook steady improvements made in small trenchers. Now that the economy has reined in...

Hydrostats stretch longest trencher line.(Vermeer)
November 1, 2003... The hydrostatic RT450 introduced in June is "designed to provide contractors and rental-center operators ease of operation, powerful performance and rugged reliability," according to Vermeer. The new model, with its Tier II-compliant engine,...

The all-hydraulic line.(Barreto)
November 1, 2003... Barreto introduced the hydraulic, 13-hp 1318-H at the American Rental Association trade show last February in order to "respond to demand for a small, economical trencher to cater to the homeowner," according to a company press release. The...

Biggest in the category.(Case)
November 1, 2003... At 99.5 horsepower, the turbocharged 960 is the most powerful trencher in the under-100-hp category. Only the Ditch Witch RT machines, with trenching depths around B feet and trench widths up to 24 inches, can cut bigger trenches than the 960...

Industry's only powershift.(Ditch Witch)
November 1, 2003... Ditch Witch introduced the RT70 and RT90, 70- and 85-hp machines, with the option of two-speed powershift trencher drive to attract users who are suspicious of hydrostatic machines' ability to handle high-production trenching. Powershift, like...

Taking hydrostats down-market.(Burkeen)
November 1, 2003... Burkeen's 16-hp B-16 pedestrian has only one direct competitor for the distinction of the smallest hydrostatic trencher drive on the market--the 15-hp Vermeer RT100. The B-30B, which is actually a vibratory plow with trencher attachment,...

Heavy-duty frame option.(Parsons)
November 1, 2003... Parsons offers its three pedestrian trenchers in optional Extra Heavy Duty configurations, with reinforced frames and thicker steel that, according to the company, "can withstand the daily pounding that trenchers encounter in difficult digging...

Don't overlook the cost of capital invested in your fleet: including your cost of money in owning-cost calculations affects both your equipment rates and your decision to use either cash, debt, leases, or rental to acquire machines.(Equipment Executive)
November 1, 2003... Owning costs are made up of several different cost categories. Some, like licenses, insurances and property tax, are well understood. You incur these costs on a monthly or annual basis and you must recover enough with your equipment rates to...

Work-order system reshapes utility's fleet: detailed information on 8,000 units drives big lifecycle-cost savings by changing specifications, purchasing, maintenance and disposal.(Great Managers)
November 1, 2003... Question: What value do you get from the data-entry headaches of detailed, work-order-based fleet management software? Answer: We're just starting to use the full-blown system to give us unit-by-unit information--seeing how much time is...

Bobcat takes minis to a new level: with zero house swing and FastTrack drive system, the 430 and 435 compact excavators improve operator efficiency on the job.(Earthmoving)
November 1, 2003... Zero tail swing (ZTS) isn't such a new feature anymore. By definition, ZTS means that the rear of the excavator rotates within the width of its tracks during operation. When that feature was first introduced, it set some manufacturers apart...

Three-point auger bores post holes like a 10-ton excavator: patented curved arms direct the down pressure of a heavy-duty hydraulic cylinder.(Equipment Ideas)
November 1, 2003... RockyRoo says its post-hole auger is designed to equip a 50-hp tractor with digging capability comparable to a hydraulic attachment mounted to a 10 or 15 ton excavator. The manufacturer says its users in Australia commonly claim to achieve...

Yamaha.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... Bruin 350 4x4 and Bruin 350 2WD feature automatic transmissions and 4 stroke engines. Users activate four -wheel drive on the Bruin 350 4x4 model by pushing a button near the right-hand grip. Ground clearance for both models is 10 inches....

Superior.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... These telescoping, radial stacking conveyors now incorporate a Safety Stop mechanism that prevents damage to the conveyor's main truss in the event of a cable failure. When cable tension diminishes, the spring loaded safely stop activates...

M.K. Morse.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... The Metal Devil circular saw blade cuts through a 6 x 1/4" steel plate in an average of less than 12 seconds, according to the company. It is available in sizes from 5 3/8 to 14 inches in diameter far saws with and without cords. Five...

Hendrickson.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... Designed to raise and lower self-steering trailer lift axles, the Automatic Lift Axle Control works without operator intervention and without controls in the cab. The control is available on the company's new trailer suspension systems or as a...

JCB.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... Three Dumpsters transport materials on sites with tight, confining areas or poor ground condition's. The TD7 features a 9-hp gas engine and a manual-start function. The TD10 has a 13-hp gas engine and can be equipped with electric start. The...

IMAC.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... The PowerWedge Coupler for excavators comes in both hydraulic and manual models. The hydraulic model requires only 30 seconds to change attachments from the cab. With the manual version, it takes 10 minutes to change attachments. The coupler...

Wacker.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... Designed for use in place of a larger truss screed, the wet screed line provides a fast and economical way to strike off concrete. It features blade lengths from 4 to 16 feet and blade widths of 4.8 and 6.5 inches. Adjust able eccentric weights...

Reineke.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... The PressureGuard tire-inflation system is designed to keep a trailer's tires properly inflated at a preset level by routing air from the trailer's air supply to its tires. The system can be used on new and existing trailers and is designed to...

Enerpac.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... This line of aluminum cylinders features lifting capacities of 20 to 150 tons and stroke lengths to 10 inches. Included in the line are the single-acting RAC Series, double-acting RAR Series. RACL Series single acting lock-nut, and RAXH Series...

Little Beaver.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... The company's newest hydraulic earth drill features an 11-hp engine and a 6-gpm hydraulic system. I he unit drills holes up to 16 inches in diameter. A removable tow bar comes standard and is easy to install and remove. An infinitely variable...

Miller Electric.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... Suitcase 8RC/12RC portable wire feeders feature remote voltage control for MIG and flux-cored welding. The case is injection-molded, crush-proof and flame-retardant. The unit will replace the $22P12 feeder. Improvements include an inverted...

Ingersoll-Rand.(Market Watch Lite)
November 1, 2003... CM Series concrete mixers are made with abrasion-resistant materials for a long life. The Honda engine is mounted to the frame. Vented engine housing provides protection from debris and easy access for servicing. An emergency-step button is...

Patented paver features many "firsts": Power Curbers' first curb-and-gutter machine had four individual crawlers, which enabled it to turn a 15-foot radius.(Iron Works)
November 1, 2003... The Curb King 6500 was the first slipform paver manufactured by Power Curbers, produced from 1970 through 1979 Billed as an electronically controlled slipform paver for curb and gutter, the 6500 was the first to pour in the offset position. ...