Equipment World Summer 2020 by Tony Brock

equipmentworld.com | Summer 2020

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P. 10

2020 CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR

TOBY DRAKE DRAKE CONSTRUCTION, KOTZEBUE, ALASKA

Miles above the Arctic Circle this company excels at construction and logistics using barges, ice roads and airplanes

P. 21

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Vol. 32 Number 5 |

Cover Story

table of contents | Summer 2020

1100

P. 2020 CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR Toby Drake found his calling and Native heritage in the wilds of Alaska, as well as a genius for logistics and a can-do crew.

Cover photo: Amber Drake

Equipment 36

Machine Matters

Skid steers go high tech

ConExpo 2020

OEMs unveil new equipment in part two of our report from ConExpo-Con/Agg.

Landclearing Attachments

Make quick work of trees and brush with these add-ons for construction equipment

EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020

table of contents | continued

Features 21 Coronavirus Report

Construction resets amid the pandemic. Industry leaders envision the recovery ahead.

60 Road Works

From electrification to oscillation, new compactor models offer the latest innovations

66 Medium-Duty Trucks

Medium-duty trucks are back and the choices are better than ever.

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Departments 6 On Record Ah, January

9 Reporter

Volvo CE gets $2M grant to test electric excavator and loader in California. New rule bars federal regulation of roadside ditches.

75 Technology

New Earthworks Grade Control introduces features for multiple machine types.

82 Collector’s Corner

Lucking into a unique Caterpillar Twenty

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Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

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on record | by Marcia Doyle MarciaDoyle@randallreilly.com

Ah, January

ack in innocent, sun-dappled January the headline to this column read, “Whither thou goest, 2020?” Wherever we end up at the end of this year, it won’t be on that January path. The concerns at the beginning of the year now seem quaint, centering on a growth slowdown from the great returns of 2018 and 2019. If only. This pandemic spring developed along the lines of a badly written sci-fi novel. In some areas and states, construction came to a full stop in a matter of hours the weeks following ConExpo. Instead of backhoes and aerial lifts, manufacturing plants were making face shields and ventilators…and shutting down due to lack of demand. Talk of liquidity replaced revenue-bragging in first-quarter reports. And most important, too many lives continue to be lost. Construction has joined most industries in the federal tin-cup brigade. Industry economists agree that a federal infrastructure spending bill is a critical piece to salvaging at least part of a year that so many contractors had viewed with excitement. As of

Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

this writing, it still hasn’t happened. And who knows if Congress will at least re-up without any extension drama the multiyear highway reauthorization bill that will end Sept. 30th? The hard truth is that – as in all recessions – we’ll lose good companies and good people. The latter has industry leaders especially worried because the Great Recession took such a clawed swipe at our workforce. One obvious reaction to even more workforce reduction is that the technology switch, so late in coming to construction, will be in overdrive. As I’ve talked to industry observers throughout this spring, in some there is an underlying sliver of excitement amid the global hand wringing. This is not the future we had planned, true; but could it actually be better in the end? The reset could lead to shiny new things that make perfect sense in a reordered world. Possibly, but another likely result is that it will be a mix of good and bad and indifferent, just as it was back in January. The difference is that we knew January, and we don’t know this.

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reporter

New rule bars federal regulation of roadside ditches

Volvo CE gets $2M grant to test electric excavator, loader in California

nder a recently overturned federal rule, roadside ditches were required to be protected, causing delays and additional costs for road projects, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. ARTBA says a new federal rule set to take effect June 22 will eliminate those restrictions, leaving most roadside ditches outside of federal jurisdiction. The new Navigable Waters Protection Rule replaces the Waters of the United States rule approved in 2015. The NWPR is designed to make it easier to determine which bodies of water face federal protection. One big change, ARTBA says, is that the burden to prove federal jurisdiction is now on the federal government and not property owners. Bodies excluded from federal authority, according to the NWPR, are those that “only contain water in direct response to rainfall; groundwater; many ditches, including most farm and roadside ditches; prior converted cropland; farm and stock watering ponds; and waste treatment systems.” Those waters would be left to the states to regulate. The new NWPR could still face legal challenge, which ARTBA says it will fight. –Don McLoud

| staff report

Volvo’s L25 electric wheel loader

olvo Construction Equipment has received a $2 million grant to test out its electric ECR25 compact excavator and L25 wheel loader in California to study pollution-reduction technology for off-road equipment. Volvo CE says it will also add $1.5 million to the grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA funding comes from the agency’s Targeted Air Shed Grant Program, which seeks to reduce air pollution in areas with high levels of smog and soot. The grant is being administered by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), which includes Orange County, and parts of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. “The grant aims to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission technologies for off-road

mobile equipment, which is one of the major contributors to nitrogen-oxide emissions in the South Coast Air Basin,” Volvo says. “Off-road construction equipment accounts for 43 tons per day of NOx emissions in the South Coast Air Basin,” said Wayne Nastri, executive officer for South Coast AQMD. “We look forward to working with Volvo as they pave the way for the development of zero-emission technologies in this sector.” Volvo has been testing the ECR25 and L25 in Europe and plans to test the machines in California for six months, starting with the excavator in September and the wheel loader in December. Three customers will be selected to test the machines, with the results reported back to South Coast AQMD, Volvo says. –Don McLoud

For more on each of these stories go to equipmentworld.com. EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020

contractor of the year winner | by Tom Jackson

Toby Drake found his calling and Native heritage in the wilds of Alaska, as well as a genius for logistics and a can-do crew.

10 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

oby Drake is no stranger to short seasons. His firm, Drake Construction, is in Kotzebue, Alaska, 33 miles above the Arctic Circle. The sun disappears for a month in winter. Wind chill temperatures can plunge to minus 90 degrees at times, colder than the top of Mount Everest. Most of the time, there are no roads to take crews to jobs. In this harsh environment Drake has six months to get 12 months’ worth of work done. How he does it is worth studying for any contractor faced with a shortened work season. The key, he says, is exhaustive planning, great crews and the ability to improvise, adapt and overcome. Kotzebue is 548 miles north and west of Anchorage. Materials and equipment are transported on barges or ice roads the company builds. Snowmobiles (called snow machines in Alaska) serve as light-duty pickup trucks. Bush pilots carry Drake crews to jobsites unreachable by sea or river. On more than one occasion, Drake has hired a C-130 Hercules aircraft to fly machines and materials to a jobsite. Much of the work Drake Con-

struction performs supports 11 off-the-grid Native American villages that trail off into the tundra north and east. Without this infrastructure, many of these villages could not survive.

The best teacher Drake himself is Native American. Adopted in California as an infant, he was told he was Cherokee. But when the family moved to Alaska, a deeper search of the records discovered otherwise. He is actually Athabaskan, a tribe from the interior of Alaska. By accident or providence, he found his home. And if you wanted to learn about construction, you couldn’t do much better than to be adopted by Wayne Drake, Toby’s father. Wayne Drake was a serial entrepreneur, heading up at various times a homebuilding company, a cabinet shop and a commercial construction company. Drake’s earliest impressions of his father still inform his approach to people and business. He remembers as a child waking up before dawn and listening to his dad talk with the crews and observing his calm authority and the respect he got from the workers who depended on him for their livelihood. And later when he was in his

Toby Drake, Drake Construction City, State:

Kotzebue, Alaska

Year Started:

1982

Number of employees:

Annual revenue:

$8 million to $10 million

Markets served:

Civil construction including roads, airports, underground construction, site development, pile foundations, aggregates and concrete, demolition and barging

From left, Mike Florer, mechanic; Daniel Paajanen, engineer; Richard Gilliver, sales representative for Powerscreen & Pegson; Ben “Dude” Bennett, foreman; and Toby Drake. EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 11

contractor of the year winner | continued What do you do when it absolutely has to be there overnight? Load it on a C-130 Hercules cargo plane and fly it to the jobsite.

teens and early 20s, Drake continued to see the example he’d need to succeed on his own. “I’d come home in the early morning hours after having beers with my buddies, and Dad would be sitting at the counter with a yellow legal pad writing out the next week’s tasks, working up a bid or figuring out how to make something happen.”

Safety protocols are followed to the letter. There is no margin for error when crews may be working hundreds of roadless miles from the nearest hospital. 12 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Scariest job ever But all the preparation in the world isn’t enough to succeed at construction in Alaska. You also need an abundance of grit. In the dead of winter one year while Drake was still in his teens, his dad got a call about a burst sewer line in Kotzebue. With wind chill temperatures plunging to minus 90-degree territory, Drake, his dad and a helper somehow coaxed an excavator to crank and started digging. Almost immediately they hit an unmarked water main. Because of the permafrost, public water systems in Alaska

continually reheat and recirculate the water in the pipes underground. Otherwise, entire municipal water systems would freeze solid. “We figured we had eight to 12 hours before the whole system started freezing up,” says Drake. Just as they saw progress, the excavator threw off one of its tracks. Wayne Drake sacrificed the undercarriage on that side of the machine and continued to claw out the frozen ground around the burst main. They worked through the night while reheating extra boots and gloves in the truck cab to ward off frostbite. With their wounded excavator, the three managed to dig out the broken water main and repair it. They then immediately turned to the original problem, the broken sewer line, and fixed it with little time to spare.

The transition After high school, Drake studied construction management in Anchorage but came home to work in Kotzebue and never looked back. In 2001, he assumed most of the office functions for the company. In 2006, Drake bought out his dad’s business. There was no transition. His dad wrote out how much he thought the company was worth and handed the paper to Drake. Then he said, “Your mom and I are getting on a plane to Arizona next week. Take it or leave it.” Drake accepted the deal and admits some trepidation, but for naught. He had a construction education that no amount of money could buy, a solid crew to work with and his dad’s example to guide him. He has grown the company since. Where his dad used one barge and tugboat, Drake’s now running four barges and three tugboats and supplying gravel not only to his own jobs but to other contractors all over western Alaska. And he’s continued to build on his dad’s

exemplary crew by adding more like-minded, can-do individuals. If there is anything Drake does differently than his father it is taking on more risk. “I bought a few pieces of equipment when I was pretty sure, but not entirely sure, we had the work,” he says. “Up here you have to have the machinery almost a season before the work begins. Otherwise, by the time you buy it, get it on the barge and get it to the site, you might miss the job.” But Drake’s appetite for risk was well timed. North Slope oil made all Alaskans and the state government richer, and the federal government in recent years has seen the need to better fund infrastructure projects

for the Native populations and their villages throughout the state.

Today’s challenges Even with all that Drake has going for him, no construction enterprise is a one-man band, and he has put a great deal of thought and effort into finding and keeping the best possible crews. “Most of the folks we hire are known by somebody who either knows us, works for us or who has worked for us,” says Drake. “I don’t get a recommendation from my core guys unless they know it’s going to work.” Attitude is number one on Drake’s list of qualifications. “I’ll Daniel Paajanen and Drake, next to Drake’s largest and most recent barge acquisition.

EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 13

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contractor of the year winner | continued

How do you get a barge onshore for the winter? You hook it up to a big Cat and tow it over the top of these giant airbags.

Mike Cain, vice president of operations, mans a rover on a jobsite for Drake Construction, which has used GPS and rovers since 2005.

take a super-good attitude and a willingness to learn versus a guy who has been around for 30 years, knows his craft but is otherwise a jerk,” he says. For younger guys just coming into the trades, Drake likes to see curiosity and a desire to learn. “For us, a great way to get your foot in the door is to get your flaggers card or get your CDL,” he says. “If I know you’re trying to do all you can to be useful, that’s a huge help.” When the weather warms in April and May, Drake’s employee roster swells from a handful to 50 or more, including three mechanics and two mechanic’s helpers. The company is on its own when a machine breaks down. There’s nobody to call for service. Getting Tier 4 equipment and diesel exhaust fluid to work in Alaskan temperatures requires mechanics with skills and problem-solving abilities far in excess of what other contractors need. These situations also require people with multiple skills and the ability to think on their feet. Yet not all of those who come to work at Drake Construction bring a heavy equipment or operator background. “My three top guys were in construction and around heavy

civil, but not immersed in it,” says Drake. “Jon Gregg was a carpenter when he came on board. Mike Cain was an electrician and welder. Daniel Paajanen was an engineer. But all three of them were sharp and had solid attitudes and a lot of curiosity. They picked it up very fast and really well.” “None of my core guys have a problem saying, ‘How do you do this’ or ‘I’m not sure about this, could you show me again,’” he adds. “I want guys with opinions and guys who will think, but guys who will ask questions, too.”

The barge business Using his barges and tugboats, Drake will often put machines and material in place in the fall so crews can start to work the following spring before the ice thaws on the river or the Chukchi Sea. The cost to ship an excavator or wheel loader from Anchorage to Kotzebue is $1 a pound, which is another reason Drake uses his own barges. The rivers in western Alaska run hundreds of miles inland, but most are shallow. Drake’s standard barges and tugboats run about 5 feet of draft. But when considering a job in an area with even shallower water, Drake and his crew figured out a way to modify a small tugboat EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 15

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contractor of the year winner | continued

New equipment delivered on a small barge. The sponsons on either side of the tugboat hull increase buoyancy, enabling the tug to maneuver in waters barely waist deep.

commonly used in Louisiana. The solution was to fabricate sponsons to put on both sides of the hull. (Sponsons are torpedo shaped flotation devices), doubling the displacement. The end result was a tugboat that could push a barge through waist-deep water. “It can be out of the water, disassembled and on a trailer in 45 minutes,” Drake says. “We did that a couple years ago and have been using the heck out of it ever since.”

The promise and peril of technology Drake Construction got its first GPS rover in 2005 and second rover shortly after that, says Paajanen, the company’s technology lead. “We kept talking about machine control,

but it was such a huge cost, we had to wait for a job to justify it.” That first grade-control job was a harbor dredging in 2012. “It didn’t have the tight tolerances of a runway or a paved road, but there wasn’t a straight line on it. Everything was contoured, so trying to do that with stakes would have been a nightmare,” says Paajanen. Since then the GPS has proved its value on numerous runways and DOT projects and has saved the company countless hours, made all the more valuable by the compressed construction season in Alaska, says Paajanen. That’s not to say they haven’t had problems. Several of the units they’ve bought proved unreliable, and when you’re

From left, Toby Drake; Cecil Taylor, health and safety officer; Eric Olsen, operator; John Healey, crushing superintendent; Mike Florer, mechanic.

almost 600 miles from the nearest dealer, that causes more than a little consternation. Some of the problems may have been due to the cold and battery issues, but Paajanen thinks sometimes they just got a lemon. Still, technology plays a huge role in the company’s ability to work a short season. It recently bought a drone (at Best Buy, no less) and use it to photograph and map sites. And where cellular or internet connections are not available, it leases satellite dishes and equipment to create its own local area network.

A dozen emergencies a day The harbor dredge job is a good example of the kinds of challenges that get Drake’s crews fired up. Timing was critical because the harbor had to be blocked off and drained with dewatering pumps just as the ground was starting to freeze, but not so late that everything turned to solid ice. “You had to rip that frozen layer off and truck it out, but once you opened it up, it would freeze back twice as deep as before,” says Gregg. “It was a fine line. If you got too far down, you would get into this mucky, loam-type of material that you couldn’t handle, and then it would turn to glacier the next day. Trying to keep the pumps running in all that was pretty entertaining.” The job Gregg found most challenging, however, was the construction of a series of lift station improveEquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 17

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contractor of the year winner | continued ments in Kotzebue, 20 to 30 feet below grade. “What we did no one had done in rural Alaska before,” says Gregg. “We bought the forms and built our own precast wet wells with all the penetrations for the piping coming in and out and the ladders and hangers. It was fun to use all of our assets, from pushing sheet pile perimeter to constructing the building over the top, and installing the pumps, all the tie-ins and all the pipework and connections back to the existing system. We did every single bit of that work ourselves, and it was a good example of how multidisciplined Toby’s crew is.” That’s also one of the reasons why so many talented people are attracted to Drake Construction. “When you’re figuring stuff out on the fly, you get the feeling that you’re coming up with ideas instead of just being handed a manual,” says Gregg. “You may face a dozen emergencies a day, but it’s still a big draw, being able to be creative.”

Nature’s challenge Drake Construction doesn’t have western Alaska all to itself. There’s even a competitor in Kotzebue. But what’s interesting about this business climate

is that even competitors sometimes cooperate. The ever-present threat of the cold makes allies of all. If a competitor needs a part and calls you, there’s no question, you help them out. The next time it could be you needing the favor. Competition is good, but survival is paramount. The weather also tends to have a leveling effect on egos as well. Cursing the darkness – or the job or the equipment or the crew – will earn you a one-way ticket out of Kotzebue, as one hapless employee found out. Nobody benefits from an outburst when everybody is working as hard as they can in difficult circumstances. There’s an expectation of decency put on all who work here if they want to survive in Alaska. Even with all their problems with technology and Tier 4 engines, the attitude is: keep your cool, improvise, adapt and overcome. Some of this Drake learned from his father, who he says never seemed to get rattled. But part of it is also comes from Alaska’s Native American culture, which values collaboration and cooperation. When the usual construction dust and grit builds up in the office and

From left, Byron Nelson, operator; Reed Henry, laborer; Evelyn Monroe, traffic control; Henry Booth, operator; Wayne Drake; Arvid “Junie” Nelson, foreman; Daniel Paajanen, engineer; Aubrey “Tex” Beasley, laborer; and Tim Kurka, foreman.

shop in Kotzebue, Drake writes all the needed housekeeping chores on individual slips of paper, puts them in a bucket and passes the bucket around during the weekly safety meeting. Mike Cain, vice president of operations, came up with the idea, which has worked well, Drake says. After the safety talk, they spend the rest of the hour doing whatever it says to do on their slip of paper. “If I draw the paper that says clean the bathrooms, I clean the bathrooms,” says Drake. It’s a good way to keep egos in check, and it reminds the crews that everybody needs to wear a different hat now and then.

COVID-19 concerns Alaska has state guidelines on what you can and can’t do regarding the coronavirus. The state DOT put out its own guidelines, and many of the small towns and Native villages have their own protocols. Drake Construction, with its rigorous planning, is on top of it all. Lodging and meals are being arranged so that, where necessary, crews (some of whom are just now coming back from the lower 48) don’t have to break social distancing protocols with local people. Sanitation processes at the office, the shop and on the equipment are already in place. But as a Native American with roots in the Athabaskan tribe and his wife, Amber, who is also a Native American, Drake is all too aware of the importance of the coronavirus restrictions. The health and well-being of the people and especially the elders in many of the Native villages is of paramount concern. “We’ve already agreed to delay one project 30 days just to see what happens,” he says. “And we’ve been keeping in close contact with all our ongoing projects.” The virus it turns out, is one risk Drake is unwilling to take, because as he says: “Every life is more important to us than any construction project.” EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 19

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CONSTRUCTION’S RESET

How you approach your people and projects will be vastly different going forward

Jobsite social distancing requirements will directly impact productivity and costs.

his is not the time to dust off your 2009 playbook. This recession has elements never before encountered. The differences are many: You’ve not seen widespread worker concern over viral contamination from others on the job. You’ve never had to consider the impact of anti-viral PPE and protocols on productivity. And never before have you had construction come full stop in half a month, as it did in several areas.

By Marcia Doyle

Contractors, used to a full-speedahead mindset, might think “problem over” as states open up. Not so fast. As the initial stage of the pandemic seems to be over, “we are telling our clients that it’s now time to pick up their head and start looking over the horizon and gather sound data and information,” says Brian Moore, principal with construction consultant FMI. “Don’t rest on your laurels and think that just because you have a

great backlog today with a good margin in it that you’re going to be OK,” Moore says. “Don’t expect that that is going to be all it takes.”

Crew realities “Contractors need to realize that they are going from business management to emergency management,” says Bo Mitchell, president of 911 Consulting in Wilton, Connecticut. “There needs to be a recognition by the employer that we’re in a dangerous situation, and there needs to be EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 21

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The Associated General Contractors held a coronavirus stand down in April, communicating new jobsite safety protocols.

a plan for addressing it. It’s a public health issue as well as a construction site issue.” How jobs are performed has changed significantly. Workers who could freely enter a jobsite before are now being required to undergo temperature scans, don face masks and stay 6 feet away from others in an environment where people from several trades and companies can be present. All of this is bound to work on people’s psyches. “The stress and trauma on people who are coming back to jobs is big,” Mitchell says. “They may not

want to work with a bunch of other guys, pick up something and bring it home to their family. I don’t think employers have thought this through.” Emergency management involves a different model, way of thinking and leading than contractors have had to enact before, Mitchell says. “We’re not introducing a police state to our jobsite, but you need to be out there much more carefully supervising everyone because it’s now doubly dangerous work.” Your safety manager has to be aware of a new set of guidelines

that will likely evolve. There are a lot of guidelines floating around, including ones from OSHA, individual states, unions and consultants like Mitchell. A slew of questions need to be asked: Who is responsible for on-site employee testing, managing cleaning procedures, making sure anti-viral safety protocols are being followed? How are you making sure protocol updates are being incorporated into your safety plan? Although all safety plans need to be coordinated among all contractors on a job, developing and following COVID-19 protocols can EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 23

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be especially problematic because you’re dealing with human-tohuman contact. “Some people get tired of the rules about social distancing and face masks,” Mitchell says. “Leadership needs to make sure this gets done safely.” Enforcement matters. “There’s an importance for leaders to be leaders in their business,” Moore says. “These are very uncertain times for employees. In times like this when you have great uncertainty in the marketplace, you

“

$10,000 to $15,000 a month for added safety measures, including disinfectant, gloves, hand sanitizer and face masks. His company has put in foot-operated, hot-water hand-washing stations outside the portable toilets on some sites. “Each site dictates a different protocol,” he says. And each operator is given a can of Lysol to spray machines down. MacKay tells them, “I don’t care if you’re the only one running it, just don’t take a chance. There’s no

If you are just leaning on your old information, you’re going to potentially be at a significant disadvantage.

”

– Brian Moore, principal with construction consultant FMI

have to be empathetic with that. Pay attention to your need to communicate, to make sure they know what’s happening.”

The hit on productivity and costs Jobsite standards just released jointly by the Center for Construction Research and Training and the North America’s Building Trades Unions call for no-touch temperature screening methods, cleaning and disinfecting protocols, providing soap and running water for handwashing and hand sanitizers, among other items. All of these are now part of the cost of doing business. They also mean that construction can’t proceed at the same pace as before. “My clients are telling me it will likely reduce their productivity by 25 percent,” says Joe Natarelli, construction leader for accounting firm Marcum LLP. Moore says FMI clients are still unsure as to exactly how much productivity will be lost, but “they know that it will be a lot.” James MacKay, owner of MacKay Construction in Wilmington, Massachusetts, estimates he’s spending

need of it, and you could lose two weeks at a minimum.” These protocols won’t go away anytime soon, MacKay contends. “I think this is going to be the way of life for about a year.” He anticipates as much as a 20 percent decrease in production as crews are forced to wear face masks in the summer heat. Instead of trades working side by side, they may be required to work in shifts. “I have one client that has a flag system,” Natarelli says. “When it’s red, no new trades can come onto the site. When it’s yellow, one trade is in the process of moving out, and when it’s green, a new trade can come in.” “If you’re bidding and getting work today with your productivity rates and cost history of six months ago, you might be a little nervous about what your profitability is going to be,” Moore says. “As you think about the work you’re bidding three months from now, if you haven’t incorporated these new productivity measurements into your cost history, it’s going to impact your profitability.” Moore points out that contrac-

tors could push productivity in the Great Recession by better planning, working harder and better focusing teams. “But today you can’t do that. You can’t push harder. There’s such a great unknown as to what the productivity impact is going to be.” If you’re not fully thinking through lean construction practices and productivity in your organization, you’re likely going to be at a disadvantage to the companies that are, Moore says. “You’ve really got to be certain that you have the systems in place to think through that plan for that. Your field managers need to be planning for that productivity challenge, and that feedback needs to quickly get back to your estimating team. If you are just leaning on your old information, you’re going to potentially be at a significant disadvantage.”

Business as unusual “Working capital is one of the most important things for a contractor,” Natarelli says. “I don’t think owners are going to be receptive to contractors who don’t have these issues dealt with on the jobs going forward. Position yourself and your balance sheet to make sure you can capitalize on working in the new normal going forward, which is going to be different. Just thinking you can hit the switch and do what you did before is not going to work.” The Great Pandemic is a prime example of why contractors should be prepared on their balance sheet. “Fortunately, a lot of companies came into this shock with a reasonably healthy balance sheet or backlog and had business enterprise systems in place and seem to be in a good position to weather this,” Moore says. Another tactic, especially if the pandemic sees a resurgence this fall, is to begin forming relationships with backup suppliers. “Make sure you have two or EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 25

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Contractors, now forewarned, should build out their coronavirus scenario plans. three backup material vendors and they’re not all from one area of the globe,” Natarelli says. “The lowest price isn’t always the best price in this world because it depends on delivery and whether someone can execute.” Nurture those backup vendors with an occasional order that you would have naturally given to your No. 1 supplier. “It’s a different way of doing business and it’s a way of managing risk,” Natarelli says. Owners should also know that if a backup vendor comes in with higher prices, it’s part of your risk mitigation plan, he says. “That way, if there’s another pandemic, you will have materials to finish your job.” Construction contracts will need to allow for delays caused by pandemics so that all of the costs of the

delay are not on the shoulders of contractors, Natarelli says. “I think the industry is responding quite well and really making sure in future contracts that this is in there, but they are still going to have to live with present contract language,” Natarelli says. And on multi-year contracts, that could mean another two to three years if no contract adjustments are made. And let your owners, banks and vendors know what you’re doing to maintain solvency, Natarelli says. “We’ve had some owners asking contractors for cash flows, and I think a lot more owners will now be asking for surety bonds,” he says.

Pricing’s downward trend “One thing we learned from the last

recession is that price wins,” Moore says. Owners know that contractors will have to get smart at being competitive from a price standpoint. Know your costs, drive every bit of excess you can out of labor, equipment and material costs, Moore says. Manage your profitability expectations. Also realize there are markets that will be something other than price driven, Moore says. “Really wise contractors are working hard to shore up relationships and to build presence in those markets.” In private work, these owners are particular about which contractors work for them, Moore says. For these clients, your experience matters. “They like contractors they know because they understand how they EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 27

do business,” Moore says. “Although it would have been nice to do six months ago, it doesn’t mean you can’t pursue that kind of work now.”

Plan in place Even though it’s likely that once the pandemic trails off people will return to former ways, companies will need to start considering this sort of scenario in their long-range planning, Moore says. “This was something that very few people had actually planned for. We can now understand what’s possible and what’s probable and plan for that today.” “No one knew what to do, so they shut construction projects down,” Natarelli says of the early days of the pandemic. “Now if there’s a plan, for example, to reduce the labor down to 25 percent, I think authorities would be much more open to keeping construction going.” “Contractors should build out the mechanism for scenario planning,” Moore says. “Put people in a (virtual) room to think about strategic possibilities and strategic options and plan for those.” “The best way for contractors to position themselves going forward is to learn to react to the new normal,” Natarelli says. “This is not going away right away. Learn how to operate in a new employee safety and health environment, material delays, how to mitigate force majeure clauses in contracts going forward.”

Opportunities in the new normal One fact remains from previous recessions: good people get laid off. If they don’t leave construction, they become available to other contractors, or form their own firms. “Hundreds if not thousands of people who were laid off before started new companies and started doing things in new ways,” says Frank Stasiowski, founder and CEO of consulting firm PSMJ Resources. “My advice

to contractors is to take a look over your shoulder because there’s going to be a whole new wave of competitors who embrace things in a way we haven’t figured out yet.” “The opportunity now exists to recruit talent in a way that hasn’t existed for years,” adds Anirban Basu, chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors. “There’s an opportunity for contractors that make it through this period to upgrade their skills quotient.”

“

“I think you’re going to see the move to downtowns slow down, if not reverse,” Stasiowski says. The reason: more people will be working at home and want more space and will therefore find suburbs attractive again. “Now is the time to recommend bold new approaches to design moving forward,” Stasiowski adds. He says we may see more “residential malls” that have restaurants and social activities as opposed to retail. “That means

The opportunity now exists to recruit talent in a way that hasn’t existed for years...

”

– Anirban Basu, chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors

The pandemic has exposed many companies’ technological weaknesses. Make sure your technology capabilities can handle demands going forward. “We see this kickstarting the transition to technology.” Moore says. “Things that we were forced to do digitally will stick because it boosted productivity.” Communicate with your clients how you are working with your owners, subs and vendors on COVID-19 safety management, Stasiowski says. Learn from one job and relay those lessons to other clients. This type of communication increases client confidence that you’ve considered the risks and encourages them to continue to do projects with you, he says.

There is a future “The good news is that the demographic demand for construction has not gone away,” Stasiowski says. A growing population still requires housing construction, he says, although where the housing is built may shift.

major changes in the way that things are going to be designed, which also means a lot of construction. Mall properties are not going to be boarded up. Owners will want to modify them to whatever we go to next.” The pandemic will force societal structural changes in ways the last recession did not, he adds. “Now we’re going through a completely different approach by hundreds of thousands of companies who are embracing technology and doing things differently. Our society is going to be different in the way we work and educate our kids. Our construction businesses need to respond to it.” Stasiowski continues: “Design construction will be led by the millennials who know how to use technology and couple it with what we’ve done for 100 years. I don’t think it will ever go back to the way it was. What we have now moving forward is a new way of operations in America and the world.” EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 29

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WHAT NOW?

How industry leaders see the recovery ahead

t may take at least 18 months for contractors to see a complete reconstruction of what was to be in 2020, but there is some good news, says Anirban Basu, chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors. “It will be the shortest recession in history,” he declares. “By the third and fourth quarters there will be quite an impressive bounce back in economic activity, although complete recovery will elude us for years.” This, of course, is based on the virus not reappearing in the fall and the

By Marcia Doyle

development of effective therapies. In the meantime, it’s tempting for contractors to think this is familiar territory. But there are many nuances to grapple with before the industry finds a way out of the rubble.

Private owner jitters “I think one thing that’s common with the Great Recession is jittery owners,” says Joe Natarelli, national construction leader with accounting firm Marcum. These jitters are pushing pause on projects that would have been in full construction this spring. “We are

seeing an increasing percentage of projects being canceled that haven’t even started,” says Ken Simonson, Associated General Contractors of America chief economist. It didn’t help when the Architecture Billings Index experienced the largest drop in its 25-year history in March, falling 20.1 points to a score of 33.3. And in April, the ABI dropped to 29.5. This American Institute of Architects number charts shifts in billing from architectural firms and is used as a nine- to 12-month leading indicator for building construction. “All of these are pretty negative EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 31

 



signals for what’s coming down the pike for contractors,” Simonson says. “If it isn’t being designed, if owners aren’t paying for architects to be on the job, they’re not going to soon hire contractors.” “Right now, we’re eating up backlog. A lot of projects just went into the ground and they need to be built, and the funding is approved. I don’t see lending institutions pulling funding,” says Frank Stasiowski, founder and CEO of consulting firm PSMJ Resources, which surveys architectural and engineering leaders on upcoming design proposals. This will lead to a busy summer, he says, but that backlog will not be replaced later in the year or going into 2021. Richard Branch, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics, sees a 13 percent drop in both resi-

dential and nonresidential starts in 2020. Construction starts will then increase in 2021, with residential seeing a 3 percent rise and nonresidential going up 5 percent. “We’re watching the value and number of projects entering the early stages of planning in our network as measured by the Dodge Momentum Index,” Branch says.

As reported in May, the index moved 6 percent lower in April to 135.9 from the revised March reading of 144.5. Since the index is a rolling threemonth average, at press time Dodge said it expects an even weaker reading when the May data is released in June. “Even though parts of the country are beginning to reopen, and some areas that had paused construction are now restarting, it will be a very long road back to normalcy for the construction industry,” Branch said in comments made when Dodge released its April construction starts data. “Continued fear of a resurgence in the virus will lead to a continued reduction in economic activity over the coming months, affecting construction projects across the country. The economic and construction recoveries will remain sluggish

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100% 80% 60% 40% 20%

30% 13%

13%

34% 21%

21%

39%

28%

32%

0% -20% -40% -60%

-33% Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

until a vaccine or viable treatment becomes available.” Basu is keeping a close eye on post-pandemic business closures. “How many enterprises fail to emerge post crisis will tell us how long it’s going to take us to get back to near where we were,” he says. This information is captured in various ways, including office vacancy rates, large-scale bankruptcies and unemployment.

A downturn in three stages As this story was written, the construction industry was nearing the end of what Basu sees as the first of three phases of the downturn. In this phase, contractors in some areas were forced to shut down because they were not considered essential businesses. Other contractors had operations reduced as they complied with COVID-19 safety protocols and slower permitting and inspections. “This serves as the foundation of the broader downturn to come,” he says. During the second phase, project owners will try to renegotiate contract terms as they seek better prices. “Now that the second quarter of 2020 will be the worst quarter of our economic lives, project owners believe that contractors 34 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

are going to be much more eager to secure work going forward,” Basu says. “And force majeure clauses [in contracts] now permit owners to postpone or even cancel projects without paying normal contractual penalties because they can point to the pandemic as the cause of their action.” “We’re just starting to see a lot of litigation over the force majeure clause and what is the contractor’s responsibility and what is the owner’s,” adds Natarelli. In the third phase, Basu envisions empty storefronts and vacant office suites, which will suppress demand for new construction going forward. “It doesn’t mean construction goes away, but that demand for new construction is less than it would have been pre-crisis,” he says “It’s pretty clear that this dynamic will be unleashed in the private sector, which will take a long time to fully heal.”

A wildcard public sector The public sector remains a wild card dependent on a federal rescue, Basu says. “Public sector finances have been smashed during the crisis. All types of tax revenues have been diminished, creating large financial gaps in state and local

governments, which have to balance their budget every year.” “I’m looking closely at state and local revenue sources,” says Simonson. “States are reporting pretty drastic drops in gas tax receipts. We were seeing a big jump in highway bid lettings and highway construction work, but soon this drop in fuel tax revenues is going to cause many states to start reducing the number of projects they put out to bid. Local governments are going to be scrambling to cut budgets, and it’s always easier to cut something that hasn’t started, like a construction project.” Another transportation concern is the drop in toll revenues as people have been urged to stay home, and the severe decline in airline passenger traffic. Airports are asking the question of how soon traffic will come back. They depend on landing fees, airline gate rentals, parking fees and consumer spending in terminal shops, Simonson notes. “All of those revenues are down so sharply that I think many of the projects that hadn’t yet started are going to be on hold for a long time,” he says. That several public works projects are continuing does not mean that contractors who do public work

38%

28%

39%

39% 19%

11%

17%

-41%

Year End Year End 2017 2018

2019 Qtr. 1

2019 Qtr. 2

are home free, Simonson says. This will be especially true if a federal infrastructure spending bill does not happen. All eyes are on Washington. “My hope is that the federal government will come through in a big way by supporting state and local governments and having a significant investment in infrastructure,” Basu says. One tax revenue may escape unscathed: property taxes, which finance schools. Simonson sees school construction as an exception to the state and local construction downturn. Telecommunications construction, although a small segment, will also grow, as the need for high-speed internet has been underscored throughout the pandemic.

Moving slowly forward Comparison is inevitable between the Great Pandemic and the Great Recession. But, Branch says, “the depth of this crisis has made this event unlike anything seen before.” The Great Recession was more gradual. “Thankfully, in this past cycle there has not been the same level of overbuilding in the building sectors that we saw then, indicating that as long as projects

2019 Qtr. 3

2019 Qtr. 4

2020 Qtr. 1

2020 Qtr. 2

continue to enter planning on their current pace, construction could start to see recovery in the third and fourth quarters,” Branch says. As the nation makes its way into the new normal, fundamental questions will be asked. Do we still need huge arenas, dorm rooms and classrooms? Should a restaurant open in a new location? “In category after category, there are going to be these calculations about both financial wherewithal and the need for a facility,” Simonson says. These questions could put a hold on new projects. The shift to online buying is also now in overdrive. “I think construction is in for a slower recovery than many industries,” Simonson says. “Owners are going to find that they have much less money available for construction and much more need to spend money on other things.”

More lost labor But what’s especially worrisome is the loss of even more workers. “Ever since the end of the last recession, we’ve seen the construction industry struggling to fill positions,” Simonson says. During the last recession, construction unem-

Since 2003, PSMJ Resources has asked leaders of architectural, engineering and construction firms to assess the strength of their markets, which is converted into a Net Plus/Net Minus Index (NPMI ). The NPMI value is calculated by subtracting the number of respondents who responded negatively (e.g. proposal activity is decreasing) from the number who responded positively (e.g. proposal activity is increasing). If the same number responded positively and negatively, the NPMI value would be 0. April’s index number was -41 percent.

ployment peaked at 27 percent. Basu adds: “We might see a migration of some of the industry’s best workers. An even larger-scale issue is who will remain available to the U.S. construction industry.”

End of 2021 It will probably take until the end of 2021 before the pain starts to ease for construction, minus a few bright spots, say many of our experts. One bright spot, in addition to possible federal infrastructure spending, could be residential construction. “I’m hopeful that all of those would-be home buyers who were starting to look at housing, that they’ll start to feel comfortable again,” Simonson says. “I think we will still have a pretty robust single-family housing market, which may lead to the possibility of a faster construction recovery.” And we haven’t even mentioned the presidential election, which adds even more ambiguity. “This means the politics and policymaking of 2021 will be uncertain until after the election,” Basu says. “But from an economic perspective, 2020 has been lost to us.” EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 35

machine matters

| by Richard Ries

Wacker Neuson uses its All Access design theme on its skid steers, including the SW32 (shown). Features include improved service access with a cab that can be tilted forward even with the loader arms down and a wide rear door that provides easy access to daily check and PM points. The large entrance door and convenient step enhance access to the cab where a full-feature safety belt replaces the restrictive lap bar.

SKID STEE S

kid steers are earning new respect on the jobsite, thanks to technology. “It wasn’t that many years ago, skid steers had open cabs and mechanical levers,” says Kevin Coleman, Cat product specialist for skid steers. “They were utility machines. The idea of an enclosed cab with heat and air conditioning and electro-hydraulic joysticks would have seemed laughable. Now those are standard features. Today’s technology is the next step in that evolution.” Cat’s big technology advance centers around its SMART technol-

36 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

The S76 is the first skid steer to launch in Bobcat’s new R-Series line. Optional clear-side enclosure and mesh-free windows improve visibility to the sides of the machine. LED lights are standard; optional premium LED lights wrap around the cab’s upper corners to illuminate more of the jobsite. An inline engine and direct-drive system provide high performance in a compact package.

ERS GO HIGH TECH ogy, which enables the skid steer to recognize the attachment and automatically match the performance of the two pieces. The monitor will display information speciﬁc to the attachment. Default operation of the joysticks will switch from controlling the skid steer to controlling the attachment. All D3 skid steers are equipped with SMART technology. The ﬁrst two SMART tools, a sixway dozer blade and a backhoe attachment, arrived in April, and the third, a grader blade, arrived in June. Are others coming? “We look at attachments on a piece-by-piece basis,” says Tharen Peterson, Cat

product application specialist for attachments. “Attachments are costsensitive, so the question is, does the inclusion of SMART technology bring sufﬁcient additional value to this attachment to warrant the higher initial investment?” Coleman points out the versatility of SMART technology. “It’s not a single package or a factory order. All D3 skid steers will work with all SMART attachments.” He also notes that no alterations were made in the basic design of the skid steer to enable SMART technology. “No changes were required for the hydraulics or engines. It’s all done

with technology and software.” New technologies deliver a torrent of operational data. Accessing and using that information can be daunting due to the sheer volume provided. Bobcat Machine IQ, available on R-Series compact loaders, helps with information management. Sensors throughout the machine provide detailed information wirelessly via the Bobcat Owner Portal, a personalized website for owners and operators. The information is also sent to the dealer. Tyler Zima, Bobcat loader product specialist, says this more efﬁcient handling of

EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 37

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information increases uptime and improves service efficiency if a field service technician is required to correct an issue.

Chicken or egg? Both. Which came first, the more capable machines or the more demanding attachments? This was not serial development, with one preceding the other. Attachments and skid steers grew up together. Part of the new appreciation for skid steers comes with their utilization rate, and one way to boost utilization is to enable more applications. “New opportunities are made with new technology, larger machines and additional attachments,” says Ryan Anderson, New Holland skid steer marketing manager. “Mulching is big. Snow removal has really taken off and provides revenue during a large part of the year for many landscapers who would otherwise be left idle. Site prep and land clearing are growing applications for skid steers.” Skid steers don’t have to be configured for high-demand attachments, but often are. “High-flow auxiliary circuits are a value-added upgrade that many customers choose and make their machines suitable for more than just grading and digging,” says Lee Padgett, product manager at Takeuchi-US.

| continued

The L328 exemplifies the new 300 Series line from New Holland. Among the key features are the Super Boom vertical lift with a 129.5-inch hinge pin height and a see-though panel on the top of the cab to provide a clear view of the bucket, even at full lift. It is one of four 300 Series models to come standard with a dual-range transmission with travel speeds in excess of 11 mph. The 3.4-liter engine is rated at 68 SAE net horsepower.

Available with either radial or vertical lift, the Takeuchi TS80 is a largeframe skid steer powered by a Deutz Turbo engine rated at 74 horsepower and 192 foot-pounds of torque. ROC with a dirt bucket is 2,360 pounds for the radial-lift model and 3,005 pounds for the vertical lift. A two-speed drive is optional on either machine. Tire options include solid, high-flotation and foam-filled. Over-the-tire tracks are also available. EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 39

machine matters

| continued

The large-frame RS-75 radial-lift and VS-75 verticallift skid steers from ASV feature ground clearance of 10.5 inches, which ASV says is more than 2 inches higher than other machines in their class. An optional two-speed drive yields a top travel speed of 11 mph. The naturally aspirated 2.9-liter engine is rated at 74 horsepower and 192 foot-pounds of torque.

The radial-lift TS80R2 and vertical-lift TS80V2 models can provide up to 31 gallons per minute. “The initial investment is a bit more,” says Padgett, “but the return on investment offered by high-flow auxiliaries soon outweighs that higher startup cost.” And even with the higher front-end cost, high-performance skid steers are economical first machines for new contractors, with low O&O costs, high productivity potential and good residual value. In their role as prime movers, skid steers often use multiple attachments on the same job or even in the same day, which is why changing attachments easily is the point of BobDock, Bobcat’s attachment mounting system. Zima describes Bob-Dock as “the ultimate time saver,” allowing hydraulic attachments to be changed from the cab. The system automatically connects hydraulic lines, and removing an attachment requires only the press of a switch. Bobcat skid steers can be spec’ed with the company’s new Dual-Direction Bucket Positioning feature that keeps the load at a consistent angle throughout the lift cycle. The feature works in both up and down boom functions to reduce spillage, increase efficiency and improve ease of operation. “Dual-Direction Bucket Positioning is especially valuable during truck loading applications,” says Zima. Recognizing that not all skid steer customers want the full complement of technology, 40 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Cat’s SMART technology allows a D3 skid steer to pair with a SMART attachment automatically. Controls are altered to work with the attachment. With the dozer or grader blade, the right joystick manages blade tilt, angle and lift. Enabling the ASSIST feature aids in creating flat surfaces with the dozer blade or cross-slope profiles with the grader blade. Joystick operation is switched to boom, stick, bucket and swing control with the SMART backhoe attachment.

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machine matters

| continued The 74-horsepower SR210B is one of eight models in the new B-Series line from Case. The 8-inch LCD multifunction display gives access to data and settings. Operators can set overall machine responsiveness to low, moderate or aggressive or can independently set responsiveness for tilt, lift and drive speed. Creep speed can be used while still providing full performance to high-demand attachments. Profiles based on applications or operator preferences can be set, stored and recalled easily.

Gehl continues to offer pilot joystick controls on most of its models. “Electric-over-hydraulic controls do have unique features,” says Brian Rabe, regional training manager of Manitou North America. “But Gehl operators strongly prefer the response and accurate inputs our pilot control system offers.” For those customers who run attachments with separate hydraulic function controls, Gehl offers an integrated attachment control with a 14-pin electrical connector that replaces the standard joystick. The option provides six additional attachment functions that can be customized to suit operator preference. Gehl’s Power-Attach system is optional. As with all such systems, it allows easy attachment exchange from the operator’s seat. It also has a warming feature that recirculates oil in the circuit to keep it at operating temperature. This ensures full attachment performance from the start in cold weather.

A bigger byte Computing power has come a long way from the early days of the CAN bus. Tell a potential customer the new skid steer being considered has telematics, and the response may well be, “Yeah, so what?” It’s like saying, “It comes with a seat.” A minimum level of computing power is as42 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

The vertical-lift Gehl V330 GEN:2 features self-levelling action on lift. The Hydraglide system allows the lift arm to float during travel to minimize loss of material. Standard proportional auxiliary hydraulic design gives infinitely adjustable flow control. The new chassis provides improved weight distribution, while the cab-forward design enhances visibility. An automatic glow module engine intake heating system assists with cold-weather starting.

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machine matters

| continued Lift height on the JCB 3TS-8W Teleskid is 13 feet 3 inches, forward reach is 8 feet, and dig depth is 3 feet. ROC is 3,208 pounds with the Powerboom retracted, and 1,347 pounds with it fully extended. The unique design provides both vertical and radial lift in one machine. Operating weight is 9,859 pounds.

sumed to be part of any modern piece of equipment, and over the years, that expectation level has risen. Manufacturers strive to deliver. The 5.7-inch color monitor on Wacker Neuson skid steers displays vital operating information but also allows customization of the responsiveness of controls, along with the setup of user permissions and job clocks. Diagnostic codes are shown there, and software improvements to diagnostics “are revolutionary compared to five years ago,” says Nathan Ryan, product manager of skid steer and compact track loaders with Wacker Neuson. “Machines now diagnose their own problems, inform the operators of any issues and, if so equipped, even alert the dealer for improved service efficiency.” Real-time diagnostics are just part of what software is doing behind the scenes. “Software has also improved operator and machine safety,” says Ryan, “such as ensuring that all qualifications are complete before 44 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

The vertical-lift Deere 314G is easy to tow thanks to its 6,140-pound operating weight and convenient front and rear tie-downs. The machine itself (without a bucket) is only 63 inches wide, improving access to tight areas. As with all Deere skid steers, low-effort foot pedals are standard. Power comes from a turbocharged Yanmar 2.1-liter engine rated at 35.8 SAE net horsepower.

B O B C A T. C O M / R - S E R I E S L O A D E R

The only thing better than your last Bobcat ® loader is the next Bobcat loader. Because, like you, we never stop improving. R-Series loaders revolutionize performance, quality, comfort and more.

Bobcat is a Doosan company. Doosan is a global leader in construction equipment, power and water solutions, engines, and engineering, proudly serving customers and communities for more than a century. Bobcat ®, the Bobcat logo and the colors of the Bobcat machine are registered trademarks of Bobcat Company in the United States and various other countries. ©2020 Bobcat Company. All rights reserved. | 1419

machine matters allowing the machine to work.” Examples include checking that doors are shut, safety belts are latched, and glow plugs and hydraulic oil are at optimal temperature. The list of tech features on New Holland skid steers includes such popular items as Economy mode and Auto-off. Ignition time-out shuts off power if the engine is shut down but the key is left in the On position. For those who would balk at the cost of advanced technology, Anderson offers three factors to include in the value equation. First, technology supports higher utilization rates by enabling the use of more diverse attachments and encouraging more efficient use of the machine. Second, the level of information now readily available makes it easier to calculate hour-by-hour costs, “which is what successful contractors do.” Third, while the technology itself does not introduce an increase in ongoing costs, the addition of more attachments will do that because of the attendant addition of more hoses, couplings, valves and so on.

Are you comfy? The day of the fully autonomous worksite is surely coming, but as long as we still need humans in the cabs operating the equipment, they may as well be comfortable.

46 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

| continued Many R&D dollars have been spent developing technology to enhance operator comfort. “Technology surrounding operator comfort is a trending area,” says Gregg Zupancic, skid steer product marketing manager at John Deere. “Operators want to be comfortable and confident they can work through any conditions without sacrificing safety.” Zupancic also notes that comfortable operators stay fresh longer, and that can increase productivity. Zupancic cites examples of comfort features on the 314G. Control levers have improved ergonomics. Air conditioning ducts are optimized, and the pressurized cab keeps out debris. An optional rearview camera and easy-to-clean cab glass improve visibility. Small-model cabs also include a new Bluetooth radio option for streaming media. Physical comfort is not all that’s being considered. OEMs want operators to be psychologically and emotionally comfortable, too. “With Case B Series skid steers,

the greatest amount of technological advancement has been on the operator environment and interface,” says Brad Stemper, director of compact construction equipment at Case. The new 8-inch LCD screens provide a wealth of information, Stemper says, and “the access to a deeper and more intuitive set of data at the point of operation gives operators a greater sense of ownership of that machine…and lets them be proactive as it relates to machine health and upkeep.” Buy-in and being proactive are important traits, as well as improving communication within an organization. “The new and more practical way of communicating fault codes and alerts makes it easier for the operator to communicate back to their fleet manager or their dealer service department the nature of a possible fault or downtime event,” says Stemper. The result is more timely and efficient servicing, reduced downtime and better teamwork.

Kubota offers two skid steers, the 64-horsepower SSV65 and 74.3-horsepower SSV75. Both come standard with two-speed drive, allowing travel speeds over 11 mph. Low-effort pilot controls are ergonomic, intuitive and provide consistent, reliable response. A roll-up door and 36-inch width between side screens make it easy to get in and out of the cab. Mounting the 26-gallon fuel tank on the heavy-duty service door improves access to the engine compartment.

A LONG WAY

TOGETHER

EARTHMAX SR 41 No matter how challenging your needs, EARTHMAX SR 41 is your best ally when it comes to operations that require extraordinary traction. Thanks to its All Steel radial structure and the special block pattern, EARTHMAX SR 41 provides excellent resistance against punctures and an extended service life. In addition to long working hours without downtime, the tire ensures extraordinary comfort. EARTHMAX SR 41 is BKTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response to withstand the toughest operating conditions in haulage, loading and dozing applications.

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PARTNER SOLUTIONS | KUBOTA

TRACKS OR TIRES?

HOW TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A COMPACT TRACK LOADER AND SKID STEER

hen it comes to the jobsite, there’s no replacement for a machine that can do your heavy lifting while providing power, performance and versatility in a small package. Visit any construction site and you’ll likely see a skid steer or compact track loader hard at work, making them a ‘must-have’ for contractors. There’s no question about ‘if’ you need one of these pieces of equipment on the jobsite, it’s a matter of choosing the right one.

• Before compact track loaders started showing up on construction sites in the mid-1980s, the skid steer reigned supreme, due to its perfect combination of agility and power. • According to industry sales reports, in 2015 sales of compact track loaders surpassed skid steers for the first time. Both pieces of equipment have their place on jobsites. Before determining which one is right for your project, consideration should be placed on assessing the conditions of the jobsite and the specific tasks you need to accomplish. Here are three key considerations for making the right choice for your application. 1. What are the jobsite surfaces and terrain? Are you working on asphalt, concrete or other hard or

abrasive surfaces? If so, the skid steers’ tires tend to be better suited for these surfaces. On the other hand, compact track loaders excel on soft soils like mud, sand or clay. A compact track loader also has the advantage when working in inclement weather. 2. Are speed and ground disturbance a consideration? Are you working on a big construction site where speed is an advantage? Or do you require a tight turning radius? If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, then a skid steer has the upper hand. However, if you’re working on a surface where you need to minimize ground disturbance, such as on turf, the compact track loader is the better choice. 3. What is your budget and ability to maintain the equipment? Skid steers are typically more affordable and easier to maintain than compact track loaders. According to Tim Boulds, construction product operations manager for Kubota Tractor Corporation, it is less expensive to replace the tires on a Kubota skid steer than it is to replace the rubber tracks on the track loader. However, if properly used and maintained, the tracks on a track loader will last longer than the tires on the skid steer.

Kubota’s SVL Series

Kubota’s SVL Series’ outstanding power and exceptional comfort take high performance and productivity to a new level. • Unique Vertical Lift Design: Kubota’s unique vertical lift design delivers an exceptionally long reach of 34.9 inches (SVL65-2), 41.7 inches (SVL75-2) and 40.7 inches (SVL95-2s). The tip of the arm is optimally shaped to provide an exceptionally high hingepin height of 118.5 inches (SVL65-2), 119.1 inches (SVL75-2) and 128.5 inches (SVL95-2s). • Travel Performance: The SVL Series offers superior travel performance with standard two-speed travel. Shift from low gear at 4.9 mph (SVL65-2)/4.7 mph (SVL75-2)/5.0 mph (SVL95-2s) to high gear at 7.1 mph (SVL65-2)/7.1 mph (SVL75-2)/7.3 mph (SVL952s) to get the job done faster.

Together We Do More

Kubota original rubber tracks and Wavy-H track pattern: Kubota’s original rubber tracks offer outstanding durability and long-life performance and Kubota’s original lug pattern prevents soil from accumulating and improves traction force on the SVL65-2 and SVL75-2. The SVL95-2s has a unique Wavy-H track tread that provides greater grip and a stronger traction force, as well as a higher resistance to wear. High Ground Clearance: Travel over large obstacles with ease, thanks to the high ground clearance of 9.2 inches (SVL65-2), 11.7 inches (SVL75-2) and 11.5 inches (SVL95-2s). Comfortable Interior: With 360 degrees of visibility, the edge of the bucket can be seen from the seat. Improved visibility means greater safety on the job. A wider cab entrance makes it easier to get in and out, plus a large and comfortable operator station with plenty of legroom minimizes fatigue even during long working hours.

Kubota’s SSV Series

Outstanding performance, exceptional comfort, easy maintenance and excellent durability make Kubota’s SSV Series the clear choice for the job. Unique Vertical Lift Design: Kubota’s unique vertical lift design delivers an exceptionally long reach of 32.7 inches (SSV65) or 36.9 inches (SSV75). The tip of the arm is optimally shaped to provide an exceptionally high hinge-pin height of 121.5 inches (SSV65) or 128.3 inches (SSV75) for easier dumping into trucks and other lifting and dumping tasks. Travel Performance: The SSV Series offers superior travel performance with standard twospeed travel. Shift from low gear at 6.9 mph (SSV65)/7.4 mph (SSV75) to high gear at 11.1 mph (SSV65)/11.8 mph (SSV75) to get the job done faster. Heavy-Duty Tires: The crack resistant heavy-duty tires feature a long-waring tread pattern for superior grip and stability. The sidewalls are wider than the wheel to prevent stones and dirt from becoming wedged between them. High Ground Clearance: Travel over large obstacles with ease, thanks to the high ground clearance of 7.6 inches (SSV65) or 8.1 inches (SSV75). Comfortable Interior: With 360 degrees of visibility, the edge of the bucket can be seen from the seat. Improved visibility means greater safety on the job. Wide and supportive, the SSV Series’ suspension seat will keep you working comfortably for hours. For more information, visit KubotaUSA.com

ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020 Part 2

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CONEXPO-CO Part 2

Takeuchi TB220e

Takeuchi’s TB220e electric excavator will come with fast-charge pack The 4,277-pound TB220e is completely designed and built by Takeuchi and scheduled for a full product launch this fall. “This is a fully electric machine with a lithium-ion battery,” says Lee Padgett, Takeuchi product manager. “This machine will run for about eight hours or a full day, depending on how it’s used.” The TB220e will have two charging options. The ﬁrst is a 480-volt, three-phase charging pack that comes with the machine and acts as a rapid charger, charging the excavator in about four hours. It also has a 220-volt onboard charger for overnight charging. 50 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

The charging options give users more jobsite versatility, as well as address customers’ concerns about getting a full-day’s run time. The battery will last for 3,000 charges, Padgett adds, “so it probably will outlast the machine.” The TB220e is based on Takeuchi’s TB216 model. “This machine will excel in applications such as schools, hospitals, anywhere they don’t want to hear the machine running,” Padgett says. “It’s also much cleaner to operate.” Takeuchi says there is no power loss between a diesel-powered excavator and the TB220e. “It’s the same, perhaps even better at times, because there’s no torque curve as there is with diesel,” he says. “It’s 100 percent torque from the get-go.” –Marcia Doyle

ON/AGG 2020 Cat 395

There’s way more

To get the real skinny on what’s new, go to equipmentworld.com, where we’re providing much more detail on what caught our attention at ConExpo.

like the 6015B. This circuit allows the excavator to regenerate swing brake energy and independently manage cylinder oil ﬂow. This results in smoother, more predictable performance and higher fuel efﬁciency. –Wayne Grayson John Deere 700L

Cat 395 excavator: a bigger, stronger, faster 390F replacement The new Cat 395 replaces the 390F and is the largest machine in Cat’s next-generation excavator lineup. This is a beefed-up, performance-driven machine designed to move as much rock and dirt in as little time as possible. The 395 conﬁguration on display at ConExpo weighed around 209,000 pounds, making it about 5 tons heavier than the 390F. The 395 also boasts 8 feet more digging depth at 31 feet 8 inches, and 8 feet more reach at ground level at 48 feet 3 inches. The 395 can handle a variety of applications, including overburden removal, rock loading in a quarry, mass dirt excavation, deep utility excavation and large foundation work. The 395 isn’t just bigger. It’s faster, stronger and much cheaper to maintain than the 390F as well. “We’ve done a lot to this machine. It is 100 percent a different machine (from the 390F),” says Ryan Neal, Caterpillar product application specialist for large excavators. Cat gave the new model a slight horsepower bump from 524 to 543. It also increased swing torque and stick force by 10 percent, allowing for the use of larger work tools and buckets. Cat says you can expect productivity gains of up to 10 percent. Another big driver in this machine’s productivity increases comes from a dedicated hydrostatic swing circuit, a feature Cat pulled from its larger mining shovels

Deere 700L, 750L dozers bring more power, larger cab John Deere has unveiled the next generation of its 700-size-class dozers. After working closely with the owners and operators of the previous generation K-Series to develop these new machines, the 700L and 750L dozers boast more power, more comfort, more visibility and refreshed electro-hydraulic controls. The result is a pair of dozers built to run all day while keeping operators comfortable. Deere’s product marketing manager for crawler dozers, Nathan Horstman, says these two dozers are primarily aimed at site development, roadbuilding and underground construction. “Some of the biggest things our customers are going to notice about this 700L dozer is really the power of this machine. At 135 horsepower, it’s still got the same great balance that the 700K had,” he says. “The next thing they’re going to notice when they get in the seat of that machine, they’re going to notice how big and open and spacious the cab is and the great visibility all around but especially to the blade and forward on the machine.” –Wayne Grayson EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 51

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Case DL550B

Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America. “You can see any obstructions that are in the wheel path.” Additional visibility is gained on the left side of the seat, where the door panel has a bottom window, and on the right of the seat, where Hitachi has put a door instead of a window. Out the back window, the intake and exhaust stack are farther back and lined up together to gain additional visibility. The engine compartment is curved, allowing clear view of the counterweights. Hitachi ZW370-6

Case DL550B is both small dozer and large CTL Case’s DL550B represents an entirely new machine category – the compact dozer loader. Several years in the making under the code name Project Minotaur, the DL550B isn’t just a compact track loader equipped with a dozer blade. From the “dozer-style undercarriage” to a chassis-integrated C-frame, to full machine control support, it was designed to be a true two-in-one machine, capable of both heavy dozing and loading. The vertical-lift DL550B has a rated operating capacity of 5,500 pounds and a 114-horsepower engine. “This machine is basically a step up above what we currently have on our other (CTL) models,” says Brady Lewis, Project Minotaur program manager at Case. It has a 140-inch hinge-pin height. Case also offers auxiliary hydraulic options of up to 40 gallons per minute at 4,100 pounds per square inch. Lewis says the C-frame and dozer blade assembly can be hydraulically detached from the DL550B in under a minute. Once disconnected, you can attach a bucket, fork or other attachments. Case includes a 1.25-cubicyard bucket, available with either a cutting edge or a SmartFit teeth system. The DL550B is designed for residential, landscaping, forestry and small commercial jobsites. It will be available with Case’s universal machine control system and is compatible with Case’s SiteControl CoPilot dozer grade and slope control. –Wayne Grayson

Hitachi ZW370-6 wheel loader offers 360-degree visibility Developed for high-volume production operations and quarries, the 389-horsepower Hitachi ZW370-6 offers 360-degree visibility, ride control and 48,780 pounds of breakout force. “The first thing you see in the cab is that the front window goes all the way down both sides,” says Nathan Little, North American product specialist for 52 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Using Hitachi’s in-cab monitor, operators can access real-time telematics and set operating parameters. With the flick of the quick-power switch, operators can give the machine extra engine output for going uphill. Hitachi offers a choice between the optional Joystick Steering System or the standard steering wheel. “We’re finding that about 30 percent of customers still want the steering wheel, but the majority are preferring joystick steering because it offers less operator fatigue,” Little says. Also, the loader has a lockup transmission that provides 30 percent more tractive force than its predecessor, the Kawasaki Z7, and reduces fuel consumption. –Marcia Doyle Bell TC7A

Bell’s new TC7A, TC11A tracked carriers have 6-roller undercarriage Designed for short haul and pipe laying applications, Bell Equipment’s 7-ton TC7A tracked carrier (also

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known as a crawler carrier in the U.S.) took center stage at the company’s ConExpo exhibit. The TC7A will be joined by Bell’s 11-ton TC11A model. Both units are powered by a 6.7-liter Cummins engine, feature Rexroth hydraulics and can be configured with either a dump or flatbed body. The machine’s six-roller undercarriage with compound walking beams is designed to equal weight distribution when going over obstacles. “The rollers are constantly in contact with the ground. The result is a much smoother ride than the tracked machines that are currently available in the market,” says Brad Castle, territory manager, Bell Equipment North America. Another benefit, he says, is prolonged track life. “Tracks are expensive, and users told us they don’t last long. This helps us lengthen the life of the track by preventing overloading,” he says. Another point of differentiation is the ROPS/ FOPS-certified purpose-built cab. This is in contrast to generic excavator cabs found elsewhere, which have controls that aren’t needed in a crawler carrier, Castle says. –Marcia Doyle Kobelco SK130LC-11

Kobelco rolls out first of Gen 11 excavators The SK130LC-11 marks the first model in Kobelco’s new Generation 11 line. It has a digging force of 24,818 pounds and is equipped with independent travel, which allows it to move, lift and swing simultaneously without losing power. The automatic swing priority delivers full swing power during combined operations without switching modes. A 96-horsepower Tier 4 Final engine uses a selective catalytic reduction system with diesel particulate filters, decreasing nitrogen-oxide emissions and 54 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

operating costs, the company says. A double-element air cleaner keeps the engine running clean, while a pre-filter with a built-in water separator provides filtering performance for stable operation. –Marcia Doyle

Sany SY155U

Sany unveils 2 excavators, wheel loader, motor grader, telehandler The Sany SY155U short-radius excavator is powered by a 105-horsepower engine and weighs 35,174 pounds. It digs to 18 feet and has a maximum reach of 27 feet 4 inches on top of a minimal tail swing. With a step up to 164 horsepower, the Sany SY225C excavator ﬁlls the gap between the company’s SY215C and SY265C. The new SY225C reaches to 33 feet 10 inches and offers a bucket breakout force of 28,551 pounds. The Sany SW305K wheel loader runs on a 184-horsepower Deutz diesel engine pushing a differential locking axle and automatic transmission kickdown. The bucket holds 3.2 cubic yards and hits the pile with 27,143 pounds. The new SMG200C-8 motor grader is designed for road upkeep and rebuild applications. A 252-horsepower Cummins engine drives the machine through an eight-speed transmission, an operator-controlled locking differential and electronically locking rear differential. The moldboard measures 14 feet wide. Able to lift 10,000 pounds to 56 feet, the Sany STH1056A Telehandler powers up loads with a Cummins 130-horsepower engine. On the ground, it sports a Dana transmission, Parker hydraulics and a Kawasaki hydraulic piston pump system. –Tom Jackson

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Mecalac 9MWR

The 670SJ telescoping boom aerial work platform automatically keeps the chassis, and therefore the work platform, level when traveling surfaces that have as much as a 10-degree grade, up from the industry standard’s 5 degrees. That allows the operator to drive at height over uneven ground, the company says. It also reduces platform movement, preventing tools and materials from falling off the platform. JLG plans to eventually add the technology to other models. The 670SJ has a 67-foot platform height and can reach full height in 101 seconds and back down in JLG 670SJ

Mecalac MWR wheeled excavators feature backhoe mobility Mecalac says its new MWR Series wheeled excavators for the U.S. market have “the stability of a crawler excavator and the mobility of a backhoe loader.” To increase stability over conventional wheeled excavators, the company lowered the turret’s center of gravity while leaving enough ground clearance to protect the undercarriage, says Patrick Brehmer, Mecalac head of design and product management. The wheeled excavators also feature Mecalac’s side boom, giving them greater loading maneuverability and a smaller footprint. “This side boom allows you to be the most compact possible” with the arm raised or when on the ground, Brehmer says. For further compactness, the wheeled excavators can be equipped with four-wheel steer, allowing a near U-turn on the spot. The lower cabin makes it easier for the operator to enter and exit and to access ground-level service points. Mecalac also moved the fuel tank to ground level. “We have put the fuel tank below so you don’t have to climb on your machine,” Brehmer said. “You can do everything from the ground. It’s a huge step forward in terms of safety.” The models in the series include the 7MWR, 9MWR, 11MWR and 15MWR, which is available with a twopiece boom attachment. The excavators range in size from 7 to 15 metric tons, with the model number representing the operating weight. –Don McLoud JLG’s 670SJ delivers self-leveling boom Introduced as a concept at the 2017 ConExpo, JLG’s new self-leveling boom lift is ready for production, with sales in North America to begin this fall, the company said at the lift’s launch at ConExpo 2020. 56 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

the same amount of time, the company says. The lift’s “smart suspension,” which allows for the self-leveling, also enables an extra foot of platform height. Along with the self-leveling technology, JLG says it has opened a new size class for booms, with the industry’s ﬁrst boom at 67 feet. The platform has a capacity of 550 pounds unrestricted and 750 pounds restricted. Horizontal reach is 57 feet 1 inch. –Don McLoud

Terramac’s compact RT7R crawler carrier sports 360-degree rotation Terramac’s new RT7R crawler carrier is designed for tight spaces when the payload of a larger carrier isn’t needed. It’s also small and light enough at 24,080 pounds to be hauled on a tag trailer behind a line truck, the company says. The RT7R features 360-degree upper-frame rotation and a payload of 14,000 pounds. It runs on a 165-horsepower Tier 4 Final Cummins engine. It can travel up to 6.7 mph. The carrier is designed to reduce land damage, with 5.5 pounds per square inch of ground pressure at full load. Terramac says it can also climb fast on rugged terrain. The carrier is geared to such conditions as rivers

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ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020 Part 2 Terramac RT7R

| continued Genie S-80 J

and levees, general earthmoving, site prep and utility jobsites as well as railroad track right-of-way access. The heavy-duty rock bed can handle dirt, brush and rugged materials such as rip rap. The ROPS/FOPS cab has a wide access door and windows on all sides. –Don McLoud Kenworth T880 Twin Steer

Kenworth intros T880 Twin Steer vocational truck Available as a day cab, the new Kenworth T880 Twin Steer with set-back front axles is ideal for crane, mixer and other vocational applications that require 86-inch axle spacing to meet local bridge laws and enhance overall load capacity. The Kenworth T880 Twin Steer provides 40,000-pound rated front axles, springs and steering gears. The front suspension is equalized between the front and rear steer axles for greater driver comfort and payload distribution. Engine options are the PACCAR MX-13, rated at up to 510 horsepower and 1,850 pound-feet of torque, and the PACCAR MX-11, with up to 430 horsepower and 1,650 pound-feet of torque. –Wayne Grayson 58 Summer 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Genie S-80 J lighter telescopic boom enables work at 80 feet When it comes to some conditions for working at height, lighter is better. That’s the impetus for Genie’s new S-80 J telescopic boom, which weighs in at 15,000 pounds less than the company’s S-80 XC (extra capacity) model. The S-80 J is intended for lighter work such as general construction and maintenance. The S-80 XC model, which came out in 2017, is geared more toward commercial and industrial construction with its 1,000-pound unrestricted platform capacity. Though weighing 23,000 pounds, the aerial platform on the S-80 J has a 660-pound capacity, enough to hold two workers, tools and a 6-foot jib at 80 feet up and 55 feet horizontally. It’s even light enough to be equipped with tracks, which is how the ConExpo display model was outfitted, making it the only 80foot boom lift with a tracked option, Genie says. The Genie TraX system allows work on sensitive ground conditions like wet grass, mud, sand and snow, as well as harder, uneven surfaces. –Don McLoud

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road works | by Don McLoud

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

From electrification to oscillation, new compactor models offer latest innovations

ontractors in the market for a new

asphalt compactor were presented with a range of choices at ConExpo 2020, with most major manufacturers rolling out new machines. OEMs focused on a variety of technologies and features to attract customers. For instance, BOMAG rolled out compact rollers with alternative electric and liquified petroleum gas engines. Dynapac and Sakai expanded into oscillation.

Hamm focused on a simpler ballasting system and higher water capacity. Volvo boasted rapid vibration speeds. Case replaced its entire compact vibratory line with rollers that are easier to transport and can work around obstacles and in tight conditions. And Wacker Neuson has updated its RD12A compact roller, which also boasts the ability to compact in tight spaces. Here’s a rundown on the asphalt compactor offerings at this year’s ConExpo:

BOMAG unveils electric, LPG BW 120 rollers BOMAG displayed its concept alternative-drive BW 120 AD-5 tandem rollers, one with an electric engine and another that runs on LPG, for working in areas

with strict environmental requirements. The traditional diesel BW 120 runs on a 33-horsepower Kubota engine and has a 47-inch compaction width. The alternative models are geared toward indoor, tunnel, inner-city or other projects where low emissions are needed. Tim Eisfeld, BOMAG director of marketing and product management, says the electric version has been requested more in Europe, while the LPG version is expected to attract more interest in North America. The tank on the BOMAG BW 120 AD-5 LPG can be changed in 5 minutes, and an operator can get 5 hours of compaction on one tank, the company says. Compared to the diesel version, the gas model emits 95 percent less nitrogen-oxide and 15 percent less carbon-dioxide and fine dust, according to BOMAG. The gas version also delivers 7 more horsepower than the diesel model. The electric BW 120 AD-5 E reduces emissions down to zero. The electric-drive engine delivers 24.8 horsepower, or 18.5 kilowatts. Battery life is only 2.5 to 3 hours, which the company is working to improve through greater machine efficiency, Eisfeld says. He adds, though, that in many rental applications for repair work, a roller is used for only 1.5 hours. The electric roller’s cost would be double that of the diesel model, but the company says maintenance is much simpler and leads to savings of about 40 percent. The company used ConExpo to gain feedback on any changes to be made to the concept models before they hit the market.

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Case replaces entire compact vibratory line The new E Series compact vibratory rollers from Case Construction Equipment are designed to be easy to transport and to work around tight quarters, curbs, structures and other obstacles, the company says. The seven models in the E Series replace the company’s previous compact vibratory line. They are designed for small to mid-sized jobs, such as driveways, walking paths, commercial developments and around existing structures. They have high curb clearance and no overhangs. The compactors are available in a double-drum configuration or as a combination of a front drum and rear pneumatic tires. Drum widths range from 39 to 54 inches, depending on the model. The double-drum models are as follows: DV23E, DV26E, DV36E and DV45E. The combi-rollers models consist of the DV23CE, DV26CE and DV45CE. Upgrades to the new E Series include redesigned operator controls for easier, more comfortable operation. An electric travel lever places functions at the operator’s fingertips, including settings for rpm, drive, the sprinkler system controls and parking brake. The operator platform is designed to reduce vibration and operator fatigue. The seat slides to the sides to enable operators to see the right and left drum edges. Operators can choose from three modes: loading, working and transport. And there are two drive settings. “Soft drive” is for a smooth ride, and “hard drive” is for making quick turns similar to machines with a mechanical lever, Case says. Operators can choose vibration frequencies to match the application. The compactors also offer automatic or manual vibration. The sprinkler system shuts off automatically when the compactor is in neutral. The pressurized water system’s tank can be used all day without refilling.

Dynapac expands oscillation Dynapac’s first foray into oscillation on a tandem drum roller came two years ago with the 9.9-ton CO4200 VI. At ConExpo 2020, the company showed how it’s expanding its use of the compaction method. Dynapac’s new CO5200 VI tandem roller, like the CO4200, features vibration on the front drum and oscillation on the rear. It represents the company’s largest roller, at 11.7 tons and a 77-inch compaction width, to offer oscillation. Fredrik Akesson, rollers product portfolio manager, says that before going with oscillation, which compacts by horizontal movement instead of vertical vibration, the company first had to solve two main problems that it saw on early oscillation machines. For one, oscillation creates a rubbing action that can lead to quick wear on the drum shell. To combat that, Dynapac made the drums out of Hardox 450 steel. The other problem was the lengthy and difficult process of changing the timing belts for the oscillating drum’s off-centered eccentric weights. Now, Akesson says, the timing belts on Dynapac’s oscillating drums can be replaced in 2 hours. The vibrating drum on the CO5200 VI can provide in-depth compaction, and the oscillating drum delivers a gentler compaction closer to the surface. The operator can also switch to only oscillation. Akesson says uses for oscillation include bridge decks and joints, as well as near foundations and concrete structures, and for better performance on thin asphalt layers. The CO5200 VI runs on a 130-horsepower turbo Cummins Tier 4 Final engine. Vertical oscillation is plus or minus 7 degrees. Nominal amplitude is .031 .012 inches, and vibration frequency is 3,060 - 4,020 vibrations per minute. EquipmentWorld.com | Summer 2020 61

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Hamm intros next-generation pneumatic tire compactor Hammâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new HP 180i pneumatic tire compactor is part of the next generation of compactors to replace the GRW Series, which has been the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standard bearer for 50 years. The GRW and HP series are similar in looks, but Hamm added some features to boost the HP modelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; productivity, says Richard Evans, Hamm vice president of sales. For one, the water capacity of the HP models has been tripled, designed to last a full day without reďŹ ll, Evans says. The models also have a simpler ballasting system. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ballasting used to be spread around the machine; everything now is in the middle,â&#x20AC;? Evans says. That keeps the weight evenly distributed on each axle and makes it easier to adjust the weight. The HP180i and other HP models are also equipped with Hammâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Easy Drive, the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standardized operating platform. The HP 180i ranges in operating weight from 8 to 18

metric tons and has a compacting width of 72 inches. It is powered by a 74.2-horsepower Deutz Tier 4 Final engine. Hamm offers a canopy or panoramic cabin for operators. The company says the operator station meets new, stricter ISO ďŹ eld-of-view standards, and the asymmetrical frame enables a clear view of the ďŹ&#x201A;anks of the front and rear wheels. The joystick is positioned on the armrest for more comfort, and the brake pedal is integrated with the seat so it can be easily reached in any seat position. The ballasting can be adjusted to the compaction task with prefabricated ballast bodies made of steel or concrete that can be inserted and removed with a forklift.

Sakai goes to dual-drum oscillation With the new SW994ND, Sakai has introduced its fourth compactor with oscillation. The 84-inch-wide double-drum roller achieves good compaction results not only for dense-grade hot mix asphalt mixtures but for stone matrix asphalt mixes used for highways, airports and test tracks, the company says. Sakaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oscillating models are geardriven, so they do not require the added maintenance of belt-driven oscillation that requires belts to be replaced. Sakai also puts oscillation on both drums of the roller, rather than

typical oscillating rollers with only rear-drum oscillation and front-drum

vibration. The dual-drum oscillaenables the Sakai compactors tion to more efďŹ ciently achieve required Crawfordsville, IN Eaton, OH Georgetown, OH density and surface textures, the (765) 866.0253 (937) 456.6281 (937) 378.4880 company says. Both drums can also Pendleton, IN Plymouth, IN La Crosse, IN be switched to vibration. (219) 754.2423 (765) 778.1991 (574) 936.2523 The SW994ND has an operating Wilmington, OH (937) 382.7800 weight of 31,570 pounds. www.Bane-Welker.com The other three Sakai oscillating

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