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Concrete Construction Issue
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Features 06 West County Connectors Project Atkinson Contractors, LP Awarded Two Caltrans Projects in Orange County
10 A True Family of Team Members Keeps Cut ‘N Core, Inc. A Cut Above The Rest
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16 Arts Transportation Service, Inc. Demolition & Recycling Contractor Offers Equipment Rental Services
20 CalContractor Magazine www.calcontractor.com
20 California Arbor Care New Direction, New Equipment, Paves The Way For Success
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20 Industry News 30 Index
Publisher:
Kerry Hoover (909) 772-3121 khoover@calcontractor.com Contributing Editors:
Brian Hoover, Tammy Boone
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION PLEASE CALL:
Southern California: Call Kerry Hoover (909) 772-3121 Northern California: Call Dutch Meads (209) 679-1278
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Misty Swartz, Aldo Myftari CalContractor is published twelve times each year by Construction Marketing Services, LLC. PO Box 892977, Temecula, CA 92589 / Phone: 909-772-3121 / Fax: 951-225-9659 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
CC Concrete Issue 2011
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2011 Concrete Construction Issue CalContractor
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CC Concrete Issue 2011
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(Above L to R) Jeremie Corpuz, Senior Project Manager, Travis Kaess, Project Engineer and Robert Hubbard, Project Superintendent. (Not Pictured) John Gillespie, Doug Hoyt, Ryan Haworth, Abe Acevez and Ayaz Uddin. (Right) Paving the East Segment of Bolsa Chica Road in Orange County.
Atkinson Contractors, LP is currently working on back to back contracts for The California Department of Transportation totaling more than $168 million. In both projects, Atkinson will widen the outside lanes along I-405, which will allow for the construction of an additional HOV lane in both directions and provide direct access ramps to the adjoining freeways. Combined, both projects are part of the $277 million West County Connectors project that will complete a more seamless transition between I-405's highoccupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and Route 22 and the I-605 freeway in Orange County. The project traverses the cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Long Beach and Rossmoor. Construction of the $66.7 million contract for the SR-22/I-405 West County Connector Project Eastern Segment, began in September of 2011 and is scheduled for completion in March of 2014. Parsons, Pasadena, Calif. is the designer for this portion of the project in conjunction with the Orange County Transportation Authority. By the end of this particular contract, Atkinson will provide two miles
of highway improvements through Garden Grove, Westminster, and Seal Beach. The scope of work includes the construction of three new highway overcrossings, two of which replace existing structures that will be demolished to accommodate the new bridges. Atkinson will self perform 21,000 linear feet of drainage work, 45,000 cubic yards of concrete paving, pour 22,000 cubic yards of bridge concrete, and excavate 183,000 cubic yards of roadway. Atkinson will perform similar work under the $102 million SR-22/I405/I-605 West County Connector Project - Western Segment contract. Over a 2.5-mile stretch through Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Rossmoor, Atkinson will widen the existing I-405 and I-605 freeways, as well as perform a partial reconstruction of the Route 22 connector. Additional work includes constructing five new overcrossings, along with one tunnel extension. Four of the new bridges replace existing structures. One of the new bridges, the I-405/I-605 HOV Bridge, will measure 2,902 feet long and will sit 45 feet
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co Commander III. (Below) PCC pour utilizing Goma
(Below) Discharging concrete provided by Holliday Rock in front of paver
(Below) Sandblasting abutment footing for the new N405/W22 Connector.
above the travel way. Atkinson will also utilize their self-perform capabilities and install 20,000 linear feet of drainage; pour 42,000 cubic yards of bridge concrete and 2,200 cubic yards of wall concrete; pave 40,000 cubic yards of concrete; and complete 356,000 cubic yards of road excavation. The Western Segment project will began in January of 2011 and is scheduled for completion in July 2014. TRC Companies, Inc., of Irvine, Calif., working in conjunction with the Orange County Transportation Authority, is designing this portion of the project. Jeremie Corpuz, Senior Project Manager for Atkinson Contractors comments, “Much of our work on both the Eastern and Western Segments of this project will involve the revamping of the center median to allow direct access to the HOV ramps between the 22 and the 405 freeways. For the most part, both contracts are pretty standard projects for Atkinson, although we were challenged in 2010 at the beginning of the Eastern Segment with rain delays and other weather issues. The logistics of constructing projects of this size and nature can at
times be daunting. We are working with two separate designers on the East and West Segments and a whole variety of state, county and local city agencies. In addition, we are ever mindful of the impact we have on the neighboring cities that rely on the freeways, roads and bridges that we are working on each day. In addition to roadwork, we are also working with the Orange County Flood Control District to provide improvements to the existing drainage systems. All of this, along with managing our own self-performing crews, in addition to all of the sub-contractors, definitely presents a challenge that has to be met head on every day. We are very fortunate at Atkinson to have such professional and dedicated individuals out on the jobsite. I just can't thank or say enough about our superintendents, engineers, foremen and craft personnel that we have working onsite each day. They are the ones that make this all possible, and although it is not always easy, I know that our work will bring a better flow of traffic and a much more enjoyable ride to the local commuters that rely on these connectors every day.�
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(Above Left) Excavation of Bixby Channel. (Above Right) Backfill of completed portions of Bixby Channel. (Left) Looking northbound on the I-405 Freeway with PCC pavement being placed upper right of photo.
The concrete paving is of course a big part of both the East and West Segments. In all, approximately 85,000 cubic yards of concrete will be put down on both segments. Jeremie Corpuz explains, The Eastern Segment calls for a 12” PCC pavement course that will be paved over a 6” LCB (lean concrete base) base course. The Western Segment also utilizes a 12” PCC course, but it will be paved over a 6” asphalt concrete base. We are paving at both day and night, however the majority of the paving will take place during the daytime operations. We historically use larger Gomaco slipform pavers on these type of projects, however so far we have completed most of the concrete paving with our smaller Gomaco Commander III four-track paver. We anticipate utilizing this machine quite a bit due to the variable paving widths on both projects and the fact that we are just as productive with the smaller machine. Out here it is all about safety and we do everything we can on all aspects of job to assure the safest maximum output possible.” In addition to the paving crews, Atkinson has several earthmoving crews, bridge crews, not to mention all of
the sub-contractors working throughout the jobsite daily. There are three new bridges being built on the Eastern Segment alone, one of which represents the main artery for those living in Westminster attempting to get over to Garden Grove. This particular bridge is being constructed in halves, so as to allow traffic to continue to utilize one side for commuting purposes. Six bridges will eventually be constructed on the Western Segment, one that is similar to the Eastern Segment in that it will be built one side at a time in order to provide continued use. The new 405/605 HOV connector bridge is one of the six bridges that is sure to alter the skyline, with its more than 2,900 feet in length and a height of around 40 feet. There are all sorts of new infrastructure benefits that will be available to those utilizing these highly traveled commuter routes and we are certainly indebted to companies like Atkinson Contractors, LP for their tremendous efforts to make all of our futures better. For more information on Atkinson Contractors, LP and their progress on the West County Connectors Project, please visit them online at www.atkn.com. Cc
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4701-B Little John St. • Baldwin Park, CA 91706Phone: 800-813-8232 • Fax: 626-813-1594
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Hydraulic Breaker • New and improved 8,000, 11,000, 13,500 ft. pound breakers.
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(Left) Susan Mercurio, President & Owner of Cut ‘N Core, Inc.. (Right) Cut ‘N Core saw cutting on I-15 Freeway in San Diego.
Susan Mercurio has been in the concrete cutting, core drilling and general demolition business for more than 30 years now and during this time she has established herself and her company as one of the most respected leaders in the industry. With headquarters in San Diego, California, Cut ʻN Core, Inc. is a 100% woman-owned (SWBE, SMBE) business and is certified with the Port of San Diego, as well as Caltrans. Today, Cut 'N Core, Inc. serves most all of Southern California through their San Diego and Norco office locations. Their team of professional operators and laborers are trained and experienced in all forms of diamond cutting methods such as core drilling, wall sawing and flat sawing. Their years of experience in this and general backhoe/skid steer services have allowed them to provide cost-effective solutions that are guaranteed to be on time and on budget. Susan Mercurio explains the genesis of her construction company, “My husband, at the time, had worked for Penhall and a few other similar companies for several years and one day he just decided he was going to get his contractors license and that we were going into the business. So, in January of 1979, we officially became a husband and wife proprietorship and then, in February
of that same year, we welcomed our first child, Marty, into the world. Those were busy and hectic times, when we worked out of our home and wore several hats at one time. Looking back, it seems that the business naturally grew from one truck to another and by 1983, just after the birth of our second child, Jamie; we moved into our first facility on Ruffin Road. This is when we really began to grow as a union shop, which was and still is so important if you want to be on the large freeway or hospital jobs, the requirements are stated that you either be union or pay prevailing wage. We started out doing simple concrete cutting and coring type work and then moved into some jackhammer/compressor work. We added wall sawing and we increased productivity by cutting windows and door openings into tilt-up structures.” One thing is for certain and that is nothing ever stays the same. This rang true in both Susan Mercurio's personal and business life. In 1991, Susan made the decision to buy out her now ex-husband, even though the business seemed to be struggling at the time. The annual numbers loomed at around $800 thousand for several years. Susan knew she had to make some monumental changes in order to continue to grow
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(Left) Cut ‘N Core operator running their Cat 430E Backhoe. (Below L to R) Larry Thompson, Susan Mercurio, Bruce Penhall and Matt Higgins with Hawthorne Cat.
within the industry. After much deliberation, she decided to hire a professional estimator in 1999. She brought Larry Thompson into the operation and with his outstanding customer relations skills, the companyʼs sales numbers were at a very healthy and satisfying $3 million by December of 2000. The combination of Susan's hands on and extremely nurturing business approach mixed in with Larry's numerous years of knowledge and talent makes a great recipe for an unbeatable team which prepared Cut ʻN Core to enter into a new era of growth. In addition, Michael Mercurio has also joined the team at Cut ʻN Core once again and he is lending his 45 years of skills and knowledge in the industry to the companyʼs continued success. Today, Cut ʻN Core remains busy with a large variety of service work throughout Southern California. Susan Mercurio explains, “We do quite a bit of service work for companies like Flatiron West on freeway jobs. Another well known company does their grooving and grinding and also their contract work, but when they want somebody to do hourly work like cutting, hauling or even general cleanup work, they call on Cut ʻN Core. Our dump trucks and trailers come fully equipped with BTI or Cat hammers and all sizes of buckets up to 48 inches. In addition we have a compaction wheel and a vibratory plate on board, so that we are ready for anything our customer may ask of us. We are more versatile than our competitors and we make a habit of going above and beyond our client's expectations. For instance, in addition to completing our assigned work for said contractor, we will do things such as load pipe
or other materials and move them from one location to another. We also will travel from site to site on a moments notice, doing everything from hauling spoils to the recycling plant to last minute change orders that sometimes require grueling work hours. We remain successful and busy even in this economic downturn, because we offer so much value added service. We show up with equipment that is all Tier III and always looks and operates like it is brand new.” Cut ʻN Core, Inc has been a Caterpillar customer from the beginning. Today, Cut ʻN Core owns and operates around 15 Caterpillar machines between their San Diego and Norco branches including: Cat 430 Backhoe with attachments, Cat 259B Track Loaders, Cat 246 and Cat 272 Skid Steer Loaders, and Cat 303C and Cat 305D Mini Excavators with attachments. They were even fortunate enough to win a brand new Cat Super B Skid Steer Loader in a raffle at Hawthorne Cat back in 2005.
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(Left) Larry Thompson, Estimator & General Manager Cut ‘N Core San Diego. (Middle) Bruce Penhall, General Manager Cut ‘N Core Norco. (Right) One of the many Cut ‘N Core team members hard at work. (Inset L to R) Cindy Russ, Cheryl Wilkerson, Jennifer Sain and Susan Mercurio.
Susan explains, “We look to Hawthorne Cat for all of our equipment and service requirements. They are just a phenomenal company that actually stops and takes the time to listen to our needs. When we pull up at Hawthorne there is always a service team member that meets us at our trailer before we can even get out of our truck. When we need a machine, we usually need it now and Hawthorne will either deliver it to us or have it ready for pickup immediately. We have a very sound service program with Hawthorne. We even served as a sort of pilot user when they first began to offer Vision Link. Today we have it on every unit and Hawthorne is able to keep track of not only where the machine is at all times, but also the amount of hours, service intervals and they can even let us know when a machine may be idling too long or generally not performing at its peak. We will continue to rely on Hawthorne Cat for all of our construction equipment needs.” Bruce Penhall Joins The Company A little over a year ago, Bruce Penhall called Susan Mercurio and asked if he could come down to San Diego and speak with her. Susan was so surprised to hear from Bruce, as her ex-husband had worked for his father, Leroy Penhall back in the 70s's. Susan comments, “I remember going to see Bruce race at the Speedway right after his parents had suddenly and sadly passed away back in 1975. Like everyone else, we had also followed Bruce's acting career on the TV series CHIPS and I was just so elated when he called. We of course met and I could see right away that his ideas and what he wanted in business were perfectly in line with our vision.”
The decision to add Bruce Penhall to Cut 'N Core turned out to be another great decision and as General Manager of the Norco operation, he is already contributing just over $1.8 million to the bottom line. In this business, that is a large number, especially for the first year of a new branch location. According to Susan, Bruce has so far over exceeded his original expectations by doing so well right out of the gate. His knowledge and expertise surpasses his years of involvement in the industry. Bruce Penhall comments, “My father started Penhall Company back in the early 50's and I remember learning about the business even as a child. When my parents were killed in an airplane crash in 1975, the family business was sold to a great guy, Roger Stull and I went on to a career in motorcycle racing and of course acting. In 1990, I once again became heavily involved in the construction industry, working for a company in Orange County for a brief period and then on to work for a demolition contractor for around seven years. It was during this time that I was doing quite a bit of work with a large San Diego contractor and became very familiar with the name Cut 'N Core, Inc. It was clear that they were doing very well and I thought perhaps it was a good time for a move. Susan and I hit it off from the start and although I really did not have much to offer her in San Diego, I thought perhaps, I may be able to assist her in expanding her business a bit north. Larry Thompson does such a great job in the San Diego market area and my clientele has always been in the LA, Orange County and Inland Empire areas. If I were going to be of any help at all, it would have to be where I had already built relationships over the past 15 years. Both Susan and I agreed on a branch location
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(Above) Cut ‘N Core has an entire fleet of Caterpillar machinery, dump trucks and trailers equipped with any and every attachment that may be called for.
in Norco and I am so thrilled to have been part of its success so far. I am 54 years old now and I want to work for someone that makes it possible to actually enjoy what I am doing each day. Susan has a great staff and they all love working for her. She truly cares 100 percent for both her clients and employees and that meant a lot to me when deciding where I wanted to work. For instance, Susan prepares lunch for her customers, as well as all of her employees. The kitchen is bigger than the office area and even though I feel like I make a pretty good taco, it is nothing compared to Jennifer's on taco Tuesday. They are literally lined up out the door at lunch time around here and at Christmas the office is full of gift baskets and presents for her customers and employees. Susan will do whatever it takes to make and keep her customers and employees happy, while still maintaining a profit and I want to be part of a company and an owner that feels that way. I try and do the same thing for my team in Norco. I handpicked each and every Norco employee, and I know him or her both personally and professionally. My dad told me years ago that if you take care of those working for you in the field, they will return the work back to you ten fold. We will continue to grow just as fast as our receivables will allow and with an organization like Cut 'N Core, the sky is truly the limit.” Bruce Penhall was recently inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Detroit, Michigan and has already done one CHIPS reunion with another possibly on the horizon. His life today is no longer about motorcycles and acting however, it is about his wife and four children and his successful career at Cut ʻN Core, Inc. Susan Mercurio concludes, “I don't have employees, I have co-workers and with leaders like Larry and Bruce and our extraordinary office staff made up of
Jennifer Sain, Cindy Russ and Cheryl Wilkerson, I just could not be happier right now. I also need to recognize our tremendous Safety Manager, Steve McGovern, as well as our two highly skilled mechanics, Tom Wise and Jerry Munzer. We are just so fortunate to have such a remarkable in-house heavy machinery and light equipment service department. There are many that do what we do, but I feel that our reputation for quality and commitment puts us in a league of our own. We build a rapport with our customers and many contractors will request a certain operator by name, because they know they are going to get the same high quality every time. We also work closely with the Norco office and share resources on a regular basis. I am proud to work for such notable names as: Flatiron Construction, Doty Brothers, Atkinson Construction, Hood Corporation, HPD a Division of Hood, ARB, Inc., San Diego Gas & Electric, A.M. Ortega, Quality General Engineering, Suffolk Roel and so many more. All of us at Cut ʻN Core will continue to serve our loyal customers from both our San Diego and Norco operations and we will also continue to have fun doing it. Here's to everyone who has helped make the ride so much fun so far and here is to a very bright future.” For more information on Cut ʻN Core, Inc., please contact either via telephone or email Susan Mercurio (susan@cutncore.com) at 858-560-6627 or Larry Thompson (larry@cutncore.com) 858-775-2626 (cell) at the San Diego Office. Contact Bruce Penhall (bruce@cutncore.com) in the Norco/Inland Empire at 951-735-4581 or 949-456-9902. You may also visit them at www.cutncore.com. For more information on Hawthorne Cat, please visit them at www.hawthornecat.com or call them at their corporate office in San Diego at 800-437-4228. Cc
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(Left) Art Gersjes, Owner & President of Arts Transportation Service, Inc. located in South Gate, CA.
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As the name suggests, Arts Transportation Service, Inc. (ATS) started out in 1982 as a trucking company that specialized primarily in the transportation of recycling and demolition material. This naturally evolved into the company acquiring machinery and attachments to process scrap metal and other materials. Next, the company acquired a demolition license in order to bid directly to Owners and General Contractors. Art Gersjes is Owner and President of ATS and he comments, “I worked for my father’s fine grading company back in high school, operating skip loaders, backhoes and small crawler loaders. Being in and around equipment most of my adult life made the transition into the demolition equipment rental business much easier. Our close ties to the scrap metal and demolition industries have also benefited the construction and equipment side of the business, particularly in the use and rental of excavators equipped with shear attachments. Today, we offer equipment on an operated and bare rental basis and we have a nice variety of late model machines and attachments to choose from. This includes six Hitachi excavators, four LaBounty shears, 8,000 to 12,000 pound Stanley and UB breakers, as well as hydraulic concrete pulverizing attachments. Due to our experience and large inventory of shears, we tend to go after projects that involve the processing of steel. Many of our Hitachi excavators equipped with shears and operators go out regularly to scrap processing facilities on a long-term rental basis. We, of course, also use our machinery on our own demolition sites and for other demolition and recycling contractors.” Although ATS is considered a small-to-medium-sized demolition company, they also work on bigger projects as well. For instance, on a recent job in Arizona, they dismantled and processed an entire cement clinker plant with just six men and three Hitachi excavators. By jobs end, they processed approximately 5,500 tons of steel and 2,000 tons of concrete on time and on budget. ATS will also take on the smaller jobs, like a house demo, which they could handle in only a day or two with just their Hitachi 210 excavator and an operator. Recently, ATS was kept very busy dismantling the old Higgins Brick Company in Chino Hills, which has been standing since the early 1960’s. They began the demolition process of
this approximately 113,000 sq. ft. building in mid-July of this year and finished the job in mid-August. Between the brick kilns and the building itself, ATS processed around 1,000 tons of steel and 16,000 tons of concrete and brick. The concrete and brick is being crushed and left on site for use as base and fill material for future development. The demolition and recycling business continues to evolve along with the building cycles and the economy in general. Art Gersjes explains, “Steel remains a valuable commodity, although the price can vary depending on current market conditions. When we bid on a project, we take a look at the current market condition and hope it remains stable through its completion. On the brick factory job, the recycled material was a major consideration during the bidding process offsetting against the overall cost of doing the scope of work to obtain the winning bid. It may seem ironic to some but there are times when we actually pay for a job. The fact is when the recycled steel and non-ferrous metals exceed the cost of doing the job plus the profit margin; it can result in a pay job. This is and has been a common practice for some time now, and as a matter of fact, in recent years there have been numerous jobs that have been awarded on a negative number (buy job) for between $250K and 1 million. For us it all comes down to making a fair profit at the end of the project. Buying the job or reducing the cost based on the recycled assets is just part of the game. I think our business will continue to prosper and grow hand-in-hand with new development and can even do okay in a down cycle like we are experiencing today, because unfortunately
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manufacturing companies are going out of business and industrial plants are closing, which brings new business and new development. It has been a rollercoaster ride the last few years, however we are positioned to ride it out and we remain confident that an upswing is eminent.” Some of the costs that have to be maintained during times like these include an office and yard, operators, administrative staff, as well as an entire fleet of construction equipment including 15 high and low side end dumps and a 44 ton low bed. ATS Inc. owns and operates six Hitachi excavators including the Hitachi ZX 210Lc, ZX330Lc, ZX350Lc, ZX370 and pair of Hitachi EX450Lc’s. The Hitachi 350 ZX was
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purchased from Coastline Equipment as a low hour rental machine. Art comments, “We have a good relationship with Coastline Equipment and our sales person Lisa Ramey. We will most likely be updating some of our fleet soon with Tier III and Tier IV new or low hour Hitachi excavators. We plan to replace one or both of the 450’s in the next 6 to 18 months. We rely on our Hitachi excavators in conditions that are less then desirable at times. Many of our operators have come over from other companies that are mostly running the Big C brand of excavators, but are convinced the first day how quick and powerful the Hitachi machines are in the same class. They can really take a beating in this business and
we need machinery and a dealer that can keep us up and running. We look to Coastline to continue to serve our needs in the future.” Headquartered in South Gate, California, Arts Transportation Service, Inc. was first established as a recycling and demolition materials transportation company (AG Transport). Today the company is a full service demolition contractor that primarily serves Southern California, but they will provide operators and equipment anywhere they are needed. For more information on Arts Transportation Service, Inc., they may be contacted at awgersjes@gmail.com. Cc
(Above Left) Arts Transportation Service, Inc. using their LaBounty Shear to remove metal roofing in Chino Hills, CA. (Above Right) Sorting and loading scrap metal. (Left) Hitachi 350 ZX purchased from Coastline Equipment loading one of Arts trucks.
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New Direction, New Equipment, Paves The Way for Success For California Arbor Care
Two decisions — made several years apart — have helped tree-care professional Mike Parker navigate through difficult economic times. As part of his company strategy he: • Entered the commercial side of the business a dozen years ago when the residential market began to slow down. • Invested in the best equipment available when business was good. Parker, who owns California Arbor Care, and his 25 employees provide tree-care services throughout the Los Angeles area, including San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange Counties. When he started in 1989, his focus was on the residential sector. That all began to change in the late 1990s. “The residential market was still good, but I recognized that it was beginning to slow down,” he says. 20
“And there was increased competition as well. It was time to start concentrating on commercial accounts. That coincided with the purchase of my first Vermeer equipment. I needed improved product performance and better dealer support to take on larger customers.” Today residential work accounts for only 10 percent of his business. Commercial customers include property management firms, commercial and industrial complexes, shopping centers, apartment complexes, golf courses, hospitals, churches, schools, cities and contractors. “This is our main bread-and-butter type of work,” says Parker. “They typically call us every one to three years for regular tree trimming. It’s good repeat business. So, too, are the homeowner associations, where we
2011 Concrete Construction Issue CALCONTRACTOR
handle the common areas, trimming, removal and planting. This market was difficult to break into, but once you get in and do a good job, there can be significant opportunities. One customer could have as many as 40 to 50 properties. Plus, the work often lasts three to five days.” For some time, California Arbor Care had a sizeable volume of demolition jobs, removing trees as a subcontractor for demolition firms that were taking down buildings. That type of work, says Parker, has declined 30 to 40 percent. Overall, his business is down almost 50 percent from five years ago. “It has not been fun, that’s for sure,” he says. “However, each time I meet with my accountant, things seem a little better than I think. So I take some satisfaction in surviving this economic downturn.” www.calcontractor.com
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A major factor was purchasing good equipment when his company was generating more income. Parker typically sends out four tree crews each with a Vermeer BC1800XL brush chipper and a separate stump removal crew with a Vermeer SC372 stump cutter. “The investment I made a few years ago in these Vermeer products is really paying off as we go through this slump,” says Parker. “The equipment is still in good shape and very productive.” His company is big on preventive maintenance and relies on Vermeer Pacific to handle major service. “During the last few years, we have had to really tighten up and watch what we spend,” says Parker. “With our top-of-the-line equipment, our repair expenses have been very limited and the fact that these machines continue to deliver outstanding performance day after day has really helped us survive and look optimistically toward the future.” Cc
New Holland Construction Focuses on Compact Products Racine, Wis (Sept 15, 2011) – New Holland Construction today announced that in North America it will refocus on its strengths: the compact product lines for the landscaping, utility, residential construction and agriculture industries, among others. As a result, starting in 2012 New Holland Construction will begin withdrawing from the North American market its crawler dozers, motor graders, 80+ horsepower wheel loaders, 6+ ton excavators, and telescopic handlers. New Holland Construction will continue to offer compact products and associated attachments, including www.calcontractor.com
the successful skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, tractor loaders, loader backhoes, compact wheel loaders, and compact excavators.
This announcement only concerns the North American market, as New Holland Construction will continue to sell the heavy equipment product lines in all other world markets. “New Holland Construction’s heritage in North America is a great source of pride and we are pleased with the success of our compact line. We are committed to providing our New Holland Construction customers with the superior equipment performance they expect,” commented Jim Hasler, Vice President of CNH Construction, North America. Cc
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Rentals - Sales - Service - Parts Coastline Equipment Crane Division Is Better And Stonger Than Ever!
The past year has brought many changes to Coastline Equipment Crane Division and they are very pleased to announce that all of the changes have made them better and stronger than ever before! Mid-year 2011 financials have come to culmination and Coastline Equipment Crane Division’s sales have seen substantial growth over the last year in all areas of sales covering Rentals, Sales, Service and Parts. Due to the high volume increase in sales they have placed additional stock orders with their manufacturers and are looking forward to increasing the Tadano Rough Terrain Cranes, Skyjack Reach Forklifts, and Manitex Boom Trucks in their fleet to www.calcontractor.com
better accommodate their customers and make sure that they can continue to fulfill their customer’s needs for quality equipment with quality service and support. Coastline is pleased to announce the long awaited arrival of the new GR750XL-2 75ton, and GR1000XL-2 100ton Tadano Rough Terrain Cranes that they have recently added to their fleet for rentals and sales. They are also waiting in anticipation for the Manitex Boom Trucks that they have on order. Just a few of the Manitex Boom Trucks that they have on order are the 50128S, 40124SHL, 35124C, 26101C and the 2281T Tractor Mounts. Coastline is also adding
more ZoomBoom 20044 Reach Forklifts to their fleet. Coastline Equipment would like to thank all of their remarkable customers for their outstanding support during the past years and assure them that Coastline Equipment Crane Division is standing stronger than ever, and ready to fulfill your crane and reach forklift needs. Founded in 1984, Coastline Equipment is proud to be a full service crane dealship providing rentals, sales, service and parts to all makes and models of cranes and forklifts. For more information on Coastline Equipment Crane Division, please call 888-814-3942 or visit them at www.coastlinecd.com. Cc
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Johnson Machinery’s repower team: (Back L to R) Dennis Madden, Jack Howell, Dan Flowers, Pete Fournier, Marcario Garcia, Art Baniwas, Terry Cox; (Front L to R) Ed Hopper, Tony Saylor, Gary Young and Paul Crafts.
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Johnson Machinery has recently completed the world’s first-ever repower on a Caterpillar D11N TrackType Tractor with exciting results. A crew of seven spent four weeks working on Caterpillar’s largest Track-Type Tractor. Johnson Machinery and CES (Cat Emissions Solutions) have been working on the plan and logistics for repowering this large 211,000-pound machine for the past year. According to Duane Valantine, Service Operations Manager, the process was initiated by a customer’s request for a repower. “Caterpillar’s diligence coupled with Johnson Machinery’s expertise resulted in a viable solution for the customer,” Duane comments. The repower process involved replacing the existing Caterpillar 3508 MUI 850-horsepower engine with an ACERT C27 Tier 2 875horsepower engine. The cooling system was changed from a folded-core radiator to Caterpillar’s Advanced Modular Cooling System (AMOCS). Repowering this machine reduces Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) by 41%, and the particulate matter (PM) by 44%. Johnson Machinery completed this repower for Sukut Construction, Inc., California’s largest mass excavation and grading contractor. The D11N is typically used for mining and new road construction, and Sukut Construction uses their machine for larger projects. Johnson Machinery has been a leader in the repower development. The Johnson repower team has performed well over 280 repowers since 2002. “We started with the Tier 1 repowers, and as technology has advanced, we’ve moved into Tier 2 and 3 repowers,” Duane explains. “Everybody is focused on clean engines and emission-reduction. www.calcontractor.com
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Caterpillar’s planning and Johnson’s capabilities have been able to produce viable, cost-effective solutions.” A new Caterpillar D11T costs around $1.4 million, while the repower Johnson Machinery completed on Sukut Construction’s machine provided a significant price savings. “Repowering equipment can be an economical choice for the customer, and the result of reduced
emissions is beneficial all the way around,” said Duane. Johnson Machinery has been the Caterpillar dealer in Riverside and San Bernardino counties since 1940. They are headquartered in Riverside, with locations in Fontana, Indio, Temecula, and Victorville. For more information, look online at www.johnson-machinery.com or call (951) 686-4560. Cc
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Caterpillar Expands Its Mini Excavator Range to 0.9 - 2.7 Tons With the Introduction of the 300.9D, 301,4C and 302.7D CR Caterpillar is extending its market leading range of mini excavators, with the addition of three models with operating weights of 2061 lbs (935kg), 3340 lbs (1515kg ) and 5886 lbs (2670kg). The 300.9D weighs in at just 2061 lbs (935kg), making it the smallest machine in the Cat range. With an overall width of just 28.7 in (730mm), this machine is capable of driving through a standard doorway, providing easy access to the most confined job sites. This will prove popular with homebuilders, rental companies and demolition contractors. A powerful water-cooled threecylinder diesel engine produces 18.4 hp (13.7kW); along with a twin gear pump hydraulic system creates a maximum stick breakout force of 1011 lbf (4.5kN) and a maximum bucket breakout force of 2000 lbf (8.9kN). The machine comes equipped with an extending undercarriage and fold-out dozer blade, ensuring maximum stability and allowing a digging depth of up to 69.4 in (1,731mm) and a maximum excavation radius of 121.7 in (3,074mm). With an operating weight of 29213340 lbs (1,325-1,515kg), depending on specification, the Cat 301.4C fits into the line-up below the current 301.8C, extending choice in the popular 1.5 ton market. The machine is available with a choice of cab or FOPS/TOPS canopy, and with standard or extending width undercarriage. Power comes from a 24 hp (17.9kW) engine and the machine boasts a maximum bucket breakout 26
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force of 3597 lbf (16.0 kN) and a stick force of 1596 lbf (7kN). The machine has good working range with a maximum digging depth of 143.5 in (2,240mm) and reach at ground level extends to 145.7 in (3,640mm). The maximum lift capacity to the front of the machine is 1576 lb (715kg). Lift capacity over the side of the machine is 739 lb (335kg)with the retracted 39 in (990mm) width tracks, rising to 1091 lb (495kg) with the standard 51.2 in (1,300mm) extendable tracks. Tipping the scales at 5681 lb (2,577kg) with a canopy and 5886 lb (2,670kg) with full cab, the 302.7D CR is the lightest Cat compact radius model, making it easy to transport for a rental company or contractor.
2011 Concrete Construction Issue CALCONTRACTOR
Powered by the same proven 24 hp (17.9kW) engine as the 301.4C, the machine boasts a load sensing hydraulic system, providing a maximum bucket force of 5058 lbf (22.5kN) and a maximum stick force of 3462 lbf (21.76kN). Maximum lift capacity is an impressive 2105 lb (955 kg) with the standard long arm and counterweight combination. When lifting over the side the extra counterweight allows a maximum lift capacity of 1373 lb (623 kg) at a reach of 98 in. (2.5 m) and ground level. Customers should contact their local Cat dealer for more information about the less than 3 ton excavators. Cc
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RDO Equipment Co. Announces New Rental Brand: RDO Rents The Company Also Announces the Relocation of Their Poway Store OCTOBER 6, 2011: RDO Equipment Co. is pleased to announce the creation of a new rental brand within the organization: RDO Rents. This brand demonstrates RDO Equipment Co.’s expanding rental operation and pride in the RDO name. The RDO Rents brand is currently utilized in the southern construction stores, which include Riverside and Lakeside, Calif.; Flagstaff, Phoenix, Prescott, and Tucson, Ariz.; Austin, Fort Worth, Irving, Laredo, San Antonio, and Waco, Texas. It will also be introduced in the company’s southwest agriculture stores, which include Imperial, Indio, Salinas, and Watsonville, Calif.; Ehrenberg, Wellton, and Yuma, Ariz. RDO Equipment Co. expanded its rental operation in 2009 when B&B Heavy Equipment Sales & Rentals, Inc., based in Lakeside, California, became part of the RDO Equipment Co. organization. With the acquisition, the two organizations adopted the name, B&B Equipment Rental by RDO Equipment Co. The name was familiar to Southwest rental
customers, and for the first time was linked to RDO Equipment Co. Today the operation and location formerly known as B&B Equipment Rental by RDO Equipment Co. is now RDO Rents and RDO Equipment Co. – Lakeside, respectively. Dennis Howard serves as Director of Rental Operations. He was previously the Director of Inventory Valuation and was responsible for the company’s used construction fleet, as well as General Manager for the Irving and Fort Worth, Texas locations. Howard has over 20 years in the construction equipment business.
“This shift in our name to RDO Equipment Co. doesn’t change our commitment to our customers’ rental needs,” says Howard. “Our company’s promise to support the rent-to-rent business has increased significantly and will allow us to provide total solutions for our customers.” Poway store to relocate to the Lakeside store by end of year In addition to the announcement of RDO Rents and the B&B Rental name change, plans are underway for the current John Deere Construction and Vermeer store, located in Poway, Calif., to relocate to the Lakeside location. This transition is set to be completed in late 2011. Gary Young, General Manager at Poway, will remain General Manager for the combined store at Lakeside. “Combining the Poway and Lakeside locations allows us to better serve all our customers by fully capitalizing on the state-of-the-art Lakeside facility. Streamlining our processes will make us a better business partner and easier to do business with,” adds Young. Cc
Dynapac Names Brian Burke Western Regional Manager Commerce City, CO – Brian Burke has been named the western regional manager for Dynapac USA. Based out of his home office in the Seattle area, Burke is responsible for selling road construction products in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, and Hawaii. He will work with Dynapac independent dealers to maintain existing www.calcontractor.com
accounts and will help cultivate new customers. Burke will also conduct application and product training. Burke reports directly to Steve Cole, Dynapac vice president, western region. With a business degree from the University of Texas Arlington, Burke has 21 years in the construction equipment business, with the last 10 years focused on road machinery. Cc
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Quality you can rely on
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For details, contact your local Komatsu distributor.
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Volvo EC250D and EC300D The New Brute Force From Volvo
www.clairemontequipment.com
7651 Ronson Rd. San Diego, CA 92111 Office: 858-278-8351 Fax: 858-492-9959 San Diego 4726 Convoy St. Office: 858-278-8338 Fax: 858-278-4845 Escondido 1330 Mission Rd. Office: 760-739-9100 Fax: 760-739-8888 Fontana 8520 Cherry Ave. Office: 909-429-9100 Fax: 909-429-9397 Imperial 440 West Aten Rd. Office: 760-355-7700 Fax: 760-355-7704 Indio 81-501 Industrial Place Office: 760-863-5558 Fax: 760-863-0959
The new EC250D and EC300D excavators from Volvo Construction Equipment are heavy duty machines that weigh 54,230 to 61,730 pounds (24.6 to 28 tonnes) and 66,140 to 73,630 pounds (30 to 33 tonnes) respectively. Meeting the requirements of the strictest emissions legislation, these powerful and reliable machines excel in heavy digging and lifting duties, offering superior cycle times and greater fuel efficiency. In fact, these machines offer improvements in fuel efficiency over the models they replace by between 9 to 13 percent. Both machines are fitted with Tier 4i certified Volvo D8H engines, delivering lower emissions and high fuel efficiency. These engines feature a waste-gate turbo, externally cooled exhaust gas re-circulation (EGR) and a combination of diesel oxygen catalyst (DOC) and diesel particulate filters (DPF) with partial fuel burner and active regeneration. Maximum power is 202 hp for the EC250D and 227 hp for the EC300D — a 10 percent increase in overall power with up to 13 percent higher fuel efficiency. From mass excavation and
loading to utility and construction, these machines have the versatility and ability to cope with a wide range of tasks. Fitted with Contronics, the advanced mode selection system, operators can choose from five working modes that best suit the job in hand. This not only tailors the performance to the application, it also optimizes the use of fuel. Modes include Idle, Fine, General, and Heavy. Performance can be further matched to the task by an attachment management system, which stores up to 18 different attachment presets. This allows hydraulic flow and pressure adjustments to be accurately set, according to the needs of the tool being used, at just the touch of a button. Both the EC250D and EC300D feature easy maintenance. Grouped, ground level filters and service points are simpler and safer to access via wide opening compartment doors. For more information on the new Volvo EC250D and EC300D Excavators, please call Volvo Construction Equipment & Services at (951) 277-7620 or visit them at www.vcesvolvo.com. Cc
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ADVERTISERSINDEX Art’s Trench Plate & K-Rail ....30
Nixon-Egli Equipment Co. ............
Asphalt Pavement Association
......................................Back Cover
of California................................19
Quinn Company ..........................2
Clairemont Equipment ....28, 29
RDO RENTS ..................................5
Coastline Equipment ..........3, 22
Trench Shoring Co. ..................13
Coastline Equipment Crane
UB Equipment Corp. ..................9
Division........................................15
RDO Equip. / Vermeer ................5
Hawthorne CAT ........................31
Volvo Construction Equipment &
Heavy Equipment Rentals ......15
Services ......................................13
Contact Kerry Hoover at Construction Marketing Services, LLC for advertising rates and information, or if you would like to be featured in an upcoming issue of CalContractor Magazine.
909-772-3121
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www.calcontractor.com
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(Left) Challenge Asphalt’s new LeeBoy 8510B paving machine purchased from Nixon-Egli Equipment Co. (Above L to R) Mike, Curt and Dewayne Copus, Challenge Asphalt.
Dewayne Copus founded Challenge Asphalt in 1960. Today, they specialize in installing asphalt parking lots, driveways, roads and tennis courts, in addition to maintenance work with hot patching, slurry sealing and striping services. Challenge Asphalt has one of the most experienced, professional crews in Santa Barbara County working full time to ensure quality installations for all of their commercial and residential clients. They have a crew of 20, now led by Dewayne's oldest son, Mike Copus, who has been with the family firm for over 30 years. Mike’s son Kurt is also now on board and represents the Copus third generation. A professional and well-trained crew, unbeatable customer service and state of the art equipment is the backbone of challenge Asphalt. They recently took delivery of a brand new LeeBoy 8510B asphalt-paving machine from Nixon-Egli Equipment Co. Mike Copus, Vice President, Challenge Asphalt comments, “This is our sixth LeeBoy paving machine – so obviously we believe in the product. The size and production of this machine fits perfectly with the scope of our work. Our operators like the LeeBoy 8510B paving machine because it’s very responsive and user friendly. Another reason we like LeeBoy pavers is the Legend Screed System, famous for producing seamless mats up to 15 feet in width.” Mike adds, “Nixon-Egli Equipment has been wonderful to work with all of these years. They stand behind their product and have always been there for us when we have needed them. Chris Doring, their sales representative, is a great asset to the company as well. He is a no-nonsense, straightforward person, just a good guy to do business with. He makes everything comfortable – like doing business with an old friend. We’ll continue to rely on Chris and Nixon-Egli for all of our paving needs.” For further information about LeeBoy paving products please contact Nixon-Egli Equipment at their Ontario or Tracy locations.
California’s Largest General Line Construction and Municipal Equipment Dealer. So. California: 2044 S. Vineyard Ave., Ontario, CA 91761 • (909) 930-1822 No. California: 800 E. Grant Line Rd., Tracy, CA 95304 • (209) 830-8600 www.nixon-egli.com