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equipmentworld.com | February 2019
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GAINING CONVERTS Excavator machine control fans tout ease, efficiency
Learning the logistics of DEF... P.
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Vol. 31 Number 2 |
Cover Story
table of contents | February 2019
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MACHINE MATTERS:
INTELLIGENT EXCAVATORS RULE THE MARKETPLACE The challenge: finding the machine controls that match your needs
Equipment 13
Marketplace
New heavy equipment from Cat, Case and Deere. Polaris’ new UTVs. Product launches from Talbert and LockNLube.
46 Landscaping Attachments
49
Dig, rake, grab and cut with these 9 attachments for skid steers, wheel loaders, excavators and dozers.
How Cat’s electric drive D6 XE dozer delivers max torque and big payback.
Product Report
EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019
3
table of contents | continued
Features
®
26 Road Works
equipmentworld.com facebook.com/EquipmentWorld twitter.com/Equipment_World
33 Maintenance/Management
Editorial Director: Marcia Gruver Doyle Executive Editor: Tom Jackson Online Editor: Wayne Grayson Senior Editor: Joy Powell Managing Editor: Don McLoud Contributing Writer: Richard Ries editorial@equipmentworld.com
Drones cut time, costs and safety risks for roadbuilding and bridge inspections. Learning the logistics of DEF.
43 Contractor of the Year Finalist
Tommy and Romayne Turner, Turner Reed, Liberty Hill, Texas
Media Sales Geoffrey Love: gdlove@randallreilly.com Pete Austin: paustin@randallreilly.com Drew Ingram: drewingram@randallreilly.com Patsy Adams: padams@randallreilly.com Jordan Arsenault: jordanarsenault@randallreilly.com Art Director: Tony Brock Advertising Production Manager: Leah Boyd production@equipmentworld.com
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Departments 7 On Record Adoption
9 Reporter New, sweeping aerial lift standards to take effect in one year. 41 Quick Data Dozers
50 Technology
Honda invents autonomous construction robot and wants you to help figure out how to use it.
51 Safety Watch The guillotine
58 Final Word
What’s the harm in smoking a little reefer after work?
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February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Chairman Emeritus: Mike Reilly President and CEO: Brent Reilly Chief Operations Officer: Shane Elmore Chief Financial Officer: Kim Fieldbinder Senior Vice President, Sales: Scott Miller Senior Vice President, Editorial and Research: Linda Longton Senior Vice President, Audience Data: Prescott Shibles Vice President, Events: Stacy McCants Vice President, Digital Services: Nick Reid Vice President, Marketing: Julie Arsenault Vice President, Business Analyst: Joe Donald Director of Media Sales: Seth Becker Vice President, Strategic Accounts: Michael Newman For change of address and other subscription inquiries, please contact: equipmentworld@halldata.com Editorial Awards: Best Editorial Series, 2018, Construction Media Alliance Eddie award for B-to-B Series of Articles, 2016 Highways 2.0, Folio: magazine Editorial Excellence, Original Research, Silver Award, 2016 American Society of Business Publication Editors Jesse H. Neal Award, Better Roads, 2011 American Business Media Robert F. Boger Award for Special Reports, 2006, 2007, 2008 Construction Writers Association Jesse H. Neal Award, Best Subject-Related Series of Articles, 2006 American Business Media Editorial Excellence Special Section Gold Award, 2006 Midwest-South Region, American Society of Business Publication Editors
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on record | by Marcia Gruver Doyle MGruver@randallreilly.com
Adoption
I
have a highly impractical suggestion to combat our construction workforce shortage: adopt. This thought has recently been underscored by conversations I’ve had with five contractors, all under 30. Two of them are now partially out on their own, determined to grow companies that at the same time remain small. Three others are in positions of responsibility, working their way up from grunt to foreman to estimators and division leaders. They all have one thing in common: they have been or still are part of a family construction business. Mostly it’s father to son, but in one instance, it’s uncle to nephew. What is it about a family construction business that draws these young people in? As many contractors know, it’s not always a given that the next generation will fall in line. Many older contractors acknowledge to me that they’re mighty lucky when a son or daughter or another family member raises their hand. If it’s just a gene trait that’s handed down, then my adoption suggestion is for naught. But in this particular heredity-versusenvironment argument, environment wins. Think about what’s learned just by being around parents or relatives who are in the midst of creating a thriving construction firm: how your word is your bond, how to muscle through a tough job, how to treat the people who are essential to your family’s continued success. Not to mention the cool toys.
“I’ve been running machines my whole life and started working when I was 9,” a 27-year-old told me. “I was making $3 an hour doing odd jobs after school and that was a lot of money to a 9-year-old.” “I’ve been working outside with equipment my whole life,” says a 28-year-old, who first had a stint with another company before coming back into his parents’ firm. That sales job gave him great preparation for stepping back in. “I’ve always been close with my family and this gave me the opportunity to continue in sales,” he says. “I like the smaller feel of the company and the future is bright.” “I just haven’t done anything else that I enjoy as much,” adds his 26-year-old brother. And this from yet another young gun: “I guess I was just born into it. I would be bored with doing the same thing every day.” Of course, these are young men who have the opportunity to take over when the present leadership calls it quits. And one of them is forging his own path, getting into site development while his parents remain in landscaping. Still, out of all of the choices a young person has these days, they chose construction. They chose to forgo an 8-to-5 job and ride the market cycles that make this an uncertain business. They were raised in it, and they’re staying. Now if we could just raise a few more…
EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 7
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reporter Briefs Sunbelt Rentals has bought Underground Safety Equipment, which specializes in renting trench safety equipment, including aluminum and steel trench shields and aluminum hydraulic trench shores. It has eight locations from Arkansas to Utah.
| staff report
New, sweeping aerial lift standards to take effect in one year
Morbark has acquired Canadian-based brushcutter-mulcher attachment manufacturer Denis CIMAF. Denis designs and manufactures land-clearing attachments for excavators, skid steers, forestry tractors and crawler trucks. Retail sales reported by Caterpillar’s North American dealers were up 20 percent in November, the highest growth of all four regional markets. Globally, Cat dealers reported an increase of 16 percent for the month. Cat also reported that Tom Frake is the new vice president of the company’s Excavation Division. Harry Yoshida has become the next president and CEO of Kubota Tractor Corporation and Kubota North America and is based at the company’s North American headquarters in Grapevine, Texas. Yoshida was based in Osaka, Japan, as the managing executive officer, GM of farm and industrial machinery domain, strategy and operations. Charles K. Patterson has retired as president of Southeastern Equipment after a 46-year career with the company. Mickey Gourley, who has been with Southeastern since 1999, has been promoted from vice president to president. John Deere dealership Nortrax has a new president and CEO, following Tim Murphy’s retirement. Chris P. Holmes, who has been with Nortrax since 1985, has been promoted from vice president of product support and marketing to fill the position.
(continued on following page)
A
long-awaited overhaul to standards governing aerial lifts will take effect in December 2019. The new standards affect contractors, rental operations, dealers, equipment manufacturers, and equipment operators and their supervisors. The expansive overhaul even changes the name of the devices from aerial work platforms (AWPs) to “mobile elevating work platforms” (MEWPs). “It is very important that all owners and users of MEWPs be aware of the key changes in these updated standards and implement plans to become compliant if they haven’t already,” says Tony Groat, North America manager for the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF). The standards were approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and published by the institute December
10. The new ANSI A92 standards are similar to those by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) that have been in effect since May. The new standards cover MEWP design as well as safe use and training standards. The standards require all companies and individuals to be compliant within one year of the effective date of publication, says Groat. MEWPs built before the standards take effect will be grandfathered in. The standards call for training for platform operators, occupants and supervisors. Contractors and rental shops will need to spend more time determining which lifts are appropriate for a job. Along with training requirements, the machines will require new technology to address such issues as chassis tilt, platform overloading and wind effect on load. –Don McLoud EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019
9
reporter |
continued
Komatsu America-owned dealers to sell BOMAG road equipment
B
OMAG Americas and Komatsu America say Komatsu’s six company-owned dealerships have entered a new arrangement for the sale and support of BOMAG equipment. The deal covers BOMAG’s compaction, milling, paving and reclaiming/stabilizing equipment for roadbuilding and other
construction markets. The dealerships are Edward Ehrbar, Komatsu Equipment Company, Komatsu Northeast, Komatsu Southwest, Midlantic Machinery and Pine Bush Equipment. They will serve BOMAG customers in Fairfield County, Connecticut; Delaware; Maryland; Nevada; New Jersey; New Mexico; southern New York; Utah; Wyoming; and in the El Paso, Texas, market. The deal follows the parting of ways between three of these dealers and Wirtgen Group in March 2018 following Wirtgen’s acquisition by John Deere. For customers, the collaboration with BOMAG creates access to new, used and rental equipment, along with spare parts, planned service maintenance and repairs. –Joy Powell
Contractors optimistic about 2019, despite labor shortage, trade war
M
ost contractors expect to increase their hiring in 2019 and see a similar dollar volume in projects as they did in 2018, according to the 2019 Construction Outlook Survey by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate. Survey results indicate 79 percent of the 1,312 responding contractors will expand their workforce, AGC says. That’s 10 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
up from 75 percent from the 2018 survey. At the same time, 78 percent report having difficulty hiring workers – the same level as the 2018 survey. The worker shortage was cited as the top concern of contractors for 2019, at 30 percent. Despite the trade war with China, only 4 percent of contractors cited rising material costs as a top concern, according to the survey. –Don McLoud
Briefs (continued) Haulotte Americas has named Bronson Anderson to the position of western United States regional sales representative. Anderson comes to Haulotte with a 20-year background in the rental industry and construction project management. The Milwaukee Common Council has approved Komatsu Mining’s plans for a headquarters campus near the city’s lakefront, clearing the way for the company to select a design team and general contractor, says dailyreporter. com. The company says it plans to begin the $285 million project this year. Doosan Infracore North America has opened a 100,000-square-foot parts distribution center in Suwanee, Georgia, to speed parts delivery to dealers and customers. The center will be run by logistics company DHL Supply Chain, which Doosan contracted with as a third party.
For more on each of these stories go to equipmentworld.com.
B O B C A T. C O M / T O U G H C O N S T R U C T I O N
Bobcat ® equipment makes more of whatever you bring to the job: versatility, speed, agility or toughness. When you’re behind the controls, you’ll get it done. 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. ©2019 Bobcat Company. All rights reserved. | 1360
marketplace
| by Don McLoud |
DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com
CASE INTRODUCES NEW C-SERIES MOTOR GRADERS
Case Construction Equipment has launched the first models in its C-Series motor grader lineup, saying the new machines are easier to operate and offer a wide range of weights and horsepower ratings. The new 836C and 856C will come in standard and all-wheel drive configurations. They range in weight from 24,466 to 34,848 pounds and in power from
Industry-leading UTV payload, towing capacity Polaris designed its new lineup of UTVs for work in all kinds of environments – with industry-leading payload of 1,930 pounds and a 2,500-pound towing capacity. The line of utility task vehicles consists of the four-passenger PRO XD 4000D with all-wheel drive and the two-passenger PRO XD 2000D with either two-wheel or all-wheel drive. They run on a 24.5-horsepower Kubota Tier 4 Final diesel engine, reaching a top speed of 26 mph. To boost towing and payload capacities, the company designed a rigid-frame chassis and boosted suspension.
EDI T PICOR’S K
138 to 190 horsepower. An Ergopower transmission and torque converter provide “smooth automatic shifting,” Case says, and an exclusive A-frame drawbar design adds stability. Other features include an expandable moldboard designed to tilt, pitch and move laterally and intelligent load-sensing hydraulic circuits.
Making faster loaders John Deere’s new 244L and 324L compact wheel loaders come with a boost in speed, better maneuverability and a redesigned cab, the company says. The loaders are equipped with Deere’s Articulation Plus steering system, combining an articulating frame and rear-wheel steer. Deere increased speed 21 percent over the 244K and 324K, which the L-Series models replace. The loaders can reach 23 mph. They feature a new auto-shift hydrostatic transmission, so operators don’t have to manually shift gears to reach higher speeds. EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 13
marketplace
| continued
Trailer switches to comply with state regs Talbert’s 60CC/55SA-LD lowboy trailer can be configured in a variety of ways to help operators meet differing state regulations. The trailer can be operated as a spread-axle configuration with a 55-ton capacity or a closed-coupled configuration with a 60-ton capacity. To achieve the 60-ton capacity the trailer is paired with an optional East Coast-style E1Nitro spreader for a 3+1 axle configuration. The E1Nitro distributes weight proportionally to each axle grouping. The trailer has a deck height of 18 inches. Ground clearance is 6 inches.
Single shot or continuous greasing LockNLube says its new LNL261 pneumatic grease gun is the first to provide both single-shot and continuousdelivery modes. The user can change modes by toggle switch. The single-shot mode delivers 6,000 pounds per square inch. Continuous delivery provides a stream of 5 ounces per minute. The company says the grease gun is light enough to prevent operator fatigue during long stretches of greasing. The gun comes with the LockNLube Grease Coupler, which the company says locks on to all Zerk fittings, is leak-proof and releases with a thumb lever. It also comes with an inline hose swivel and 30-inch grease hose.
Boosting lifting power Cat’s new backhoe loader, the 440, optimizes engine speed and pump displacement and boasts a completely reengineered hydraulic infrastructure for the operator station, the company says. The backhoe also features adjustable auxiliary hydraulic flow for optimized attachment operation. It is powered by a Cat C4.4 ACERT engine providing 109 horsepower. The C4.4 is mated to an Autoshift transmission with a sixth gear for improved road performance. Cat also boosted backhoe lifting power 25 percent over the 430F2. Loader lifting capacity is 8,862 pounds.
These product introductions are just a few of the many featured regularly on equipmentworld.com. 14 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
“Level Best is Best in Class”
Precision grading to
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Doug Whitlock, Sales Ozark Laser, Springfield, MO
“ There are wannabes, but Level Best is tops in fine grading equipment.” AS SALESMAN AT OZARK LASER, DOUG WHITLOCK IS AN EXPERT IN LASER GUIDED GRADING EQUIPMENT. HE’S SOLD ON LEVEL BEST.
“My job is to create happy customers. For fine grading equipment I always recommend Level Best because I know it’s extremely well made, highly maneuverable, and they always have the latest technology. Basically, Level Best makes my customers very happy.” See Doug at Level-Best.com
Lower costs, better bids, more jobs. For about half the cost of a new pickup truck you can grade with unrivaled precision and get a significant competitive edge on nearly every job you bid. Here’s how. Always the latest technologies.
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machine matters
| by Richard Ries
INTELLIGENT EXCAVATO RULE THE MARKETPLAC The challenge: finding the machine controls that match your needs
16 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
ORS CE
Access panels on Doosan excavators are easy to find and open from the top, bottom and sides of the machine. Access to all filters is at ground level, and grease points are centralized. The DX225LC-5 shown here is rated at 166 gross horsepower and has an operating weight of 52,086 pounds. Four power modes and a Smart Power Control improve efficiency while maintaining productivity.
The largest of Hitachi’s reduced-tailswing excavators, the ZX345USLC-6 is powered by an Isuzu engine rated at 249 horsepower. A rotary dial gives the operator easy access to machine information and functions, while short-throw pilot levers provide smooth operation and minimum wrist fatigue. A fuel recirculation system helps prevent fuel gelling in cold conditions.
The TB2150 is the largest and most powerful excavator in the U.S. Takeuchi line. Operating weight with steel tracks is 35,274 pounds and maximum digging depth is 18 feet. Power comes from a Deutz 3.6-liter turbocharged engine rated at 114 horsepower. Standard features include a pivot boom, dozer blade and automatic deceleration. EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 17
I
machine matters
| continued
n the early days of machine control the customer had two options: take it or leave it. When manufacturers started bundling basic packages as standard equipment, the “leave it” option started to fade away. The early-adopter contractors heralded the arrival of machine control as the best thing since hydraulics, but many felt it was costly and unnecessary. Some operators resented the suggestion that they needed software to be proficient. The market has matured. OEMs offer a menu of packages from simple indicate systems to those nearing autonomous machine operation. Now customers are interested in getting the right package for their specific needs. Even seasoned operators appreciate the ease and convenience of machine control.
1D, 2D, 3D Contractors can now choose the level of machine control and whether to opt for technology that’s scalable and upgradeable. They aren’t stuck forever with the package they initially purchased nor do they have to buy a new machine to get a higher level of control technology when their needs change. Upgradeability gives customers the confidence to start with the lowest-featured offering that meets their immediate needs while knowing they can upgrade later with minimal hassle. The flagship model of Cat’s new next-gen excavators, the 330, comes with 2D Grade as standard. Through a touchscreen monitor, the system provides guidance for depth, slope and horizontal distance to grade. Grade Assist, also standard, automates boom, stick and bucket movements for single-lever, on-grade digging. Upgrades to Advanced 2D and 3D grading are available. Max Winemiller of Case Construction Equipment gives an overview of one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) systems. “In the simplest terms, 1D systems are designed to regulate single plane grade and slope,” Winemiller says. “2D systems regulate grade and slope with many variations needed on the work site. 3D systems regulate grade and slope dependent on the positioning of the machine across the entire work site, based on GNSS machine position, laser-guided sensors or total stations, and changing map and worksite topography.” Each level provides significantly more information, precision and functionality. Aaron Kleingartner, marketing manager, Doosan Infracore North America, says a 2D system can maintain grade during backfill. “If the operator wants to add 8 inches of Class 5 gravel in a trench, the system can be used to do that and stay at grade.” With a 3D system, the operator can move and feed material anywhere on a jobsite. “3D helps sculpt and mold the site to plan. In a drainage system, for example, you can add and remove material to control where water comes from and where it goes.” Regardless of the system, it’s important to note that none compensates for tooth and cutting-edge wear, says Matt McLean, excavator product manager, Volvo. In systems with centimeter accuracy, wear can significantly affect accuracy so recalibrating occasionally is an important step. “It only takes three to five minutes,” says McLean. 18 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
The minimum-swing CX145D from Case features a compact counterweight and modified boom placement to deliver maximum performance in a small footprint. Options include a dozer blade configuration and the choice of steel or rubber tracks. Operating weight is 32,100 pounds, and bucket digging force is up to 21,400 foot-pounds.
The Cat 330 comes with Cat Payload, which provides real-time payload estimates to help prevent over- and under-loading trucks. The new Lift Assist feature helps operators safely lift heavy objects without tipping. Visual and audial cues indicate whether the load is within the excavator’s working limits.
With the PC390LCi-11, Komatsu brought 3D semiautomatic digging to a size class offering the nimbleness and speed of 36-ton machines and the stability of larger models. Intelligent Machine Control joysticks and realistic 3D display on an 8-inch touchscreen provide speed and efficiency of operation. Operating weight is up to 90,441 pounds.
D SERIES EXCAVATORS PUT FASTER CYCLE TIMES TO THE TEST. More moved per hour. Fewer costs per day. Better visibility, greater comfort, stronger wear parts and common-sense controls that easily adapt to any job or operator. This is how CASE excavators help take your business to the next level. But don’t take our word for it. See for yourself.
S C H E D U L E YO U R WA L K A R O U N D O R D E M O T O DAY:
CaseCE.com/TradeUp
ProCare is a factory fit program available on new heavy machine orders. Š2019 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CASE is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.
machine matters
| continued The HX330L from Hyundai has a 77,270-pound operating weight and is powered by a Cummins QSL9 engine rated at 270 net horsepower. Bucket range is 1.88 to 2.75 cubic yards. Maximum digging depth is 24 feet 2 inches, and maximum reach at ground is 36 feet 7 inches. As with all HX models, the HX330L is available with Hyundai’s AAVM (All Around View Monitoring), which provides an overhead view of the area around the machine (inset).
Now or later? “The building blocks that allow a contractor to use a 2D system are the same as what is needed for a 3D system,” says Andrew Dargatz, Case brand marketing manager. This allows the customer to be conservative on the initial investment and upgrade later if conditions warrant. “A contractor should not fear investing in one system and then having it become obsolete when they’re ready to graduate to 3D.” That said, there are benefits to having the right technology in place at the time of purchase. “Taking delivery of the machine ready to go will get you up to speed faster, and you won’t have to take the machine out of rotation later to do an upgrade,” Dargatz says. Buying the right package at the outset affects O&O costs and reThe Kobelco SK170LC-10 has sophisticated hydraulics including independent travel that dedicates one pump to travel and one to the attachment and swing priority to deliver full swing power automatically during combined operations. A Hino engine with an intercooled variable-geometry turbocharger is rated at 127 net horsepower. Operating weight with 24-inch triple grouser shoes is 38,800 pounds. 20 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
sidual value. Jon McKendry, market segment manager for Trimble Machine Control, says, “We typically see customers move their technology across machines in the aftermarket, enabling them to leverage their initial investment on subsequent machines.” He says 3D components form the largest part of the cost equation and those components are easily moved from one machine to another. “This adds value to the fleet rather than individual machines, giving contractors flexibility when they sell a single machine.” McKendry spoke on behalf of Kobelco, since Kobelco offers Trimble systems for their excavators.
Mixed availability Not all OEMs offer all levels of machine guidance and control on all models and knowing who offers
what on which model requires a bit of research. John Deere and Hitachi have a Grade Reference Ready option from the factory. “This enables dealers and customers to choose the grade guidance or control offering that is best for their application and best for their pocketbook,” says Jonny Spendlove, product marketing manager, excavators. “Select Hyundai excavators are ready for the installation of the Trimble Earthworks system, which has been calibrated and tested for Hyundai,” says Corey Rogers, marketing manager, Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas. Link-Belt offers 2D Machine Guidance (MG) and 2D Machine Control (MC) as a factory option on only the 210 X4; it will be available on other models in the near future. “We started
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machine matters
| continued
The Volvo EC220E is powered by a Volvo D6 engine rated at 173 horsepower. Increased pump input power improves response and increases productivity. The main control valve links to software to aid controllability. Swing force is increased, and a boom swing priority valve optimizes swing and boom operation for truck loading.
with the 210 X4 because it’s our most popular machine,” says Rob Dulaney, Link-Belt product marketing specialist. MG provides visual and audial cues to help the operator maintain the desired grade. MC automates movement of the boom and bucket to keep the bucket cutting edge on the target grade through semi-autonomous operation. While MG uses the in-cab machine monitor, MC comes with its own 10-inch touchscreen display. Link-Belt offers Trimble Earthworks for customers who want 3D machine control. 2D can be factory ordered on new machines; Link-Belt will also offer a field install kit for customers who want to add 2D to their existing 210 X4 machines. Volvo debuted Dig Assist on just one machine, the EC220E, at ConExpo in 2017. It will offer it on all crawler excavators, from the EC220E to the EC480E, soon and the company will add it to remaining full-size crawler models at least as an option later this year. It will remain optional on wheeled excavators, says McLean, “because wheeled models are popular with municipalities, and those customers are very price sensitive.” Dig Assist uses Volvo Co-Pilot and that system’s 10-inch high-resolution touchscreen. Dig Assist Start does not have GNSS capability or a smart receiver but comes with a laser catcher. Dig Assist 2D features GNSS; with the optional In-Field Design feature, 2D can be used to create custom digging profiles from the cab and place 3D profiles
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directly into the interface. Volvo is testing Topcon and Trimble systems and will offer those later this year. These systems will overlay Dig Assist and allow operators to toggle between Dig Assist and the Topcon or Trimble system. The PC390LCi-11 is the latest model in the Komatsu lineup to have 3D, fully integrated machine control as standard. 3D includes giving the operator the ability to achieve grade anywhere on the jobsite without being limited to planar surfaces and benchmarks, says Sebastian Witkowski, product marketing manager, Intelligent Machine Control. He says Komatsu is seeing many first-time machine-control users starting with 3D and skipping over the 2D option. The 3D feature is now standard on all machines, from the PC210LCi-11 to the PC490LCi-11. Komatsu says it is helping customers get the most from their Intelligent Machine Control system. “Customers have one point of contact for all their
service questions through our Technology Solutions Experts program,” says Witkowski. “That’s true whether they’re inquiring about PM intervals or 3D machine control.” Cat offers Cat Grade 2D as standard equipment on the 330 but not the 330 GC. Those aren’t the only differences. While dig depth, loading height and max reach at ground level are within inches of each and although both use the Cat C7.1 engine, the 330 has significantly more horsepower (275 versus 204 for the 330 GC) and a slightly higher operating weight (68,125 pounds versus 67,460 pounds for the 330GC). Which brings us to the next point.
Beyond intelligence OEMs have made improvements to their machines beyond the addition of machine control. On its 30-ton excavators, Cat offers Comfort and Deluxe cab configurations plus a Premium cab package in some markets. Features common to all include key-
Grade guidance on John Deere excavators uses the in-cab display to show the position of the bucket cutting edge relative to the target plane on 2D systems or the design surface on 3D systems. Factory integration and calibration ensure the machine arrives at the jobsite ready to work. Grade guidance is available on the 210G LC now and will be available on the 350G LC and 470G LC later this year.
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machine matters less push-button start, a large touchscreen monitor with jog dial keys for control, and sound-suppressed rollover protective structures. Deluxe and Premium cabs feature tilt-up consoles for easier entry and exit and new cab mounts that reduce vibration up to 50 percent over previous models. Rogers says Hyundai offers operators three means of interacting with their machines. Of these, push buttons have been around the longest; touchscreen monitors are newer; and haptic controllers are the latest development, a feature pulled from the automotive market. “The haptic remote control uses vibrations and pulses to guide the operator through menu selections for maximum convenience,” says Rogers. Spendlove says Deere and Hitachi excavators come standard with telematics, geofencing and visibility to machine work levels. They have enhanced operator comfort and convenience offerings, such as optional leather seating with heating and cooling, a pattern changer as standard equipment and wider, highvisibility seatbelts. Many features address safety. Hyundai has AAVM (All-Around View Monitoring) to provide a 2D, four-channel, 360-degree view around the excavator. Their IMOD (Intelligent Moving Object Detection) gives visual and audial alerts when a person or object is within 16.5 feet of the machine. An optional LED light package with two lights each on the frame and boom and three on the cab improve visibility, especially in low light conditions. Gradall is focusing on multi-tool machines. They want to provide the perfect match for specialized tools grouped by application or market: construction, municipal, forestry, rail and more. “We already have an advantage in that we can work under bridges and other overhead obstacles, in culverts and a host of other challenging environments where backhoes and traditional excavators don’t work well, if at all,” says Mike Popovich, vice president of sales. 24 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
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The wheeled Gradall XL 4300 V on/off pavement excavator has a lower center of gravity and low working profile, thanks to a compact, full-tilt telescoping boom. Powered by a Volvo TAD571 VE inline 4-cylinder engine rated at 173 gross horsepower, the XL 4300 V has a full-time, 4-wheel-drive transfer case. Both axles have wet disc brakes. Maximum slope is 30 degrees. “These specialty applications are an insignificant portion of sales for the big OEMs but an important part of our volume. We want to get better at meeting customers’ needs in niche markets by helping customers easily spec the complete machine.” Gradall machines also have an advantage in that they’re designed to work with knuckles and tiltrotators. Adding these features to conventional excavators can reduce breakout force and affect stability, especially when working over the side, says the company. Manufacturers are also making changes to their electronics in areas other than machine control. Link-Belt offers RemoteCARE on all properly equipped excavators, with no subscription fee. This means The JCB X220 is the first of the company’s new X-series range of tracked excavators to be offered in North America. Central main boom mounting increases durability and digging accuracy and allows the use of wider buckets without risk of striking the tracks. The 500-hour service interval entails only 10 checks.
RemoteCARE follows the machine to the secondary market and beyond, adding residual value. Volvo excavators come with onboard weighing architecture; activating the feature requires only the purchase of a software package. Joysticks on Volvo machines have tiltrotator controls and outrigger and blade controls on wheeled models. Andrew Earing, excavator product manager, Komatsu, says their proportional joystick controls make the most of advanced work tools. With a hammer, for example, control is more natural than the heel-and-toe method required with foot pedals. Diagnostics available through the in-cab monitor can provide information on more than 160 points, depending on the model of excavator.
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Contract # 00000-ABC
Road Works
| by Joy Powell |
JoyPowell@randallreilly.com
In roadbuilding and bridge inspections, drones cut time, costs and safety risks
A
t E Construction – one of western Canada’s largest paving contractors – drones have become an integral tool for saving time and money, as well as for reporting progress on projects. The company is among a growing number of contractors and transportation departments turning to this fast-developing technology. Across North America, drones are proving their value and gaining momentum in materials management on roadbuilding projects, as well as for their usefulness in bridge inspections. “We have a lot of gravel pit operations, and the use of drones in our business is invaluable,” says Dave Manchakowski, vice president of finance for E Construction, a division of Colas Canada. “They’re developing the software every year, and now we’re getting a good database of information.” He adds that the company’s use of Kespry drones has paid off, which can be seen when it takes its year-end inventories and compares them from year to year. Drones are also improving worker and public safety as they keep lane closures to a minimum and reduce the time that inspectors are high off the ground, transportation departments say. (Technically, drones are called UAVs for unmanned aerial vehicles or UASs for unmanned aerial systems.) The construction industry – including contractors, transportation agencies and drone makers – is in the first step of a long learning journey, says Anil Nanduri, vice president and general manager of the UAV segment at Intel. Over the past five years, capability and technology in these devices have rapidly advanced, and the industry is testing their value and exploring how best to use drones in specific applications, Nanduri says. In addition, costs for drones and related services are dropping significantly as more au-
26 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
tomation and safety features come on board, he and other experts say. Commercial drones can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $50,000, depending on their capabilities and features, Nanduri says. The level of complexity of flying those systems and the amount of training required also varies, he adds. Contractors starting out with the technology need to weigh whether it is worth owning drones and training employees or going with a service provider, Nanduri says. You need to ask what problem you’re trying to solve and how much value the drone will give you, he adds. You must determine who’s going to fly it and how you plan to extract and analyze the data. And you need to assess how you will use the drone data in your operations.
Uploading to the cloud Drones allow for more accurate public reporting on complex contracts, save time and money, and increase inventory management efficiency, Kespry and E Construction say. E Construction estimates that using drones saves the company $50,000 to $60,000 a year because the surveying process has been reduced from nearly two weeks to 30 minutes, according to Chad Harrison, aggregates and environment manager. He works with drones for E Construction, which has more than 650 employees providing products and services throughout Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories. E Construction uploads its drone data to the Kespry cloud and no longer deals with the hassles of aggregates inventory management. This in turn allows for trustworthy, accurate and actionable data and analytics, says Harrison, who coordinates inventory measurements along with other duties. “We use Kespry to confirm quantities after
Using Kespry’s drone-based cloud platform, survey-grade field data can be collected for an entire site in as little as 30 minutes.
The Intel Falcon 8+ drone conducts a visual inspection of the 135-year-old Stone Arch Bridge in downtown Minneapolis.
EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 27
Road Works
| continued
crushing for all of our operations,” Harrison says. “We also use it to do checks when we’ve done hauls without scales. For example, when we haul reclaimed asphalt pavement into a stockpile site, we will use Kespry to confirm the quantities on that material.”
standard inspection operations. This project also includes a UAS user and policy manual specific to the Metro District and the Elios drone. To do this final phase, MnDOT is using $125,000 in federal and matching state money. Wells pursued the $100,000 federal grant after learning the Alabama DOT Drones for savings and safety in had used one to buy a drone fleet, she says. bridge inspections Since 2015, the Minnesota DeAnd at the Kentucky Transportapartment of Transportation has tion Cabinet (KYTC) for the past researched drones and is now five years, drones have been asincorporating their use into bridge sisting with bridge inspections and inspections. gathering information on infrastrucMnDOT found the drones reture, says Erin VanZee, a transportaduced safety risks along with tion engineering specialist. inconvenience to bridge inspectors “Drones are used to inspect areas and the traveling public. And newer of bridges that would otherwise drones, with vertical and horizonrequire additional equipment, like tal camera and sensor capabilities, work rope access or aerial work can give inspectors safe access to platforms, to assess,” says VanZee. more remote under-deck areas and “By obtaining high-quality photos confined spaces. and videos, inspectors can evalu“We have mainly used drones for ate the structural conditions of the bridge inspections but have bridge without the need for expanded the use to inspect additional equipment or lane With Kespry’s drone-based cloud platform for and obtain imaging data for closures.” roadbuilding projects, companies can verify contours, historic-bridge views, state “While UAS cannot be used elevations and dirt without spending two or three monuments, bridge hits, for all bridge inspections due days doing a topographical analysis with a GPS base landslides, corridor mapping, to regulations that require and rover. overhead sign inventory and physically touching a bridge, flooding events,” says Jennithis method is effective for fer Wells, a MnDOT engineer visual inspections by saving who runs the state’s bridge time to collect the data and inspection unit. minimizing travel impacts, “Other entities within like lane closures, when conMnDOT see our efforts and ducting inspections,” accordare also looking to expand ing to VanZee. drone use to more areas such She points to key examples as construction, maintenance in Kentucky: and surveying,” says Wells. “We have some structures MnDOT will begin implethat are hundreds of feet off menting drones in counties the ground, requiring the use and townships throughout of an under-bridge inspecMinnesota. The 2019 project tion crane to inspect some will train inspectors statewide areas of the structure. This for structure inspections, says means shutting down lanes Wells, the project manager. of traffic on bustling interThis latest project comes states. Using UAS technolafter multiple phases. Durogy, we’re able to fly the ing the summer of 2017, for drones to the area of conexample, Phase III of the cern and get our ‘eyes’ on it 28 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
research began using the SenseFly Albris and the Flyability Elios, a collision-tolerant drone more suited to confined spaces such as box girders, culverts or areas difficult to access, according to Wells and Barritt Lovelace, a consultant with Collins Engineers. Due to the success of this research, MnDOT Metro District purchased the Elios drone to supplement bridge inspection access where space is confined and optimal lane closures are prohibited. That’s been an ongoing issue in the eight-county Metro District due to heavy traffic, including in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The project will implement drone inspection to the Metro District Bridge inventory by creating an inspection plan to identify situations best suited for drone use. It will look at what parameters govern drone use in bridge inspection and how UAS can be integrated into
Road Works
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to see if closing a lane is warranted.” KYTC, along with engineer Michael Baker International and Intel drone technology, helped inspect and analyze the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, an eight-lane interstate that crosses the Ohio River. Nearly 100,000 vehicles travel the bridge daily; lane closures can result in traffic delays. “During this inspection, the bridge remained open and fully functional while the team carried out the assignment,” says VanZee. “For this inspection, the drone captured about 2,500 high-resolution aerial images used to create a digital twin of the structure to aid with analyses and visualization.” Michael Baker International has used drones for about four years – since the Federal Aviation Administration first allowed for their commercial use under Section 333 permits, says Alicia McConnell, UAS operations and civil engineer for the firm. “We have used them for bridge inspections, GIS survey, emergency response and disaster assessments, pavement analysis, obstruction analysis at airports, construction monitoring, demolition documentation, volumetric calculations, and for media relations – to name a few,” says McConnell. As the use of UAS becomes more prevalent, McConnell says, cost savings will grow. “The true benefit in bridge inspections currently is the reduced man-at-risk hours,” she says. This past summer, a team from Collins Engineers and MnDOT used drones inside box girders for internal inspection, says Wells, who serves on both federal and state drone committees. MnDOT also performed a deck assessment using drone thermal imaging cameras in Neilsville, Minnesota, for example. “We can show through our research efforts that we are able to obtain quality data that can be post-processed into 3D models for future use and comparison, save time in most cases, save costs, and improve safety by having fewer or no lane closures,” Wells says. “Ease or ability of access is also a huge benefit.” Drones provide a cost-effective way for agencies with limited budgets to properly access their structures and manage re30 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
sources, she says. She points out that snoopers (underbridge inspection vehicles) are expensive Alicia McConnell and Brian Gutzwiller from Michael Baker and require International use the Intel Falcon 8+ drone to inspect the traffic lane Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, which connects Ohio and Kentucky. closures, presenting safety risks to the traveling public and inspectors alike. MnDOT established in its Phase I study that instead of using snoopers, unmanned aircraft systems significantly augment inspection findings with infrared and imaging data while reducing such safety risks. “With better access, more accurate inspection data can be obtained, which Anil Nanduri increases the accuracy of scoping bridge projects,” says Wells. Using drones also means “less wear and tear is put on these $750,000 machines,” she says of the state’s snooper fleet. Using drones can save money, because with fewer closures, fewer workers are needed and work can be completed faster, says Wells. Accuracy has increased with the use of ground control points. And Jennifer Wells drones are now able to have interchangeable payloads to change their functions, which include nondestructive testing abilities such as steel thickness readings, she explains. Challenges include limited battery life and drones not being conducive to cold weather, Wells says. She notes drones’ limited abilities to look upward in some cases, though new advances enable some drones to look up and operate manually Chad Harrison without GPS. Another challenge: FAA airspace laws and regulations trail behind the technology, she and other experts say. Still, the initiating of an FAA Part 107 has made it easier to obtain pilot certificates. “Technology always leads regulation,” says Nanduri, of Intel. The question, he says, is how quickly laws and regulations come together so that drone technology Erin VanZee can be applied to solve problems.
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maintenance management
| staff report
LEARNING THE LOGISTICS OF DEF Contractors starting to figure out which systems work best for their needs
A trailered unit can convey both DEF and diesel.
W
ith the Tier 4 Final era up and running, use of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in the off-road market is growing at 30 to 40 percent a year. If you haven’t started using it yet, it’s likely you will eventually. It’s worth your while to learn how to handle this essential fluid, so a shortage won’t interrupt your operations. DEF fluid is used in most of today’s diesel engines over 75 horsepower to reduce exhaust emissions in selective catalytic reduction systems (SCR). Without it, these new engines will not run. You can get DEF in everything from gallon jugs to 330-gallon totes or have it delivered by tanker truck, says Luke Van Wyk, vice president of sales, Thunder Creek Equipment. The tote is typically kept in the shop, and machines are either topped off there or the DEF is pumped into a truck or trailer mounted transfer tank ranging from 20 to 100 gallons and distributed in the field. Many contractors, however, are still getting by with 2.5-gallon jugs, says Van Wyk. Since the DEF burn rate is typically calculated at 3 to 5 percent of the diesel-fuel burn, those will suffice for small operators. But there is a price penalty to pay. At retail, you’ll pay as much as $4 a gallon for DEF, while bulk purchases in totes can cost as little as $2 a gallon, he says. It took the industry awhile to settle into a pattern for DEF delivery and distribution. The original thought was that fuel suppliers would put DEF tanks on their fuel trucks and deliver
the two side by side. But for a lot of reasons, that hasn’t become the dominant distribution strategy. The margins on DEF are low and cost of the capital equipment is high, says Van Wyk, and the volume of DEF they are selling is a fraction of what they sell in diesel fuel. “It depends on fleet size, but for most of the contractors we talk to, 100 gallons of DEF is enough to get them through the week,” he says. “Most of the fuel jobbers distributing DEF are doing it in package units, jugs or IBC totes.” Running out of DEF, in the shop or on a machine, isn’t as simple as running out of diesel fuel. If you ignore the warning lights and let the machine derate or stop, it may require a dealer technician to come out to the field to reset the machine’s electronic control module. “You can’t simply put more DEF in the tank and start it back up,” says John Cleary, key accounts manager - rental at Western Global. “You will get a warning, but the EPA does not want people to subvert an
environmentally friendly device.”
®
The API logo on DEF products indicates it meets the purity standards outlined in ISO 22241.
Quality suppliers and contamination control One of the most important things to remember about DEF is to buy it from a reputable supplier. “There are still quite a few backyard blenders out there,” Van Wyk says. “Don’t buy your DEF on price alone or just where you can get it.” EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 33
maintenance management
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DEF purity is essential to the effective functioning of an SCR system. Even a teaspoon of contamination in 5,000 gallons can cause problems with your equipment. The most reliable guarantee for DEF purity comes from the American Petroleum Institute – the same people that certify lube oil standards. The API first got involved in testing and certifying DEF in 2009 after an SCR stakeholders group formed by SAE asked them to implement a licensing program, says Kevin Ferrick, a senior manager at API. Since then, API has gone on to grant 91 licenses in six countries and for 174 DEF products. The qualifications for meeting API’s licensing standard is ISO specification 22241-3. But ISO just sets the standard. API uses aftermarket audit contractors to do the sampling and verifying that products meet the spec, says Jeff Harmening. “We will try to sample and test every licensed product that we have at least once a year, more if we can,” says Harmening. As with its lube oil certification, API allows vendors that meet the requirements to put an API logo or seal of approval on their products. To avoid any contamination issues, only buy DEF that has the API logo or states that it meets ISO 22241-1. Although you probably won’t run into it, there is a different spec, ISO 18611, for DEF used in marine and some railroad and stationary power applications. This DEF formulation has a higher concentration of urea (40 percent versus 32.5 percent for on- and off-road DEF) and should not be used in your equipment or trucks.
Dirty jugs And while the API license will ensure the DEF meets purity standards, the biggest source of DEF contamination still comes from indiscriminate use of containers, says Van Wyk. “Operators refill from the tote and use whatever jugs are lying around and contaminate the product from whatever was in the container before,” he says. The damage this causes will vary depending on the amount of contamination and the length of time the machine or truck runs on dirty DEF. “Most of the contamination issues we see in the field can be fixed with a flush or maybe changing out some components,” says Van Wyk. But long-term exposure to contaminated fluid could poison the catalysts used in an SCR system and require an expensive replacement, he adds. The key is to buy quality DEF, use DEF-compatible containers to move it and store it where it’s not subject to extreme heat or cold. Do your diligence on the supplier and how they bring the product to you. In addition to specifying DEF purity, ISO 22241-3 can give you detailed specifications for DEF handling, transportation storage and refilling. As for handling DEF, always transfer it in a dedicated and appropriate container – stainless steel, polypropylene or high-density polyethylene. Do not reuse old plastic jugs or build your own DEF dispensing systems out of off-the-shelf steel components. Keep refill sites and equip34 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Transfer tanks in the back of a pickup truck bed are an excellent way to move DEF from a storage tote at the shop to machines in the field.
The Trans Cube from Western Global is a rental product that provides bulk DEF storage and dispensing for stationary equipment such as generators. ment clean and dust free. Store your DEF where it won’t freeze. (Freezing won’t hurt it, but it will make it impossible to pump until it thaws.) Keep tabs on the shelf life. DEF can be stored in colder climates for 18 to 36 months. In warmer climates that may only be 12 to 18 months. For more information on Tier 4 Final engines and DEF handling and management download our free white paper at www.equipmentworld.com/Tier4. –Tom Jackson
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maintenance management
| continued
MAINTAINING PARTS AND SUPPLY INVENTORY Don’t let a $10 filter bring down a $100,000 machine If your parts storage looks like this, you could be damaging your equipment with degraded or contaminated supplies.
36 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
E
ven the best oil filter is of no use if the gasket/ O-ring seal or media is brittle. If you store it at the wrong temperature, the wrong humidity or subject it to airborne dust and contaminants, it could be unfit for use or potentially cause bigger problems if you install it on a machine. If you are in charge of a shop or maintenance facility, one of your critical duties is to get the right parts at the right price, at the right time – and keep them in the right condition. A storeroom maintained at constant temperature and humidity provides an excellent environment for storage of MRO parts and provides a favorable work space for the storeroom staff. (MRO stands for maintenance, repair and operating supplies.) But maximizing lifespan and reliability requires planning and preparation. Parts don’t have a red-light indicator or sensor showing when they have become defective or contaminated from the environment. But put a degraded component on a machine, and after installation, the red lights will glare.
Dust and airborne contamination Dust particles range from 5 to 500 microns, with atmospheric dust averaging 30 microns. Contrast that with a particle of sand at 100 microns. However, most gearbox and hydraulic-system damage comes from particles in the 2- to 20-micron range, which is the size of lead dust and vehicle combustion-related particles. The human eye can only detect down to 40 microns, which makes many contaminant sources undetectable with the naked eye. A storeroom next to the shop facility will be exposed to numerous sources of airborne particulate contamination, and they will find their way onto the parts and materials stored there. One solution is to wall off or relocate storage far from the repair facility, which can help control the environment around contamination-sensitive components such as those that go into closed-fluid systems. Other solutions include periodic dust removal and strategic placement of air purifiers with HEPA filters, but isolation and environmental control are recommended for more sensitive components. Combating heat, humidity Both heat and humidity accelerate the deterioration of certain parts and materials. (See sidebar at right.) To reduce degradation, most of these items should be kept at a temperature of less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of less than 50 to 60 percent. In storerooms without significant air movement and cooling, the dew point becomes a factor when humidity levels exceed 60 percent. Although warm air holds more moisture than cold air, it’s important to realize that the humidity of the air changes only as a result of a change in temperature. When air cools it becomes more humid, even though the moisture con-
Keep filters and other contamination-sensitive supplies sealed until installation.
tent in the air remains the same. As warm air cools, humidity rises and eventually reaches a point of condensation buildup on various surfaces like walls or stored items, which impacts component or material reliability. Using temperature-controlled environments can extend the usable lifespan of compounded chemicals from the normal two years to as many as five years. The solution is to apply air conditioning and humidity control with desiccants or humidifiers, as well as use digital humidity and temperature monitoring tools for heat- and moisturesensitive items.
Belt storage Premature belt failure can often be linked to improper belt storage. By following a few common-sense steps, belts can retain their initial serviceability and reliability by avoiding: • Hanging on nails or small diameter pins, as the weight of the belt could damage the tensile cord material. (If hanging is necessary, suspend the belts on a wall rack, saddle or large diameter tubular bracket to avoid crimps and deformation.) • Direct sunlight (UV). • Heat and humidity. (Store in a cool, dry place with environmen-
Store these parts and materials out of heat and humidity: • Bonding agents, solder, potting compounds • Epoxy and adhesives • Catalysts • Lubricants (grease and oils) • Hydraulic fluids • Glycols • Paints (aerosol and brush type) • Ink • Alcohol • Soaps
• • • • • • • •
Water in plastic bottles Solvents Gaskets O-rings, seals Belts Circuit boards Filters (oil, gas, etc.) Semiconductor devices and electronics • Wood furniture • Leather items EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 37
maintenance management tal conditions below 80 degrees Fahrenheit and less than 70 percent relative humidity for a potential six-year shelf life.) • Hanging variable-speed belts, as they are more sensitive to distortion. • The use of ties or tape to pull belt spans tightly together near the
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end of the belt. • Storing near radiators or heaters or in the air flow from heating devices. • Storing where they are exposed to airborne solvents or chemicals.
Electric motor storage Most electric motors are designed
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with grease-lubricated, anti-friction, rolling-element bearings. Bearing troubles account for 50 to 60 percent of all electric motor failures. Poor lubrication practices are the source of most of these bearing troubles; in fact, 80 percent of all bearings will never reach their life expectancy. Damage to electric motor bearings can occur while a motor is in storage due to static corrosion from inadequate rust and corrosion inhibitors to protect the metal surfaces. Another potential problem is motor vibration that forces out the grease from between the rollers and raceways in the load zone, which also leads to rust formation on the metal surfaces. False brinelling (a process of wear in which similar marks are pressed into the surface of a moving part) is an additional concern. Vibration of the bearing in a static position (non-rotating) causes the rolling elements to vibrate against the raceway in one place. Over time, the vibration can remove miniscule pieces or particles of metal surfaces. This is evident when wear marks line up with the spacing of The shafts of electric motors should be rotated periodically to prevent false brinelling. Color-coded indicator tabs like these can remind you when it’s time to rotate. Source: swspitscrew.com
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38 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com Untitled-17 1
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the rolling elements. Initial greasing is good for 12-month storage, but to prevent these other types of damage, you should attach tags to the motors that state, “Grease during installation.” Also, fully grease rebuilt motors or removals arriving into storage and purge motors that have been idle for years of dried grease slugs. Do not use EP grease in motors. Clean the areas around the relief and fill fittings, then unscrew and remove the grease relief valve or drain plug (grease outlet plug) at the bottom of the motor. Grease the bearing with a set amount of grease according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Slowly add grease (10 to 12 seconds for each stroke) to minimize excessive pressure buildup in the grease cavity. Keep in mind that the standard manual grease gun can produce pressures up to 15,000 psi, while most seals can pop at 500 psi. After excessive grease has been purged, reinstall the drain plug, clean excessive grease from the relief port area and wipe the grease fitting. Tag the stored motor with the date of last lubrication and the lubricant type. Store motors in a clean, dry, vibration-free area. Use pieces of used conveyor belt as isolation padding between the motor and a wood skid or floor. This insulates the motor from the effects of vibration and harmonics from fork lifts and other sources of floor vibration. Rotate idle motor shafts every other month or quarterly to redistribute grease and maintain a corrosion-preventive film on bearing surfaces and prevent false brinelling. There are visual aids to help with this task, as illustrated in the photo on page 38 from swspitcrew.com. The target aids are stuck to the end of the shaft or fan and rotated two full rotations and set to a color wedge. You can even assign
colors to a given month. A PM can be generated to trigger this activity.
Parts that need storage attention Other parts that need extra care and a scheduled PM program during storage are listed below: Pneumatic valves. Large pneumatic valves should be cycled at
least quarterly to prevent damage to the seals and valve seating surfaces Rubber components, including V-belts, cog belts, gaskets containing rubber compounds and Orings. Belts should be managed by the date received, first-in, first-out. Belt replacement on operating
Don’t let winter conditions keep you off the road. Trust Eberspaecher heaters to keep you warm and keep your engine running smoothly. Eberspaecher’s Hydronic S3 coolant heater offers engine and cab pre-heating while the Airtronic D2 forced air heater warms the cab instantly. • • • • • • •
reduce fuel cost, reduce emissions & engine wear reliable starts engine off, instant heat & defrost 17,500 BTu/hr ( Hydronic ) 7,500 BTu/hr ( Airtronic ) increased comfort
EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 39
maintenance management equipment should be a scheduled PM activity. Electronic boards and components. Store in an environmentally controlled space when possible. Drive boards can be damaged by exposure to extreme environmental conditions such as dust, static, heat and humidity. Drive boards should be stored in the appropriate static bags, and anytime the board is removed from the static bag, a new bag should be used if it is put back on the shelf. Gearboxes and pumps should be under a scheduled PM program that includes lubrication and exercising of the bearings to prevent brinelling and static corrosion. These components should also be stored on vibration dampening pads and large gearboxes blocked to prevent damage to the bearing and raceway. Gearboxes and pumps should be under a 90-day PM schedule. Pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders should be under scheduled PM with the openings capped to prevent contamination. Large pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders should be stored vertically to prevent damage to the actuator seal. Cylinders should be stored with the base down and the actuator up. Secure to prevent falling.
Inventory shelf life Establishing a spare parts management policy of first-in, first-out (FIFO) ensures the oldest parts are used first. Include a date received on the inventory tag or write a date on the packaging to ensure the person picking the items can pull the items by received date. The use of high-density storage cabinets provides additional protection from dust and exposure to UV lights that can accelerate the degradation of many of the parts stored. Component manufacturers and OEMs typically publish their recommend storage procedures. –Preston Ingalls and Wally Wilson 40 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
| continued
Compartmentalized drawer storage keeps parts from banging into each other and makes them easier to find.
Brooms should be stored off the ground to prevent flattening of the bristles.
OUR AUTHORS:
Preston Ingalls consults with construction industry fleets on equipment costs and uptime improvements. He can be reached at www.tbr-strategies.com.
Ingalls
Wally Wilson is a senior subject matter expert with Life Cycle Engineering and specializes in materials management.
| by Marcia Gruver Doyle |
quick data
Dozers
MarciaDoyle@randallreilly.com
A snapshot of new and used sales trends from Randall-Reilly’s Equipment Data Associates and TopBid auction price service.
Year-over-year change*
NEW: UP 13%
Auctions
USED: DOWN 2%
Dozer auction prices, December 2017-December 2018 $140,000
*Comparison of number of dozers financed Dec. 1, 2017 to Nov. 30, 2018, and Dec. 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2017. Source: EDA, edadata.com
Low: $93,557 Nov. 2018
$130,000 $120,000 $110,000
Top three states for dozer buyers*
$100,000 $90,000
105,690
$70,000
New
High: $120,198 Apr. 2018
1-year average: $
$80,000
Current: $96,084
$60,000
Dec. 2018
$50,000 $40,000
$20,000 $10,000
Dec.
PRICE
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
Jun.
2017
Jul.
# of buyers
Texas
396
Florida
199
Louisiana
152
Used
In December, the average price for the top 10 models of dozers sold at auction was 20 percent below the 12-month high for these machines, and 9 percent below the one-year average of $105,690.
$30,000
State
Aug.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
2018
State
# of buyers
Texas
1,175
Oklahoma
615
Mississippi
503
Trend prices for the top 10 models of dozers sold at auction, not seasonally adjusted.
467,492
$
450,000
OTHER TOP BID:
Top financed new dozer*
Top auction price paid for a 2018 Cat D6T with 19 hours at a Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers sale Apr. 24, 2018, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
$
2014 Komatsu D375A-6 with 5,009 hours, Ritchie Bros., on Apr. 20, 2018.
0 0 0 , $ 27
,62 $ 106 New
Dozer new, used sales trends, 2009-2018*
3
HIGH
LOW
Jan. 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2018; prices for dozers 5 years old and newer, U.S. sales only. Only includes bids $5,000 and above. Source: TopBid, topbid.com
AVERAGE
Final bids unit count: 489
Used
,49 $ 467
2
Used low: 2018, 6,445 units
9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000
Used high: 2011, 8,065 units
5,000 4,000 3,000
New high: 2018, 2,397 units
New low: 2010, 744 units
2,000 1,000 0
UNITS
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
*Financed equipment, 2009-2018, number of units sold by sale or lease. Source: EDA, edadata.com
2016
2017
2018
Cat D5K2 LGP, 377 units
Other top selling new machine: Deere 700K, 224 units
Top financed used machine* Cat D6N LGP, 239 units *In terms of number of new and used financed units sold Dec. 1, 2017 to Nov. 30, 2018. Source: EDA, edadata.com (Note: EDA reports are continually updated.) EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 41
CONGRATULATIONS
to the 2018 Contractor of the Year winner and finalists
IN
R
E
N
W
Matt Bachtel
Don and Rae Peters
Bachtel Excavating Massillon, Ohio
Solid Earth Civil Constructors Pueblo, Colorado
Jon Claycomb
Clem Cooke
Fritz-Rumer-Cooke Company Claycomb Excavating New Enterprise, Pennsylvania Columbus, Ohio
Stephen Bielecki and Russell Kibler R & S General Contractors Bristol, Pennsylvania
Kurt Unnerstall
K. J. Unnerstall Construction Washington, Missouri
Dan and Marsha Steffey Steffey Excavating Peoria, Arizona
Sponsored by:
Dana Wiehe and Stewart Petrovits Blacktop Maintenance Corporation Poughkeepsie, New York
Bryan Kissner
Kissner General Contractors Austin, Colorado
Tommy Turner Turner Reed Liberty Hill, Texas
Brett Reshetar Reshetar Systems Anoka, Minnesota
Victor Serrambana, Jr. VMS Construction Company Vernon, Connecticut
contractor of the year finalist
| by Tom Jackson |
TJackson@randallreilly.com
Tommy and Romayne Turner, Turner Reed City, State: Liberty Hill, Texas Year Started: 2003 Number of 20 employees: Annual revenue: $3 million to $5 million Markets served: Dry utilities, underground electric, gas and cable
A lifetime of experience turns into a training opportunity for a new generation
W
hen the Great Recession hit in 2008, contractors everywhere scrambled to stay afloat. Some sought desperate measures. But how one person responds differs from the next, and for Tommy Turner, the solution was hard, but ever so Texan. He sold his cattle. “If it hadn’t been for my cattle operation, I would have gone under,” Turner says. That sale, 80 head to be exact, was enough to make his equipment payments and keep his company afloat. Now, Turner’s herd is about 200, and Turner himself is cruising toward retirement by training
his sons and a new generation of young guns to do the work he’s done his entire life.
Five decades By the time Turner formed his own company in 2003, he had spent the better part of five decades in the construction business, working for big contractors throughout the Southwest. He started out at 14 working as a roughneck and roustabout in the oil fields in West Texas. “Back then they didn’t care how old you were,” Turner says. Eventually he learned everything there was to learn about natural gas, from pumping it out of the ground to putting it in pipes and finally metering it into homes and businesses.
After a stint in the Army as a paratrooper, Turner started doing utility installations. The jobs were big and challenging. Turner hung wire from helicopters and ran fiber under the Mississippi. As a construction manager, at one point, he had 750 people working with him. “We’d work all night most of the time,” he says, especially going through the cities. “Whoever got their fiber in first was the hero.” But as the new century dawned, Turner felt the urge to start his own company. Turner and his wife, Romayne, had raised five good kids. And one of the middle sons, Will, originally showed interest in construction and came EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 43
contractor of the year finalist |
continued Tommy Turner discusses the job with Justin White (middle) and David Hubbard, while Avery Sims mans the excavator.
Will Turner
44 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
onboard. Then last spring his son Matt graduated from college and decided to take up a career in construction as well. Better yet, Will and Matt had strong ties to friends from Liberty Hill High School and persuaded a number of them to work for Turner Reed as well. “Up until that point I was starting to lose heart. But we bought our own equipment with some help from my older son, Thomas, and started from scratch,” Turner says. “I figured I had one more push in me.” Today Turner Reed focuses on dry utilities – underground electric, gas and cable -- in the greater Austin area. Romayne is a 40 percent owner and does all the billing and office work. The company has three divisions: Turner Reed Energy, which installs gas infrastructure, Turner Reed for underground electrical and cable and Turner Reed Cattle.
Turner’s timing, starting the company in 2003, couldn’t have been better. Liberty Hill is just north of Austin, and with a slew of high-tech companies pouring into the area, suburbs were popping up everywhere and everybody wanted their utilities underground.
First rock saw Turner has seen a long evolution in the design of construction equipment, including some of the first rock saws in the 1980s. “We thought we’d died and gone to heaven with the rock saws,” he says. Today’s equipment has plusses and minuses, he says. “The older machines were simpler and easier to fix,” he says. “Now you have to plug in a computer to diagnose it. There are switches everywhere. The days of climbing on it, turning the key and pulling a few levers are over.” On the positive side, he can see how many hours a machine idled and track production through
Crew members (from left) Dakota Edwards, Will Turner and Jonathan Gordon strategize over site plans.
the screen. That helps keep tabs on operators’ performance, too. The labor shortage is another challenge. As a veteran, Turner actively pursues veteran hires, but he is staking the company’s future on his sons and the friends his sons brought into the business. Each of these young men is being trained in utility installations with the goal of each becoming a supervisor of a crew.
Well known and well liked In addition to being the go-to guy for dry utilities, Turner, with his decades of experience, has taught almost everybody else in the area who does this work, too. The good karma seems to have circled back. “The majority of these people have either worked for him or learned from him, even people in the public sector like inspectors,” says Josh McKay at Aken Industries. “Some companies will be protective of what they do. He’s not like that.” This kind of generosity is nothing
Josh McKay at Aken Industries says of Turner: “He treats everyone with respect and the way he’d want to be treated. He goes above and beyond to take care of everyone.”
new in Texas; in fact, it’s as old as the West itself, a pioneer ethic that runs back many generations in the Turner family, which came to Texas before it was Texas – to purchase a land grant from Mexico. For Tommy Turner that same ethic comes with a healthy dose of patriotism, tempered by the loss of friends in Vietnam. “There has been somebody in my family in every war since the American Revolution,” he says. “When I see anybody disrespecting the flag, in any form or fashion, it hurts me. It makes tears run down my face. Nobody takes a knee around here. If they do, I’ll go down to the field and drag them off by the ears.”
Management philosophy After nearly a half century in the construction business Turner has developed a unique philosophy on success. “My concept now that I’ve gotten older is there really isn’t any boss on the jobsite,” says Turner. “There
is a guy who knows the most and he directs the work, but I don’t have any superintendents riding around in their trucks in pretty starched shirts. I don’t like to see anybody sitting in a truck. Every bit of that draws from your bottom line.” In the end, he says, it’s about people and humility. “The boss doesn’t make the company. The equipment doesn’t make the company. The people make the company. You can have the best equipment in the world, but if you don’t have the right people around, you’re not going to get the production,” Turner says. And the key to long-term success? “You have to stay humble in the construction business and be honorable about what you do,” says Turner. “You can’t burn bridges. Younger men don’t realize that. Older men do. Whether you’re right or wrong, be diplomatic, and don’t burn those bridges. I learned that one the hard way.” EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 45
landscaping attachments
| by Don McLoud |
DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com
Separate rock from soil
Caterpillar designed its line of Skeleton Buckets to separate rocks and large debris from soil and sand more directly than with a solid cutting edge. They can also be used for grading. The all-steel buckets come in widths of 79, 87 or 94 inches and are compatible with skid steers, compact track loaders, compact wheel loaders and multi-terrain loaders. Heavy rods that are 1.25 inches in diameter are placed on 3.75-inch centers to form the buckets’ floor and back. The buckets feature thick plates with rectangular openings and steel gussets welded between the outermost rods in the bucket floor and the sides.
Tackle trees, brush, grass
Push, don’t shake your bucket
The Kubota SC70 Skid Cutter is a 6-foot-wide heavy-duty attachment with a 7-inch cutting capacity for tackling small trees, shrubs, bushes and grass. Designed for Kubota’s SVL952 compact track loader, the deck and side skirts are made of quarter-inch steel. The three-piece deck design has fewer weld points for added strength. Standard safety features include front and rear chains, a pusher bar, and a patent pending bi-fold door that covers the cutting chamber when not cutting in heavy brush. A case drain and motor pressure gauge are optional.
Dymax Pushout Buckets are designed for fast truck loading. Two heavy-duty hydraulic cylinder rams eject material from the bucket to speed cycle times and increase efficiency. The buckets’ smooth operation also leads to less wear and tear on the operator and on the wheel loader or toolcarrier, the company says. The buckets push out all material, eliminating the need to repeatedly shake the bucket. Loading times are reduced 10 to 15 seconds per pass, the company says. Bucket features include replaceable heat-treated bottom wear shoes and bolt-on replaceable bucket wipers.
46 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Sweep rocks and debris Worksaver’s SARG (Sweep Action Rock Grapple) for skid steer loaders is designed for handling rocks, brush, logs, stumps and debris. Two models are available – the SARG-72 at 72 inches wide and the SARG-84 at 84 inches wide. The front grapples provide 66 degrees of sweep for moving debris and rocks of various sizes into the bucket. The sweep clamp retains the rocks or debris in the bucket while the operator rocks the attachment to sift out the dirt. Grapples work independently of each other, moving like fingers, so the device can clamp uneven loads.
A rake for any dozer Solesbee’s Blade-Mounted Dozer Rakes will fit nearly any dozer blade without customization, the company says. That’s because the rakes have an extended upright with multiple holes to line up with the dozer blade when mounting. The company also provides all the pins and brackets needed for mounting. The rakes are made for land clearing, raking brush and piling trees and branches. They feature a C-curve design that rolls brush and debris, which the company says makes it easy to windrow material while minimizing the amount of dirt pushed with it.
Rip, pry, load stumps with one tool Nye’s Ultra Heavy Duty Stump Harvester can rip, pry, shake, split, crosscut and load. The company says it can split any stump that fits its jaws and harvest stumps in place. It can remove dirt and rocks from stumps before they are processed. The main cutting blade is situated on the operator’s side for better visibility and control. The attachment is made of quenched and tempered alloy steel with hardened allow pins and bushings. The teeth are replaceable and the blade can be sharpened easily, the company says. The harvesters come in hydraulic and mechanical models. EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 47
landscaping attachments
| continued
An alternative to stump grinding The new Wolverine Stump Ripper from Leading Edge Attachments is a faster alternative to stump grinding, allowing the operator to remove a stump without leaving grindings or remains that can cause sinkholes, the company says. Instead of grinding a stump, the Wolverine goes beneath it and cuts and rips the roots. When paired with a thumb, the device can pull out the stump, leaving behind only the roots. The stump can then be shaken and loaded. The Stump Ripper is designed for backhoes and excavators. It can be connected by pins or a quick coupler, the same as a bucket.
Grade, rake, clean with one tool Virnig designed its Power Rake to grade, rake and remove debris. The attachment features a bi-directional drum that conditions the soil in both directions for quick seedbed preparation. It also achieves a smooth, even finish when raking because of the device’s floating design, which keeps the rake level, the company says. The rake can be manually angled 25 degrees in either direction. A hydraulic angle is optional for changing the rake angle from the cab. The rake is available in sizes of 6 feet or 7.5 feet and has a recommended flow rate of 15 to 25 gallons per minute.
Dig cleaner holes
General Equipment designed its Dig-R-Tach drill attachments for small and large hydraulic systems. For smaller systems, the Series 16 balances lower flow volumes with auger diameters to dig cleaner holes with less loose soil and debris. It features a two-speed chain and a hydraulic flow range of 5 to 20 gallons per minute. It is compatible with skid steers, small excavators, knuckleboom cranes and small backhoes. For bigger jobs, the Series 24 is designed for excavators and backhoes and operates in a hydraulic flow range of 15 to 25 gallons per minute. It can deliver 2,018 foot-pounds of torque. 48 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
product report
| by Marcia Gruver Doyle |
MGruver@randallreilly.com
How Cat’s electric drive D6 XE dozer delivers max torque, big payback
U
nlike the D7E introduced nine years ago, Caterpillar’s new D6 XE electric drive will be a high drive machine, the first in an electric drive dozer. Compared to the 3-speed D6T, which it replaces, the D6 XE offers up to 35 percent better fuel efficiency and increased agility, says Sam Meeker, product application specialist. With no gears to shift, the machine’s constant power to the ground, continuous push and greater maneuverability mean faster cycle times. “This is truly a 30-year redesign. Everything is either new, updated or beefed up on this machine,” Meeker says of both the D6 XE and the all-new D6.
How an electric drive works Here’s how Cat explains it: The electric drive system starts with a Cat C9.3B engine. But instead of powering a torque converter, the engine drives a generator that turns the mechanical engine power into electricity.
And instead of a transmission, an electric motor powers the final drives. A power inverter is connected to both the generator and the motor by heavy-duty power cables and connectors, and this inverter controls the flow of electricity between the two components. The electric motor can operate at all ground speeds, ensuring the dozer is always operating at the most efficient point possible. The electric drive components are fully sealed against the environment and liquid cooled. The D6 XE Electric Drive powertrain is completely modular, so internal components can be accessed quickly.
Max torque at any speed “Electric drive gives you maximum torque at any speed, so the tractor can quickly respond because it’s all electronic,” Meeker says. “Users can hit a pile and instead of lugging down, it can roll right through it.” Cat estimates the XE version has an 8 to 10 percent productivity im-
provement over the new D6. All of these factors have Cat claiming that customers “can expect to see payback of the added investment over a D6 in less than two years,” based on average cost per bank cubic meters (cubic yards) of material moved in typical construction applications with 1,500 hours/ year. (Individual results may vary based on application, hour utilization, operator and other factors.) Introduced alongside the D6 XE, the 4-speed power shift transmission D6 also has productivity bragging rights, offering up to 20 percent fuel efficiency versus its 3-speed predecessor, Cat says. Fully automatic, the D6 reduces momentary hesitations inherent in traditional machine shifts and offers another gear between what would have been first and second on the D6T. To watch a video of Cat’s unveiling of the new D6 and D6 XE, go to http://bit.ly/D6XEDozer. EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 49
technology
| by Tom Jackson |
TJackson@randallreilly.com
Honda unveils autonomous construction robot and wants your input on how to use it
Materials can be delivered on busy construction sites without putting workers on the ground in potential conflict with moving machines.
T
he average OEM develops a new product in secret and then reveals it to you in the final version. But Honda did things differently with its autonomous/robotic vehicle platform, putting it out for all the world to see, experiment with – and develop applications for. The Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle debuted in January at the Consumer Electronics Show 2019, but it’s less of a consumer product than an invitation for other manufacturers and inventors to get creative.
Designed by Honda R&D Americas, the Autonomous Work Vehicle is based on Honda’s All-Terrain Vehicle 4WD chassis and features GPS and sensor-based autonomy capable of guiding the unit in almost any environment. A rail-based accessory mount system and onboard power plugs open up nearly limitless opportunities for work tools and attachments. For directional guidance, the Autonomous Work Vehicle can be programmed in a “follow me” pattern or a predetermined route from
point A to point B. According to the company, the vehicle’s compact size and off-road capabilities make it suited for everything from dense forests to urban pedestrian zones. Potential applications include construction, firefighting, agriculture, landscaping and snow removal. Honda debuted a beta version of the Autonomous Work Vehicle at the CES 2018 and garnered a variety of potential developers who put it to work in large-scale solar operations, firefighting and agricultural research. In the firefighting application, the Autonomous Work Vehicle was outfitted with a gear rack that relieved firefighters from carrying the 60 pounds of equipment they normally have to tote – per person – through the woods on their back. In agriculture, the robot was used to quickly transport vegetables from deep in the fields to the processing stations, as well as in spraying applications for weed and pest control. Business and technology partners interested in collaborating with Honda on developing applications for the Autonomous Work Vehicle should email AWV@hra.com.
Gear can be delivered and dangerous conditions inspected without the need for human involvement in underground mines.
After tornadoes, fires and other natural disasters, the Honda Autonomous Vehicle can deliver water, medical and construction supplies. 50 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
safety watch
| by Tom Jackson |
TJackson@randallreilly.com
T
Illustration by Don Lomax
The guillotine
hey’d been at it for two days, clearing a site of brush and stumps on a residential site. The victim was operating a skid steer loader, gathering up the brush and stumps in the bucket and dumping them in a nearby truck. Two other laborers worked nearby. There was just one problem. The side screens on the cab of the skid steer loader had been removed. According to investigators, nobody witnessed the accident, but a resident nearby told them he saw a spray of hydraulic fluid streaming from the left side of the skid steer and notified one of the workers. When the worker checked, he found the victim sitting in the cab with his head caught in the lift arm boom linkage and hydraulic fluid leaking from the bucket cylinder hydraulic line. The worker got the resident to call 911 and notify another homeDate of safety talk: Attending:
owner who was the county medical examiner. Emergency medical services arrived 10 minutes later, but by that time, the medical examiner had pronounced the victim dead. Nobody saw the impact, but investigators think the victim might have stuck his head out of the lefthand side of the cab to get a better look at the hydraulic leak. Just as he did, they concluded, one of three things happened: Either the left side boom pivot pin backed out of its connection to the body of the machine allowing it to fall; the victim inadvertently stepped on the foot-operated boom lift control, lowering the boom; or the leak in the hydraulic lines caused the boom to descend due to lack of hydraulic pressure.
How this accident could have been prevented: • The side screens on a skid steer, wheel loader or any type of
Leader:
machine are there for two reasons – preventing material from piercing the interior of the cab and keeping the operator’s head, arms and hands from entering the plane of motion of the loader arms and other mechanical components. The screens should never be altered or removed for any reason. • Employers should implement inspection and repair programs to ensure that equipment is free of any defects that may cause unsafe operation. This means assuring the integrity of the hydraulic lines and fittings and making sure that pins on pivot points are secure, tight and properly greased. • Operators should be fully trained on the safe operation of each machine. For more information on this accident, you can read the CDC’s full report at: http://bit.ly/CDCscreen
_____________________ EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 51
alerta de seguridad
| por Tom Jackson |
TJackson@randallreilly.com
Illustration por Don Lomax
La guillotina
T
enían ya dos días despejando de arbustos y troncos el área de un sitio residencial. La víctima operaba un minicargador con el que juntaba esos troncos y arbustos en el cucharón y los vaciaba en un camión ubicado en las cercanías. Dos otros trabajadores no estaban muy lejos de ahí. Sólo había un problema. Las mallas protectoras laterales de la cabina del minicargador habían sido retiradas. Según los investigadores, nadie fue testigo del accidente, pero un residente cercano les dijo que había visto un chorro de fluido hidráulico saliendo del lado izquierdo del minicargador y se lo notificó a uno de los trabajadores. Cuando el trabajador fue a revisar, encontró a la víctima sentada en su cabina con su cabeza atrapada en el enlace del brazo extensor de elevación y vio una fuga de fluido hidráulico saliendo de la manguera del cilindro hidráulico del cucharón. El trabajador hizo que el residente llamara al 911 y notificara a otro propietario que era el examinador médico del condado. Diez minutos después llegaban los servicios médicos de emergencia pero, ya para entonces, el examinador médico había declarado la muerte de la víctima. Nadie vio el impacto en sí pero los investigadores piensan que la víctima pudo haber sacado la cabeza por el lado derecho de la cabina para ver mejor la fuga hidráulica. Mientras hizo eso, concluyeron, ocurrió una de tres cosas. Puede ser que el seguro del brazo extensor del lado izquierdo se desconectara
Fecha de la charla de seguridad: Asistentes: 52 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Líder:
del resto de la máquina dejándola caer o, sin darse cuenta, la víctima pisó el control de pedal del brazo extensor de elevación bajando el brazo extensor o, en su defecto, la fuga en las mangueras hidráulicas hizo que el brazo extensor descendiera debido a la falta de presión hidráulica.
Cómo pudo haberse prevenido este accidente: • Las mallas laterales de un minicargador, o de los cargadores de ruedas, o de cualquier otro tipo de maquinaria están ahí por dos razones: impedir que ningún material penetre al interior de la cabina y para evitar que la cabeza, los brazos y las manos del operador ingresen en la zona de movimiento de los brazos del cargador y de otros componentes mecánicos. Nunca debieron haberse alterado o retirado sin importar la razón. • Los empleadores deberían implementar programas de inspección y reparación para asegurarse de que la maquinaria esté libre de defectos que pudieran causar una operación insegura. Esto significa asegurarse del buen estado de mangueras y acoplamientos hidráulicos y de que los seguros de los puntos de giro están seguros, ajustados y apropiadamente engrasados. • Los operadores deberían recibir una capacitación completa de la operación segura de cada máquina. Para mayor información sobre este accidente lea el reporte completo de la CDC (disponible sólo en inglés) en: http://bit.ly/CDCscreen
EQUIPMENT INFORMATION
command the job site with roadside reliabilty Versatile Sullair compressors offer elite maneuverability, easy maintenance and an air end built to stand the test of time. Portable air compressors 185 – 1600 cfm | Construction air tools. Learn more at Sullair.com/Americas
© 2018 Sullair, LLC. All rights reserved.
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EQUIPMENT INFORMATION
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February 2018 • EquipmentWorld.com
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EquipmentWorld.com | February 2019 57
final word | by Tom Jackson
TJackson@randallreilly.com
What’s the harm in smoking a little reefer after work?
A
question I frequently ask construction company owners is: “Shouldn’t an otherwise good worker be allowed to smoke a little reefer after work in the privacy of his or her home?” Sometimes they dance around it, but one answer I never get is “yes.” Of course, if this worker drives big trucks and has a commercial driver’s license, the answer is not “no” but “hell no,” thanks to federal regulations that require drug testing of CDL holders. But what about the otherwise good-hearted craftsman who likes to fire up a doobie at the end of the day and otherwise bothers nobody? With the growing trend toward legalizing marijuana, this is not an insignificant question. And the people who work in the construction industry will have to decide where they stand and whether they will allow their people, off duty, to smoke it. It is true that many people smoke pot with few bad consequences. But it is also true that a small percentage of people who smoke pot develop mental illnesses and even a smaller percentage commit heinous crimes including murders. And there is plenty of evidence that the majority of homeless people in this country were brought low by drug use, including marijuana. This pros and cons of this debate have more dimensions than will fit on this page, but for further reading, Google Malcolm Gladwell’s article on marijuana in The New Yorker magazine, or Alex Berenson’s book: Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence. Some of the most vigorous advocates for
58 February 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
marijuana legalization are what one sociologist termed “symbol manipulators,” people who work in offices on computers and never set foot in the more dangerous world of construction, law enforcement or the military. They’re not operating dozers, hooking up gas lines, repairing wiring at nuclear power plants, prowling the mean streets of Baltimore or strapping bombs onto planes. There is a sharp, blue collar/white collar divide here. And the problem is the whitecollar people, the symbol manipulators, the college-educated kids with the easy life, are dominating the debate because they dominate the culture and the news media. They are the ones pushing for legalization and ignoring the negative effects of marijuana on the population at large. We never hear viewpoints from the blue-collar world, even though they are the ones most likely to suffer the negative impacts of marijuana and less likely to have a rich daddy who will lawyer up to keep them out of jail and send them to tony rehab centers in Malibu to sober up. In a way it reminds me of how rogue traders sold rotgut whiskey to the Indians in the late 1800s. Everybody knew it was wrong, and even though sales of alcohol to Native Americans were prohibited, not enough of the good people banded together to stop it. Everybody looked the other way. We know how that story ended. You may not be able to do much to stop marijuana legalization, but you do have the right to test people in your company. It’s up to you if you want to side with the Indians or the whiskey peddlers.
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