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equipmentworld.com | February 2018

®

EXCAVATION INNOVATION MID-SIZED EXCAVATORS

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GET SMART

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CAT ENGINE FOR THE FUTURE

WEARABLE TECH DESIGNED TO PROTECT EW0218_Cover.indd 1

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• POWER BOOST WITH NO TIME LIMIT • DEDICATED HEAVY LIFT FUNCTION • HEAVY DUTY CONSTRUCTION

DON’T SET LIMITS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO. Most excavators come with a power boost function that can deliver extra force when you need it most – but only for a few seconds at a time.

What good does that do when you have a whole day’s work ahead of you? The power boost in KOBELCO excavators provides ~10% more bucket breakout force when you need it, for as long as you need it. They also offer a dedicated heavy lift function that provides ~10% more power when lifting and swinging.

Combine that with our heavy-duty construction and you can be sure they’ll never back down from a challenge.

MINI

SHORT RADIUS

CONVENTIONAL

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Vol. 30 Number 2 |

Cover Story

table of contents | February 2018

Machine Matters:

THE SMARTER EXCAVATOR A BURST OF TECHNOLOGY BRINGS INTELLIGENT CONTROL TO MID-SIZED MACHINES

P. Equipment 15

Marketplace

New products unveiled by John Deere, Case, Manitou, Phillips 66, Hoelscher, Continental, TT Technologies, Miller, Cat and Little Beaver.

44

Highway Contractor

Recyclers and stabilizers focus on operator safety and productivity.

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62 Grade Control Attachments Keep your dozer or excavator on grade automatically with these electronic add-ons.

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table of contents | continued

Features 32 Road Technology

Training is critical for automatic grade control and slope, but the switch to ‘cruise control’ can also give contractors a competitive edge.

51 Contractor of the Year Finalist

Richard Preston Jr. and Claudia Preston McCord, Preston Construction, Johnson City, Tennessee

®

equipmentworld.com facebook.com/EquipmentWorld twitter.com/Equipment_World 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 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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59 Product Report

Caterpillar’s C9.3B engine sets the stage for the future with a simpler design, smaller package and more horsepower and torque.

Departments 7 On Record

Reflections on a meeting

11 Reporter

Contractors expect growth in 2018 – along with worsening labor shortage.

43 Quick Data

Double-drum compactors

Watch 55 Safety Shortcuts shorten lives Pickup 57 Pro Is the service truck of the future a van?

61 Technology

What’s new in wearable technology?

66 Final Word

A tale of two builders

For subscription information/inquiries, please email equipmentworld@halldata.com. Equipment World (ISSN 1057-7262) is published monthly by Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC, 3200 Rice Mine Road N.E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. Periodicals Postage-Paid at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and at additional mailing offices.

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Chairman: 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: Scott Maldonado Vice President, Strategic Accounts: Michael Newman For change of address and other subscription inquiries, please contact: equipmentworld@halldata.com Editorial Awards: 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 Editorial Excellence News Analysis Gold Award, 2006 Midwest-South Region, American Society of Business Publication Editors Editorial Excellence News Section Silver Award, 2005 Midwest-South Region, American Society of Business Publication Editors

February 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

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MORE WITH LESS. MORE PERFORMANCE.

MORE MACHINE CAPABILITY. MORE PRODUCTIVITY. MORE RELIABILITY. MORE UPTIME. ALL IN A SIMPLER, SMALLER, LIGHTER, EASIER TO INSTALL DESIGN. THESE GLOBAL EGR-FREE PRODUCTS ENABLE A COMMON INSTALLATION FOR DOMESTIC AND EXPORT EQUIPMENT. LEARN MORE ABOUT CUMMINS F3.8™, B4.5™, B6.7™, L9™, X12™ AND X15™ PERFORMANCE SERIES ENGINES AT CUMMINSENGINES.COM/MORE-WITH-LESS.

©2018 Cummins Inc. Box 3005, Columbus, IN 47202-3005 U.S.A.

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RUN STRONG. Packed with features that operators demand, Doosan® crawler excavators bring strength to every job.

See machines in action:

DoosanEquipment.com/Excavator 1.877.745.7814 Doosan ® and the Doosan logo are registered trademarks of Doosan Corp. in the United States and various other countries around the world. ©2018 Doosan Infracore North America, LLC. All rights reserved. | 181

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on record | by Marcia Gruver Doyle MGruver@randallreilly.com

Reflections on a meeting

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ttendance at the Associated Equipment Distributors meeting serves as a strong indication of how good – or bad – dealers are feeling about the year ahead. The annual meeting just concluded in Las Vegas was no different: AED saw 200 more people attending than last year, a reflection of the fact that right now, contractors are buying and dealers are selling. In addition, there were 47 new exhibitors at Condex, the small trade show that is part of each year’s meeting.

One source concluded that North American dealers as a whole had a solid 2017, with sales averaging 6 percent over 2016. Caterpillar’s fourth quarter total dealer retail sales rose 23 percent in December over November, representing the eighth straight month of North American retail sales gains.

The cherry on top: Several in attendance at AED – both dealers and manufacturers – said that 2018 sales were starting off strong.

Times are good right now, but boy, can I – as can many others in this industry – remember when they were awful.

For example, compare the attendance list of the just-past AED event to that of the 2009 or 2010 program. During the time when the Great Recession was still the major topic of discussion, many dealers had only one representative attending the event … if they were attend-

ing at all. This year, several dealers sent four or more attendees.

These are all survivors, as you’ll hear in that best of all information-gathering settings: the table top. Everyone’s got to eat, eating relaxes people, and the stories start to flow. We heard about a dealer surviving by converting from representing an OEM to selling used equipment only. About savvy dealer principals grabbing opportunities to take on troubled territories in surrounding states, and creating a unique corporate culture in the process. About a manufacturer forming young-leader dealer peer groups, intent on getting the communication – and ideas – flowing within this critical component of its brand’s future.

What’s not around anymore: the complacent dealer, resting on past relationships, treating customers with a high hand. They’ve been absorbed, either by acquisition or failure, and their names are no longer part of the AED roster.

You are not the same contractor you were 10 years ago, and the same is true of your dealer. I’ve said this before, and I’ll probably repeat it: there’s no better time to make your dealer a true business partner. While it’s still true they want to influence what you buy, they now know they have to dig deep into your operation to even be under consideration as a vendor. It’s the kind of win-win situation that propels both businesses forward.

EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 7

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BORN FROM

A NEW WAY OF THINKING. THE INTERNATIONAL® A26 ENGINE. NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR HX® & HV™ SERIES TRUCKS. When we set out to create an engine that would lead the industry in uptime, we launched Project Alpha. Led by a new team of engineers, it fundamentally changed how we build engines. We set our sights on a more simplified, modern design built from proven components. Then, we tested it beyond ordinary limits. In the end, the International® A26 engine was born - lightweight, strong, and designed to handle highly corrosive applications - and is backed by the industry’s best-in-class standard warranty. It’s the winning combination that’s ready to set a new standard in uptime.

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EVOLUTIONARY

PERFORMANCE

NEW BOBCAT R-SERIES LIFTS PERFORMANCE HIGHER. New R-Series compact excavators feature durable, smoother-riding tracks that also improve over-the-side capacity, digging ability and slewing performance. R you ready for the revolution?

See performance features: Bobcat.com/NewR-Series 1.877.745.7813 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 Ž, the Bobcat logo and the colors of the Bobcat machine are registered trademarks of Bobcat Company in the United States and various other countries. Š2018 Bobcat Company. All rights reserved. | 1346

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reporter

| staff report

Contractors expect growth in 2018 – along with worsening labor shortage Briefs Four years after its purchase of Terex Trucks, Volvo has decided to launch a four-model lineup of rigid haulers in the second quarter of 2018 under its own brand for the first time. Currently, these models are limited to lesser regulated markets.

A

majority of construction firms plan to expand their payrolls in 2018.

But their optimism is tempered by concern over a growing shortage of skilled workers.

That’s according to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate, which queried more than 1,000 firms nationwide.

“Construction firms appear to be very optimistic about 2018, as they expect demand for all types of construction services to continue to expand,” says Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO. Three quarters of construction firms surveyed said they plan to expand payrolls in 2018 because they believe economic conditions will remain strong as tax rates and regulatory burdens drop.

“This optimism applies to both private and public-sector construction demand, perhaps

Caterpillar has extended its standard fullmachine warranty on select new compact equipment to 24 months or 2,000 hours. New skid-steer loaders, compact track loaders, multi-terrain loaders and compact excavators purchased after January 1 are covered by the extended warranty. Cat’s previous warranty for these machines was one-year, unlimited hours. reflecting current economic conditions and an increasingly more business-friendly regulatory environment, and expectations that the Trump Administration will finally deliver on its promise to boost infrastructure investments,” Sandherr says.

But as contractors plan to increase their head counts, they also expect hurdles.

“Despite the overall optimistic outlook, the construction industry faces a number of significant challenges this year,” Sandherr points out.

“Top among those challenges are the growing workforce challenges that have made it difficult for the vast majority of firms to find and hire qualified workers.”

Most firms surveyed – 82 percent – said they expect recruiting and hiring qualified workers in 2018 to remain difficult or become even harder. That’s up from 76 percent last year.

The survey reports that 78 percent of firms are having

H&E Equipment Services has completed its acquisition of Contractors Equipment Center (CEC) in the greater Denver, Colorado, area. The purchase is part of H&E’s ongoing strategy of acquiring rental companies to complement its existing business, the company says.

Fueled in large part by hurricane recoveries, Sunbelt Rental’s total revenue grew by 17 percent to $2.08 billion – including an 18-percent rise in rental-only revenue – in the first half of its fiscal year ending October 31. The company estimates that hurricane response resulted in incremental rental revenue of about $45 million.

Charles Carter has been named vice president of Construction Equipment Sales for Volvo Financial Services USA. Carter joined Volvo Financial Services in 2000 and has served since 2013 as vice president of credit and origination.

Mark Hanson has been named regional vice president and CEO of Manitou North America. He joins Manitou after serving eight years as vice president of sales at Generac Mobile Products, where he led the North American sales and national account teams. (continued on page 12)

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reporter |

staff report

difficulty finding qualified workers – compared to 73 percent at the beginning of 2017.

The deepening shortage in skilled operators, mechanics, carpenters and other workers has spurred the industry to step up efforts to recruit potential workers, even while they’re still in high school, and to offer training programs.

Overall, 53 percent of firms surveyed expect

industry growth and only 9 percent expect a decline, says Ken Simonson, chief economist with Associated General Contractors of America.

For further details on the survey “Expecting Growth to Continue: The 2018 Construction Industry Hiring and Business Outlook,” which includes a state-bystate breakdown, go to http://bit.ly/2D0iMnc. – By Joy Powell

Former Kawasaki/KCM loaders now Hitachi

K

awasaki Construction Machinery Corp. of America loaders will soon take on the branding of their parent company.

Nearly two years after Hitachi Construction Machinery completed its purchase of the company, KCMA will change its name to Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America.

The change, which includes a new corporate structure, started with the new year.

Hitachi says it plans to increase loader production and streamline its loader offering in North America. The company manufactures loaders in Banshu and Ryugasaki, Japan; and in Newnan, Georgia.

KCM, formerly Kawasaki Construction Machinery, entered the North American construction equipment market in 1962. The Japanese company released its first wheel loader to the market in 1978 and in 2010 entered into a joint venture with Hitachi to aid in the development of Tier 4 Final loaders. Hitachi purchased KCM loaders from Kawasaki in 2016. –By Wayne Grayson

Briefs (continued) VMAC has promoted company co-founder Jim Hogan to CEO from president. Tod Gilbert has been named the company’s new president. Gilbert has been with VMAC since 2006 and has held various positions, including, most recently, executive vice president.

Bill Cox has been named sales director for Terex Cranes North America, replacing Mark Phillippi, who has retired. Cox was previously a crane equipment sales and distributor development representative for Tadano Mantis Corporation.

The U.S. construction industry saw employment increase by 3.1 percent during 2017, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Labor Department. Construction added a total of 210,000 jobs over the course of 2017.

The U.S. transportation infrastructure market is expected to rebound slightly in 2018 after a 2.8-percent drop in 2017, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).

Total domestic transportation construction and related market activity is forecast to reach $255 billion in 2018, a year-on-year increase of 3.2 percent after adjusting for project costs and inflation, ARTBA says.

Custom Equipment has been acquired by an affiliate of the investment firm Stratford-Cambridge Group. Custom Equipment is a familyowned designer and manufacturer of specialized scissor lifts sold primarily under the Hy-Brid Lifts brand, with headquarters and a manufacturing facility in Wisconsin.

National Equipment Dealers (NED) has acquired Four Seasons Equipment, May Heavy Equipment and Earthmovers Equipment, as well as some assets of International Iron. The corporate office of the new entity will be based at May Heavy Equipment’s facilities recently built in Lexington, North Carolina.

The Walsh Group, ranked the 11th-largest construction firm in the United States, celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. The company, in its fourthgeneration of family leadership, traces its beginnings to Matthew Myles Walsh, who started a carpentry business out of his home in Chicago in 1898.

For more on each of these stories go to equipmentworld.com.

12 February 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

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Atlas Copco sells concrete division to Husqvarna, makes name change

A

tlas Copco has made some changes as it heads into the new year – by selling its concrete and compaction business to Husqvarna and renaming its North American construction equipment division.

Atlas Copco Construction Equipment North America is now called Power Technique North America.

The Swedish-based company says Power Technique will remain in its Rock Hill, South Carolina, offices and will continue to comprise the Atlas Copco, Chicago Pneumatic and American Pneumatic brands. Power Technique will include portable compressors, generators, light towers and pumps.

The name change for the company’s construction equipment division follows a major reorganization of the Atlas Copco brand that began early last year. In January 2017, the company agreed to divest its Road Construction Equipment division, including Dynapac equipment, to French company Fayat Group.

The planned divestment to Husqvarna, a Swedish manufacturer of outdoor power products for consumers, includes plate compactors, tandem rollers and concrete vibrators. –By Joy Powell and Wayne Grayson EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 13

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VISIONARY. OUR AAVM SYSTEM SPORTS FOUR CAMERAS, 360-DEGREE VIEWS, AND MOTION DETECTION. THE SAFETY ADVANTAGE IS EASY TO SEE. TOMORROWSEDGETODAY.COM

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marketplace

| by Don McLoud |

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

MADE FOR SMALL SPACES AND ROUGH TERRAIN ’S R O IT ED ICK P

John Deere’s 204L and 304L compact wheel loaders are designed to take on a variety of jobs “in small spaces and over rough terrain,” the company says. They stand 8 feet tall and 5 feet, 10 inches wide for working in low, narrow areas. They have optional ride control for smoother travels on rough terrain, while automatic front and rear differential locks boost traction. The 204L

packs 62 horsepower and the 304L delivers 67 horsepower with Yanmar Tier 4 Final engines. Their hydrostatic transmissions are designed for quiet operation. Customers can choose an open cab or an enclosed cab with an improved air conditioning system. Service intervals have been extended, and the loaders are compatible with more than 100 of John Deere’s Worksite Pro attachments.

Motor-grader tasks at double speed Hoelscher’s new Spike road maintainer is true to its name – it has two rows of rigid spikes for rejuvenating roads. The attachment is made for tractors of 60 to 70 horsepower. The company says it is simple to operate and can be used at twice the speed of a motor grader, saving time and labor costs because it does not require extensive training to operate as does a motor grader. The 37 carbidetipped spikes can dig beneath corrugations, ruts and potholes while leaving material in place.

Giving telehandlers a more comfortable ride Continental has designed its new solid, flat-proof TeleMaster tires for JLG telehandlers in a partnership with the aerial work platform manufacturer. The TeleMaster tires are available as an option on certain JLG and SkyTrak telehandlers. The tires consist of three-layer construction and specialized rubber compounds. The inner layer contains dampening properties and has a low rolling resistance value, which makes for a more comfortable ride, JLG says. The sidewalls are reinforced to prevent punctures and cuts.

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The Office of Experience – 233 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1710 – Chicago, IL

Finish strong.

Count on tough.

Mack ® Granite ®, the #1-selling conventional straight truck in the industry, now runs even stronger with completely redesigned interiors.

Tougher interior finishes will keep your truck in top shape for years to come, while a more comfortable ride will keep drivers rested and ready to finish the day as strong as they started.

Build your Granite today at Build.MackTrucks.com

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marketplace

| by Don McLoud |

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

Reducing noise, gaining control

Bringing power to confined areas

Case Construction Equipment has upgraded its N Series backhoes with a new Pilot Control hydraulic system. It is designed to give operators more control while reducing cab noise. The fivemodel series of backhoes now comes standard with a fuel-economy package that includes Eco mode and auto-engine idle and shutdown. An engine protection shutdown automatically turns off the engine if engine temperature, drivetrain fluid temperature or engine oil pressure go out of the normal operating range. The upgraded backhoes also feature a new drivetrain with more pushing power and acceleration.

TT Technologies has upgraded its Grundopit mini directional drill for line installations in tight spaces.

Despite its compact size, the pit-launched drill delivers 13,489 pounds of thrust and pull-back and 553 footpounds of torque with bore length of up to 150 feet.

It is 54 inches long, 43 inches wide and 57 inches tall.

The drill features an instant plug-in lock that holds the drill stem in place and makes it easier to add new stems. The operator just screws the drill stem into the lead stem, which cuts replacement time in half, the company says.

Portable, versatile welder Miller Electric Manufacturing has released a new portable welder, the Dynasty 280 DX with CV, that weighs 55 pounds and can perform a range of tasks. It delivers up to 280 amps. And when faced with dirty or unreliable power, its Auto-Line accommodates any voltage hookup from 208 to 575 volts with no manual linking. Miller says the welder can perform a variety of tasks on construction jobsites, as well as precision fabrication, heavy fabrication, pipe and tube fabrication, and maintenance and repair.

Boosting power and capacity Manitou has boosted power and capacity with its new pair of Gehl and Mustang skid steers. The Gehl V420 and Mustang 4200V weigh in at 11,665 pounds and have a rated operating capacity of 4,200 pounds each. Both are powered by a 120-horsepower Tier 4 Deutz engine providing 354 foot-pounds of torque. Manitou says the new machines have 21.7 more horsepower and 200 pounds more operating capacity than previous models in this size range. They come standard with high-flow auxiliary hydraulics and everything needed to operate attachments such as mulching heads, cold planers and rock wheels.

EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 17

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| continued

Reducing noise, gaining control Phillips 66 has introduced four new engine oils under the Phillips and Kendall brands that meet FA-4 and CK-4 requirements.

The new oils are all 5W-30 in response to the industry’s call for lower viscosity oils.

The FA-4 oils are the Phillips 66 Triton FE and Kendall’s SHP FE. These oils are OEMcertified for Cummins CES 20087 and Detroit Diesel DFS 93K223 and contain an enhanced additive system for increased engine protection. The CK-4 oils are Triton Euro from Phillips and SHP Euro from Kendall. These oils meet ACEA E6, MB 228.51, CES 20086, DFS 93K222, and other OEM specifications.

Cat’s first inverter generator The INV2000 represents Caterpillar’s first inverter generator.

The compact model weighs only 49 pounds for easy storage, but boasts enough power for contractor and other professional uses.

It produces 1,800 watts when running and 2,250 watts when starting. The generator can power many small- to mid-sized power tools. Noise levels are between 52 and 61 decibels depending on the load. Cat says the INV2000 provides 6 hours of continuous run time on one tank of fuel at 50 percent load.

Lighter, towable hydraulic drill Little Beaver’s Towable Hydraulic Earth Drill has a balanced frame that cuts operating weight in half, compared to traditional hydraulic drills, according to the company. The drill frame balances the weight of the drill over the wheels and requires less than 20 pounds of force to pivot into digging position. In addition, the frame eliminates torque for safe, one-person operation, pivoting into position without damaging turf or landscaping. The unit can be transported via a removable no-tools towing hitch, saving truck or trailer space.

18 February 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

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742 JLG® TELEHANDLER

74 HP 7,000 LB

LOWER TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP WITH THE JLG® 742 TELEHANDLER. Designed to lift up to 7,000 lb, the 742 telehandler gives you just the right capacity, power and reach for the job. It has a standard 74 hp engine that doesn’t require DEF and meets Tier IV Final regulations. Without the need for DEF, fluid costs are reduced. Plus, extended service intervals and durable components decrease overall maintenance needs.

See how No DEF engines can help you lower total cost of ownership at jlg.com/no-def

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machine matters

| by Richard Ries

Powered by a 183.7-net-horsepower engine, the 26.2-metric-ton Doosan DX255LC-5 features four work modes, auto idle and auto shutdown.

When turning, pushing or maneuvering, auto downshift reduces hydraulic flow to the drive system to improve machine responsiveness and controllability. An X-chassis undercarriage and D-channel frame design provide increased ground clearance and greater resistance to side shock.

THE SMARTER EXC A burst of technology brings intelligent control to mid-sized machines

20 February 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

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A

fter years of steady technological gains, the past two years have seen an explosion of tech features on mid-sized excavators (20 to 45 metric ton). We asked manufacturers to provide insights on their most recent and significant technologies.

Case Case D Series excavators feature the company’s Intelligent Hydraulic System with four integrated control systems working together to optimize performance. Andrew Dargatz, brand marketing manager, provides this overview of the feature: “The system actively manages and controls hydraulic power throughout the production cycle to maximize speed and efficiency while reducing fuel consumption by minimizing unnecessary hydraulic flow.”

Playing supporting roles to the Intelligent Hydraulic System are a new electronically controlled pump, larger control valve and new sensors. Hardware improvements include a more robust boom and track and undercarriage design.

Four systems are involved in Intelligent Hydraulic Control. Boom Economy Control drops engine speed and uses gravity during boom down and swing. Auto Economy Control lowers engine rpm after controls are in a neutral state for 10 seconds and will do an auto shutdown, when enabled, after a preset idle period. Swing Relief Control regulates pump flow at the onset of the swing cycle. Spool Stroke Control monitors operator inputs and adjusts flow during dig cycles to optimize machine performance.

The sum of the parts is shorter cy-

XCAVATOR The largest of the three Next Generation excavators from Caterpillar, the 323 is powered by a Cat C7.1 ACERT engine rated at 162 net horsepower. Maximum hydraulic flow is 113 gallons per minute and maximum pressure is 5,075 pounds per square inch. Standard configuration includes a highambient cooling package rated for 125 degrees Fahrenheit and cold start capability to 0 degrees F; an optional cold start package rated to -25 degrees F is available.

cle times, less rework, fewer overcorrections, greater precision for lift and placement, higher breakout forces and improvements in fuel economy of up to 14 percent.

Caterpillar Caterpillar has been getting a lot of attention for their new excavators, and rightfully so. When they introduced the 320 GC, 320 and 323 models last year, it had been 25 years since the last major redesign of the product – that would be 1992 – and they pulled out all the stops this time. Specifically, these three Next Generation models were built for digital connectivity, ease of use and semi-automated functionality.

Standard technology on the 320 GC includes Product Link Pro and a rear camera. Standard on the 320 and 323 are Product Link Elite, rear camera, Cat Grade with 2D, 2D E-Fence, Cat Grade with Assist and Cat Payload. Cat Grade 2D Advanced/3D is an available option on the 320 and 323. Many of the tech features pair with smartphones to enable such capabilities as remote start, remote diagnostics and machine locator.

Cat places each of the three new models on a scatter plot with “monthly working hours” on the X axis and “monthly fuel burn” (G/H, Working) on the Y axis. The 320 GC, designed for low- to mediumduty applications, is in the lower left, the medium-to-heavy duty 320 in the middle, and the productionfocused 323 in the upper right.

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ACTIVECARE DIRECT 24/7/365 MONITORING

24-HOUR PARTS GUARANTEE*

PAVING EDUCATION FOR EXPERTS

BY EXPERTS

This past year we’ve worked diligently to bring you a revamped road machinery line-up ready to tackle everything from commercial jobs to mammoth, highway-class projects, with industry-exclusive technologies that get the job done right the first time — and every time.

See all the new models firsthand at World of Asphalt, booth 1923, or learn more at volvoce.com/WOA2018. *Guarantee applies to Class 1 parts orders. 48-Hour Parts Guarantee for Canada and Hawaii.

Push Boundaries.

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machine matters

| continued

The newest model of Case D Series excavators, the 245D minimum-swing model shares the Case Intelligent Hydraulic System with its other D Series siblings.

A compact counterweight and modified boom placement increase digging and lifting capacities while minimizing the machine’s footprint. A Free Swing feature improves craning, laying or lifting of offset loads.

The net effect is big gains in several categories: up to 45 percent increased efficiency, up to 25 percent reduced fuel consumption and up to 15 percent lower maintenance costs.

Doosan Smart Power Control (SPC) is the feature cited by Aaron Kleingartner, marketing manager, Doosan Infracore North America. SPC was designed during the development of dash-5 Tier 4 Doosan excavators to reduce fuel consumption up to 7 percent. SPC monitors demand, and when demand is low, such as during the swing portion of a dig cycle, SPC lowers engine speed.

SPC is the third iteration of technology designed to reduce fuel consumption. Each refinement builds

on the previous program. The first was introduced in Tier 3 machines, the second in Tier 4 Interim models, and now this third package comes on the current dash-5 models.

Each of the four power modes will function with SPC on or off; SPC is active only in the digging work mode. Operators will likely just leave SPC on except during lifting. At those times, operators will want the greater precision and control afforded by the traditional means of running the engine at a constant speed while using the hydraulic system to modulate lifting performance.

Gradall “Because they have fewer resources, it takes longer for small-volume OEMs to design, develop and

Inertial measurement units (IMUs)

IMUs are placed in strategic locations on equipment to detect movement. Information gathered is then used by the machine’s master electronic control unit to manage machine operation. The name comes from Newton’s first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia: An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion in a straight line and a constant speed unless acted upon by an external force. IMUs measure and report changes in inertia at specific points, typically the boom, stick, bucket and body on an excavator.

EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 23

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machine matters

| continued

The 30-metric-ton Gradall XL4100 is powered by an inline 6-cylinder Volvo engine rated at 248 horsepower. All upper-structure functions are powered by chassis hydraulics through a hydraulic motor and transfer case. Controls consist of a rocker switch for tilt and two electronic joysticks (hoist and bucket, telescope and swing).

Quick-change of the joystick pattern is available though the instrument panel.

Hybrid basics When needed, hybrid systems on excavators provide power to a motor that drives the hydraulic swing motor. When swing motion is slowed, the energy spent is collected and stored in a super capacitor or a bank of lithium-ion batteries.

If the storage component needs additional charging, power is delivered by converting the operation of the motor to that of a generator. This motor/generator is mounted to the back end of the engine. An inverter controls electrical flow into and out of the capacitor. Advantages include reduced fuel consumption, reduced noise and the virtually instantaneous torque that is characteristic of electric motors.

implement new technological features,” says Mike Popovic, vice president, excavators, Gradall, about the company’s last big tech splash two years ago: the debut of the highway-speed Discovery crossover. But it was indeed a big splash with several advanced features, most notably remote drive. With it, the operator can drive the truck from the cab of the excavator. Speed is limited to 5 mph forward and reverse.

Positioning the machine from the cab improves the typical applications for Gradall excavators such as ditch cleaning, roadside vegetation control and culvert replacement. Features of the 15ton Discovery, including remote drive, will make their way to larger models in the future, says Popovic.

The most exciting technology on the Gradall horizon is cloud-based BODAS. The Bosch Rexroth BODAS software package offers multiple tools to OEMs, including the ability to configure hydraulic system functionality and performance. But it’s always been a device-based system requiring that

the laptop on which it’s installed be physically present with the machine it’s configuring. The ability to perform those configurations and apply updates remotely is advantageous for a smaller manufacturer with machines widely scattered, such as Gradall.

Hyundai “At Hyundai, we’ve put a high priority on our monitor and control technologies,” says Michael Fuller, product and training specialist, Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas. “You can see the results in a variety of systems and components.” The monitor now includes an inclinometer to indicate machine level condition in real time.

Much of the information displayed is centered on monitoring fuel use: average and total fuel consumption, hourly and daily fuel consumption on a historical basis, and an ECO gauge that shows fuel consumption in real time.

Hyundai’s enhanced hydraulic controls include Attachment Flow Control, giving operators independent control EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 25

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machine matters

| continued

of two pumps. Flow rate settings can be stored for up to 10 breaker (two-way) and 10 crusher (one-way) attachments. Operators can select one of three hydraulic power modes from the monitor. Speed mode gives maximum speed and power for heavy work. Balance mode optimizes performance and fuel efficiency for general work. Efficiency mode provides maximum control and efficiency for light work.

John Deere and Hitachi David Young, product marketing manager, excavators, North and South America with John Deere and Hitachi, calls attention to the three-pump system on the 245G LC and ZX245USLC-6. The third pump is assigned to swing function. “Swing cannibalizes the hydraulics on two-pump systems and can become the limiting factor in performance, especially if the machine is on a grade or slope.” Both are 25-metric ton, reduced-tailswing machines; 30-ton models will launch in April.

Information integration and sharing are making great strides, according to Andrew Kahler, product marketing manager, John Deere WorkSight. JDLink (Deere) and ZXLink (Hitachi) run on a 4G LTE cellular network. The current system has more memory and more power and has both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to enable communication with multiple devices and platforms. Because there has been no standard communication protocol for telematics data, customers have had to gather information from machines by brand and then manually integrate the results, a practice known as “portal hopping.” Data are now sent via an application program interface (API) to data integrators so information from a mixed fleet can be viewed in a single portal.

Information management and maintenance of information hardware are generally within the capabilities of most customers, says Kahler. Machine-specific information can also be shared with dealers to help coordinate PM and repair. Data from equipment running across North America are aggregated and analyzed at Deere’s facility in Dubuque, Iowa, to look for trends and allow the OEM to be proactive in resolving issues and improving machine performance.

Kobelco Kobelco is working with Trimble to develop technologies for use with excavators. One result is the choice of Grade Assist (an indicate system) and 2D and 3D machine control. That much is fairly standard in the industry. What makes the Kobelco/Trimble design unique is the use of gyroscopic sensors instead of in-cylinder sensors and surface-mounted position sensors. These gyroscopic sensors are similar to those used in aircraft and in the vehicle stability control

Key technologies on the Hyundai HX380L include an intelligent 8-inch touchscreen monitor and automotive-style haptic controller with tactile feedback in the form of vibrations and pulses. The 40-metric-ton machine has three power modes – Power, Standard and Economy – and runs on a Cummins QSL9 engine rated at 344 net horsepower.

The largest Hitachi reduced-tailswing excavator is the ZX245USLC-6. Five years of ZXLink Ultimate comes standard and provides online access to machine location, health, utilization and other vital information. Powered by an Isuzu engine rated at 159 horsepower, the ZX245USLC-6 features rotary dial access to monitor selections and ergonomic, short-throw pilot lever controls.

26 February 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

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machine matters

| continued

systems of passenger vehicles. Anti-collision devices relying on proximity sensors are in the works and will be released soon.

Kobelco’s hybrid SK210HLC-10 uses lithium-ion batteries to drive the swing motor. Dave Donneral, specialized machine sales manager, Kobelco, says fuel savings are enough to sell hybrids in other markets where fuel costs are much higher than in North America. “Domestic customers also want better fuel economy and lower environmental impact, but they won’t give up performance or production or pay a hefty premium to obtain those benefits, so we built the SK210HLC-10 just for North America.”

Compared to the non-hybrid SK210-10, the SK210HLC-10 provides fuel savings of up to 40 percent and a reduction in CO2 of up to 40 percent. But compared to the SK210-9, the hybrid also offers up to 15 percent greater productivity and more than 27 percent greater efficiency. (All comparisons using H, or hydraulic mode.)

Already in use in other JCB machines, the MTU 6R1000 was also chosen to power the company’s three new excavators, the JS300, JS330 and JS370. Ratings are 241 horsepower in the JS300 and 281 horsepower in the JS330 and JS370.

Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) usage of about 3 percent of fuel consumption and a 12.4-gallon (47-liter) DEF tank mean operators will top off DEF with every third tank of fuel.

Net horsepower for the 38-metric-ton Komatsu HB365LC-3 hybrid excavator is 269. An ultra-low idle speed works with hybrid technology to reduce fuel consumption up to 20 percent. The engine-driven generator can function as an electric motor to improve engine response coming off idle, and large-displacement, high-efficiency pumps improve hydraulic performance at lower engine speeds.

Komatsu Komvision is Komatsu’s name for its bird’s-eye-view option. A rearview camera is standard; Komvision adds two or three cameras and stitches together multiple views for that overhead perspective. The option is available on new excavators but is not backwardcompatible with older ones.

Justin Lantin, product marketing manager, excavators, says Komatsu now offers two hybrid models. The company took the technology from the HB215LC-1 and applied it to the new HB365LC-3.

The system offers the benefits common to hybrids (see sidebar on page 25) as well as other benefits operators appreciate. Swing speed is more easily controlled. And because hydraulics are not employed for the swing motion, hydraulic functions in use during swing stay more consistent and predictable. The design also boosts the total output of the diesel engine by coupling the engine and the motor together, conceptually similar to how many hybrid passenger vehicles work.

Ron Schwieters, product manager, Komatsu, says the company’s approach is unique in that it uses externally mounted cylinder sensors on the boom, stick and bucket. These are position sensors; there are IMUs in place in other locations on the machine.

Compared to other designs using internal sensors, he says, Komatsu’s approach yields faster sensor response times and components that are easier to maintain. Schwieters says their system stores the entire bucket profile, not just the teeth. The semi-automatic system is active only when the bucket or other attachment is in contact with the design surface. Even when the semi-automatic is running, the operator EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 29

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machine matters

| continued

runs the excavator as usual. The performance of the system enables the intelligent excavator to complete tasks that, in the past, would have required a dozer and excavator working together. Because the intelligent excavator can do much of what a dozer has done in the past, that Kobelco started developing hybrid excavators in 1999; the SK210 is the latest model in that long succession. Performance specs are the same as for the non-hybrid SK210LC-10 except that swing torque is 1.5 percent lower. Fuel savings with the hybrid can be 40 percent compared to the standard.

dozer can now work in other areas of the project or on another project.

Volvo Dig Assist is a new feature available on the Volvo EC220E. Product Manager Matthew McLean describes Dig Assist as “an intuitive control system allowing easy input of job specifications and tracking of progress along the way.� One goal, says McLean, is to ensure the job is done right the first time. Another is to reduce some site prep, such as staking, by up to 50 percent. Overall, Dig Assist can provide up to 25 percent productivity gains. With optional In-Field Design functionality, operators can draw custom digging profiles to their Dig Assist plans from the cab.

Side- and rear-view cameras have been standard on Volvo excavators since 2016. Smart View, which uses three cameras to provide a birds-eye view of the machine, is now available. If the machine is

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equipped with Dig Assist, the operator can leave the Smart View display on the main monitor or cast it to the larger Co-Pilot display used by Dig Assist.

Volvo will roll out Comfort Drive Control joystick steering on wheeled excavators.

Joystick steering can function in addition to steering-wheel operation; for machines not driven on the road, the entire steering column can be removed to enhance an operator’s view of the worksite. With Comfort Drive Control, outrigger and blade control are also on the joystick rather than on a separate lever.

Operators can use both controls without letting go of the stick.

Dig Assist is available on the Volvo EC220E. With Dig Assist, the operator can see the realtime position of the bucket and the machine in relation to the design surface. Optional InField functionality allows the operator to input custom digging profiles from the in-cab monitor. Productivity gains can approach 25 percent, and labor costs can be lowered significantly.

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EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 31

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road technology

| by Joy Powell |

JoyPowell@randallreilly.com

AGS training can lead to competitive edge A

t Volvo Construction Equipment’s Road Institute, which teaches best practices for paving, trainers hear common refrains from operators who have been stymied by automatic grade control and slope (AGS) systems.

“We often hear in our paving classes and our automatic grade-and-slope classes where people have the systems, but they tried to use them once and they didn’t get the training. They don’t understand them.

They don’t set them up correctly. They fail. They throw them back in the box, and they don’t deal with them again,” says Wayne Tomlinson, who teaches compaction classes.

“They go back to operating the paver completely manually.”

But knowing how to use AGS can reduce human

error and boost productivity, according to Tomlinson and fellow trainer Flemming Knudsen, who teaches paving at the institute.

Once operators learn it, instructors hear such comments as, “Wow, I didn’t know it could do all that!”

Using this increasingly required machine control technology can also strengthen a highway contractor’s competitive edge in the bidding process, says Devin Laubhan, paving product manager for Trimble.

“There are your competitors in your area who have not given up on the technology and who have embraced it,” Laubhan says.

“They are the ones who are going to start learning how to competitively bid projects using technology, and they may have a competitive advantage against a contractor who has chosen not to implement technol-

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ogy. And the contractor who has given up runs the risk of not being awarded contracts based on that.”

Hands-on training needed Many operators who first arrive for classes at the Road Institute in Pennsylvania or Arizona have received no training on their AGS systems. “And you can’t just get it from a manual,” Knudsen says.

To learn it, an operator must first know manual paving and best practices, say the instructors and Laubhan.

Another prerequisite, the instructors say, is matching the AGS system to the valves on the type of machine the operator uses.

The Road Institute relies on Volvo Construction Equipment’s Blaw-Kontrol, which is proprietary to Volvo pavers. They use the Topcon System V or P32 for training. The courses, however, are designed to help operators on any type of equipment.

“The big thing to look out for is that when somebody gets a system, wherever they get it, it must be matched one time to the particular paver they’re running. That’s to compensate for the valve tolerances that vary actually from paver to paver, even with the same manufacturer,” explains Knudsen.

“The operator needs to have somebody who knows the system set it up for them to match it to their paver.

It only has to be done once, and it will stay matched, if you will, forever.”

Using the Trimble PCS900 3D Paving Control System, operators can eliminate the time-consuming, costly step of setting out stringline. They can take out high and low areas early in the process with the less expensive first layer materials; lay complex designs such as transitions, super-elevated curves and frequently changing cross slopes; and meet accuracy and smoothness specifications.

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road technology

| continued

Flemming Knudsen, shown standing on the rear of the paver, trains students at the Volvo Road Institute on automatic grade and slope systems.

Once a system’s working, he says, it is much more accurate than a human, almost like cruise control – and that cuts stress for paving crews.

“Once you set up the depth and thickness and slope and grade you want it to follow, it’ll repeat whatever it sees,” says Knudsen. “And you can control that with the automation. Once you get it going, like on a big highway job, they just walk alongside it for miles.”

Prices vary anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 for a standard AGS system. If you get into laser correction or 3D paving, prices go up, he says.

How AGS works A complete system typically consists of two control boxes that contain electronics, two grade sensors and one slope sensor, along with mounting hardware.

The system allows an operator to “control the angle of attack, which controls the depth of the mat that’s being laid and the profile of the mat because of the way the screed’s set up,” Knudsen explains.

Two definitions are key: The grade is defined as going down the center of the road. The slope goes from the road’s center to the shoulder.

There are two systems that run parallel, with one sensor on the left and one on the right. The left sensor generally goes down the center line of the road, and as it follows the grade, it controls and changes the depth

AGS in action during training at Volvo’s Road Institute.

Courses at the institute’s facilities in Pennsylvania and Arizona teach how to correctly and safely set up, operate and troubleshoot common control issues.

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road technology

| continued

Credit: Volvo Construction Equipment’s Road Institute

Volvo’s Blaw-Kontrol automatic grade and slope control system is accurate within .005 inches, the company says, and comes with the valves matched to the pavers from the factory.

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of the mat, or the thickness, of the profile, Knudsen says. The right sensor can sense off a reference, such as a city curb, or an operator can run slope manually.

“There’s a beam between the two tow arms, and there’s an electronic level on that. As the grade changes on the left, the level picks up that change and sends a signal through to the right and adjusts that towpoint cylinder to maintain the slope of the screed,” Knudsen says.

Most paver systems are aftermarket from such suppliers as Topcon, Trimble or MOBA. However, some manufacturers have incorporated AGS into their machines. Volvo’s Blaw-Kontrol system, for instance, comes with the valves matched from the factory on pavers, Knudsen says.

Caterpillar’s new Cat Grade and Slope system offers ease of use with its 2D system, and factory installation optimizes performance, the company says. It helps to remove irregularities from the surface and to control mat thickness.

The Cat system communicates with the machine’s electronic control module (ECM) to automatically calibrate each tow-point valve.

That means each cylinder reacts smoothly for performance and mat quality. It can be equipped with sonic or contacting grade sensors and configured with an averaging beam, Cat says.

Overcoming resistance to change Laubhan worked for a local paving contractor for years before he signed on as paving products manager for Trimble in Colorado. He’s seen many contractors resist change.

“There’s a lot of contractors out there who say, ‘We’ve always done it this way, and we’ve always been successful doing it this way,’ meaning without technology. And they’re not willing to give it a chance and see what it can do for their business.”

Too often, he says, contractors

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want to see machine control technology in action on somebody else’s machine before they commit to it, or else they misunderstand.

“There are a lot of people who think that 3D machine control is just a switch that you flip and then everything just runs automatically. That’s not the case.

Contractors must not only commit to learning the technology, but once you start using construction technology on a jobsite, the way you do business changes along with it. And that requires commitment and some ongoing education.”

Laubhan cites the success of a contractor handling a major reconstruction of Reef Runway at Honolulu International Airport in 2013.

The contractor was originally going to reconstruct the runway – 12,000 feet long by 200 feet wide – without machine control technology, but realized soon after starting they wouldn’t complete the job on time or within specifications. They would face FAA penalties of $240,000 for each day the work extended past the deadline.

So the contractor, Jas. W. Glover Ltd., called a local Sitech dealer and invested in 3D machine control.

“They embraced the technology,” Laubhan says. “They trusted it. And they ended up doing really, really well on this particular job.”

Turning to dealers for support Trimble sells aftermarket systems for a variety of paving equipment. Some paving machines come from the factory “Trimble-ready” with certain brackets and sometimes cabling.

PCS900 is Trimble’s 3D machine control technology for paving equipment.

Its PCS 400 is a 2D machine control for asphalt pavers only.

2D paving is referred to as “ground up” paving, where the screed of an asphalt paver is automatically controlled to place material at certain grade (thickness) and slope over a base layer of material. In 2D paving, the smoothness of the paved surface will be influenced by the subsurface. “We’re essentially mimicking the surface that we’re pav-

Looking at pain points should look Cmeetsontractors for a solution that their individual

needs, says Devin Laubhan of Trimble. This involves recognizing your pain points in the paving process, he says.

Here are a few questions to consider: Identify your pain points: • Is it navigating stringline?

• Is it paving in tight spaces?

• Is it trying to meet an elevation?

• Is it trying to achieve ultimate smoothness on a road?

And what is my end goal?

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road technology

| continued

Caterpillar’s new Cat Grade and Slope system offers ease of use with its 2D system, and factory installation optimizes performance, the company says.

ing over,” Laubhan says.

With 3D machine control, a 3D design guides the machine to place asphalt at a certain grade and slope at a known position. “We call it a design that is built within Trimble’s Business Center – Heavy Civil Edition software, and when we pave to a design, we have a final elevation at which we want our material to be placed,” Laubhan says.

3D controls provide a “virtual stringline,” so contractors can stop using actual stringline, he says.

“Stringline can be expensive to put down,” ranging from $1.50 to $5 a linear foot, he says. “It can be timeconsuming to put down, and it can impede truck logistics if trucks have to go around the stringline.”

There also can be competi-

tive reasons to invest in the higher-price 3D technology.

For example, a contractor might be awarded an interstate resurfacing job requiring 3D technology or 3D machine control.

“I would say within the last five years we have seen an increasing amount of specifications being written, either from federal, state or local agencies, requiring the use of 3D technology on road rehabilitation jobs,” he says.

“It’s a highly competitive business in bid-letting, and having 3D machine control technology gives contractors that competitive edge that may push them over in the bid process.”

Seeking help Contractors starting to use AGS should account for extra time to set up jobsites

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while they’re learning the new system, says Laubhan. “The learning curve can be challenging in the beginning, especially if somebody doesn’t have, let’s say, a survey background, or they may lack certain knowledge regarding site control. But as you keep using the technology, the difficulties diminish over time.”

Operators should rely on a “machine measure-up,” according to Trimble. “In order to keep the machine paving according to our design, the contractor uses sophisticated instruments to measure certain dimensions on the machine,” Laubhan says. This measure-up should occur every time a machine is moved to and from a jobsite and is also recommended once a month, he says.

They should also seek dealer support for technical issues to avoid costly downtime.

“It’s at least $10,000 an hour for a paver to be down on a highway

AGS system

Credit: Volvo Construction Equipment’s Road Institute

job, minimum,” Knudsen says.

That’s where dealer support comes in.

“If they ran into a situation on a jobsite where they need technical

support right away, their first call is to the Sitech field technician who helped them install and train on a machine,” Laubhan says of Trimble customers.

®

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quick data

| by Marcia Gruver Doyle |

MGruver@randallreilly.com

Double-drum compactors

A snapshot of new and used sales trends from Randall-Reilly’s Equipment Data Associates and TopBid auction price service.

Year-over-year change*

Auctions

USED: UP 17%

Double-drum compactor auction prices, Dec. 16-Dec. 17 $25,000 $24,000

High: $21,227

$23,000

April 2017

Current: $21,047

NEW: DOWN 4%

December 2017

$22,000 $21,000

*Comparison of number of double-drum compactors financed Dec. 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2017, and Dec. 1, 2015 to Nov. 30, 2016. Source: EDA, edadata.com

$20,000 $19,000 $18,000 $17,000

1-year average: $

$16,000

Low: $18,590

19,806

$15,000 $14,000

Top three states for doubledrum compactor buyers*

November 2017

$13,000 $12,000 $11,000

In December, the average price for the top 10 models sold at auction were 7 percent above the average price for these machines sold in December 2016, and 6 percent above the one-year average of $19,806.

$10,000 $9,000 $8,000

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

Jun.

Jul.

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

PRICE

2016 2017 Trend prices for the top 10 models of double-drum compactors sold at auction, not seasonally adjusted.

$

87,000 $

California: 145 buyers

2

Texas: 106 buyers

3

New York: 100 buyers

Top financed new double-drum compactor*

Top auction price, paid for a 2013 Caterpillar CB64 with 603 hours at a Ritchie Bros. sale in Houston on Aug. 23.

60,000

OTHER TOP BID:

1

2014 Volvo DD120B, 565 hours, Ritchie Bros., July 26.

0 5,0

0

0 21,0

$

0

AVERAGE

$

MEDIAN

Jan. 1– Dec. 31, 2017; prices for double-drum compactors 5 years old and newer, U.S. sales only. Only includes bids $5,000 and above. Source: TopBid, topbid.com

LOW

Final bids unit count: 185

8 22,0

$

New

Double-drum new, used sales trends, 2007-2016*

8

Cat CB24B,156 units

Used

2,000 1,800

Used high: 2010, 1,787 units

1,200 1,000

New high: 2016, 1,626 units

800 600 400

Used low: 2008, 1,281 units

New low: 2011, 749 units

200 0

UNITS

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

*Financed equipment, 2007 - 2016, number of units sold by sale or lease. Source: EDA, edadata.com

EW0218_Quick Data.indd 43

Hamm HD 12 VV, 55 units

Top financed used double-drum compactor:*

1,600 1,400

Other top selling new machine:

2014

2015

2016

Cat CB24B, 25 units *In terms of number of new and used financed units sold Dec. 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2017. Source: EDA, edadata. com (Note: EDA reports are continually updated.)

EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 43

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highway contractor

| by Joy Powell |

JoyPowell@randallreilly.com

Recyclers and stabilizers focus on operator features

O

nce seen as a luxury, stabilizer/reclaimer cabs are now viewed as a necessity by many contractors.

Still, plenty of operators run these machines without cabs, an add-on that has been on the market for more than 20 years.

“There are still older machines out there, and some customers will buy new machines without the cab,” says Mark Stahl, recycling products manager at Wirtgen,

which introduced its first recyclers, featuring standard enclosed cabs, in 1995. “You see that with recyclers; you see that with rollers; you see that with some dirt equipment. But I would say industrywide, the trend is definitely going toward the enclosed cab.”

There’s no question that the environment for recyclers in either stabilization jobsites or recycling jobsites is plenty dirty, with hazards such as the small, respi-

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Wirtgen WR-series reclaimer-stabilizer cabs are among machines that feature simplified controls and enhanced ergonomics to improve productivity and operator comfort.

rable, silica particles that can cause the lung disease silicosis.

“Typically, a contractor is applying a cement or lime to soils, so they’re putting down an additive in a powder form that’s very dusty; it gets caught in the wind, and it’s all around the personnel onsite,” says Stahl. “When the recycler is driven on top of this layer of powder, it stirs up dust as the machine travels in it. And then when the recycler engages with that material and the soils produce a stabilized base, that process generates dust as well.

“Being exposed to this environment on a continual basis is not healthy for personnel. As we’re seeing regulations in construction and other industries come out, they’re trying to eliminate a lot of those health hazards, so the cab design just makes sense.”

Roadtec’s SX-8 soil stabilizer-reclaimer addresses this with a cooling system that pulls air from the top of the machine before it is exhausted through the radiator package. This design reduces the amount of dust traveling though the cooling system, the company says.

Cab climate control shields operators from sweltering temperatures, direct sun and other elements, when most of these machines are running.

Wirtgen’s cab is mostly glass to increase visibility, Stahl notes. The cab slides hydraulically from side to side, so if an operator wants to look down the left or right side of the machine, he or she can extend the cab over the edge of the frame. The comfortable driver’s seat, which has air and spring systems, swivels 90 degrees along with the steering column and armrest.

“The reasons for the design of the cab are to decrease the health hazards to the operator, increase the safety for the operator and the crew working around the machine, and ultimately, increase production,” Stahl says.

Similarly, at BOMAG the trend with its recycler and soil stabilizer machines continues to focus on advancing safety, productivity and gradation quality, says Dave Dennison, manager of marketing services.

Recently introduced features on

BOMAG’S machines address product quality, operator safety and comfort, he says.

Caterpillar’s RM500B has an ISOmounted cab that reduces vibration and is pressurized to keep out noise, dust and the elements, according to Mark Eiden, Caterpillar global sales consultant.

The RM500B is designed for both fulldepth road reclamation projects and soil stabilization jobs.

Cat’s sliding, climate-controlled cab also optimizes visibility and operator comfort. Simple controls are easy to use, making it quick to learn for new operators, the company says.

Enhancing cab design for higher productivity Wirtgen’s multi-function ergonomics joystick enables the operator to have all controls at his or her fingertips. The joystick on the right arm console controls much of the machine, including forward, reverse and speed. A button on the right hand of the joystick allows the operator to change between the four steering modes.

A palm trigger serves as a safety feature; it must be depressed for the machine to move. A toggle switch allows changing gears on the fly from two “turtle speeds” when an operator is engaged with the ground, or two “rabbit speeds” for traveling.

The operator can also toggle between four different camera views with the touch of a button on the joystick, especially handy for backing up, Stahl notes.

“All these features provide a benefit to operators in terms of comfort, but also allows them to sit there and see what’s going on in the cab with greater visibility,” he says. “There is no need to get up or step to the side to grab some controls. It’s similar to an airplane cockpit, where all controls are at the operator’s fingertips.”

Stahl adds that an automated rotor depth feature allows the operator to preset the desired depth, press two buttons on the joystick and consistently achieve rotor depth. This saves considerable time over manually lowering the EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 45

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JohnDeere.com/MMC

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highway contractor

| continued

BOMAG’s RS 500 Recycler-Stabilizer rotor, he says.

Other manufacturers are following suit when it comes to operating ease and ergonomics. For example, Roadtec’s ergonomic design of the SX-8’s sealed cabin puts the operator in position to reach all controls and systems.

“For somebody to sit in the machine and operate it for eight hours, you want to make it as comfortable as possible for the operator so that he or she can be more productive,” says Stahl.

Engineers focusing on safety features At BOMAG, machines come standard with several features that increase the safety of the operator during machine operation as well as during cutting-tool changing, Dennison says.

He points to BOMAG’s rotor sideshifting on the RS 500 Recycler and Soil Stabilizer, which allows the entire rotor house to be offset up to 11.8 inches and reach beyond the wheel track.

“This is beneficial while stabiliz-

The Wirtgen 240i during in-place recycling of street asphalt.

How reclaimers and stabilizers are used • Full-depth reclamation: A reclamation technique in which the full flexible pavement section and a predetermined portion of the underlying materials are uniformly crushed, pulverized and blended, resulting in a stabilized base course.

Stabilization can be further enhanced by blending in additives. This can improve the base for a new overlay or be used to convert an existing asphalt road to a gravel road.

• Mixing applications: Soil stabilization using mechanical or chemical additives, soil drying or bioremediation. This primarily improves the loadbearing capacity of the soil.

• Agriculture: Pre-season field preparation and/or postseason soil processing. This is for mixing crop residue.

• Mining: Surface mining of some materials, haul-road reconditioning and maintenance.

Source: Caterpillar, January 2018

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highway contractor

| continued

Caterpillar’s RM500B Rotary Mixer ing on slopes or when approaching areas in the road where ground conditions are marginal, including flares, tie-ins or the reclaiming toward the road’s edge,” Dennison says. “This helps improve machine stability by eliminating the need for the wheels to drive in marginal ground condition.”

The operator’s cab on BOMAG machines provides climate control not only to improve operator comfort, which helps improve operator retention, but to protect the operator and controls from the elements when recycling asphalt and stabilizing with additives. That improves safety as well as machine control longevity, according to Dennison.

Model roundup Wirtgen The Wirtgen WR 200Xli, WR 240i and WR 250i models feature universal mixing rotors that enable both stabilization and recycling operations with the same machine. Variable rotor speeds and adjustable front and rear mixing chamber doors allow for gradation control while mixing at a depth of up to 20 inches.

Precise, microprocessor-controlled injection systems

meter the amounts of various additives in the mixing chamber – water, emulsion, foamed bitumen, lime and cement slurry.

BOMAG The BOMAG RS 500 features FLEXMIX technology.

This includes four optional breaker bar assemblies, each containing seven cutting teeth, mounted above the front rotor door and positioned opposite of material flow to improve asphalt material crushing and gradation.

Above the rear discharge door, the operator easily controls positioning of the FLEXMIX adjustable door for flexible material mixing inside the rotor chamber.

As the door moves closer to the rotor, more material is channeled back into the rotor for additional mixing and blending, which is advantageous when reclaiming thinner lifts or mixing in additives, the company says.

Variable rotor speeds allow the operator to match rotor speed to the application, improving productivity and reducing tool and rotor wear, BOMAG says.

A single toggle switch disables all machine functions and ensures that the rotor hood remains in position

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for the safety of service technicians. Other features include under-hood working lights to improve visibility and an onboard air compressor.

Caterpillar The Cat RM500B replaced the RM500 Rotary Mixer in 2014 and offers many improvements to increase operator comfort and productivity, the company says, including the cooling system and Cat C15 engine with ACERT Technology.

In addition to the sliding pressurized cab, the machine has automatic rotor depth control, four-mode steering, electronically controlled all-wheel drive and three rotor design options for a variety of materials and cutting depths.

Simple controls bring precision when mixing additives. Caterpillar also points to high production and excellent gradation performance.

The cab provides visibility to the front tire edge, to the mixing chamber and to the rear wheels. Electronic control modules help keep operation simple, and selfdiagnostics simplify troubleshooting, Cat says.

Operating weight for the RM500B is 62,611 pounds

when equipped with an ROPS cab and a universal rotor. It has a 20-inch maximum cutting/mixing width.

What to consider when buying • Total cost of ownership.

• Dealer support and parts availability.

• The primary application for the machine and how to configure it to optimize this function.

Roadtec Roadtec’s SX-8e soil Source: Caterpillar, January 2018 stabilizer-reclaimer performs road rehabilitation, cold recycling, or soil stabilization. It combines power with a large working width and depth, making it ideal for the toughest soil stabilization jobs, the company says.

The SX-8e features a 755-horsepower Cat C18 engine that provides power to the rotor through a direct drum drive. The machine is capable of cutting up to 20 inches deep and 100 inches wide.

Joystick controls and four steering modes govern the machine’s maneuverability and operation, Roadtec says.

The operator seat slides laterally and swings 90 degrees.

The operator platform also slides 18 inches past the right of the machine for additional visibility.

Roadtec’s SX-8e soil stabilizer-reclaimer

EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 49

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CONGRATULATIONS

to the 2017 Contractor of the Year winner and finalists IN

R

E

N

W

Roy Chipley

Raymond de Vre’

Carl Jones

Hiram DuRousseau, II

Chipley Company Florence, South Carolina

Blacktop Paving Homewood, California

Carl R Jones Excavating & Hauling Fredricktown, Missouri

HD Truck & Tractor Lake Charles, Louisiana

Jim Hutzel & Charity Bennett

Leo Livengood

Matthew Whaley

KAT Excavation & Construction Hutzel’s Concrete Construction Sour Lake, Texas Malvern, Arkansas

Livengood Excavators Walnutport, Pennsylvania

Whaley and Sons Kodak, Tennessee

Richard Preston & Claudia Preston McCord

Joseph Palmer

Tom Sawyer

Marshall Flowers

McKinnley Excavating Chattanooga, Tennessee

Sawyer Construction Fremont, Nebraska

Sun Construction Darlington, South Carolina

Preston Construction Johnson City, Tennessee

Kerry & Belinda Trest

Sponsored by:

SP13010_2017_COY_Congrats_Ad.indd 1

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contractor of the year finalist

| by Marcia Gruver Doyle |

MGruver@randallreilly.com

Richard Preston Jr., Claudia Preston McCord Preston Construction City, State: Johnson City, Tennessee Year Started: 1967 Number of 12 employees: Annual revenue: $5 million Markets served: Commercial, industrial and institutional buildings

50-years strong, Tennessee contractor builds on long-term relationships

T

o say that Richard Preston grew up in the construction business is an understatement.

“I was always on the jobsite with my dad,” Richard says. “As early as elementary school he would have me straightening things up.”

As Richard grew older, his responsibilities at Preston Construction increased, including superintending jobs in his parents’ brief absences during summer breaks from college.

This boots-on-the-ground construction knowledge helped when Richard’s world was shaken with the unexpected death of his father, John Richard (Dick) Preston Sr., in 2001. Richard was just about

to graduate with an architectural degree from the University of Tennessee.

“I had Dad’s phone, and I started getting calls,” Richard recalls. “It was one of those decisions that I don’t think I put much thought into.

I just knew it was my responsibility to come back and keep those guys busy. I graduated on a Saturday, and on Monday, I was on a jobsite.”

“Richard had some huge shoes to fill when he helped his mother take over a general contracting firm,” says David McKinney, with mechanical contractor S. B. White Company, Johnson City, Tennessee, a subcontractor and friend of the

family. “Even with the tough economic times we’ve all endured, he’s more than quadrupled the size of the company over the past 10 years and has built Preston Construction into one of the most well-respected and viable commercial general construction firms in the area.”

“I was going to go back to architecture,” Richard now says, “but it never happened because I enjoy construction so much.”

Critical assistance Richard’s mother and partner, Claudia Preston McCord, who joined the company in 1974, was by Richard’s side throughout, serving as vice EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 51

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contractor of the year finalist |

continued Preston Construction self-performs concrete and demolition.

Juston Nunnery, left, has been with Preston Construction since 2008 and now serves as the company’s project manager and estimator. president and chief financial officer, a role she continues to this day.

Richard also credits great mentors, including his father, who taught him business management, work ethic and integrity. By working as an apprentice under key employees early in his career, he learned carpentry, concrete, masonry and how to operate machinery.

Another assist along the way: solid relationships with area architectural firms, including Reedy and Sykes Architecture and Design, and Beeson, Lusk & Street. “They were huge in helping me get credibility because they believed in me,” Richard says.

Unlike many contractors, the Great Recession was a time of growth for Preston Construction.

The company successfully bid on a state maintenance and renovation contract, a job that put Richard in touch with multiple contacts who liked Preston crews’ work.

Diversification has been another key to the company’s growth.

Richard has expanded beyond the company’s homebuilding and commercial building markets that were core during his father’s tenure, and

now the firm does a variety of jobs for East Tennessee State University, area school districts, industries and churches.

Preston Construction won CenturyLink’s Faith in the Future Award in November 2017. The award recognizes what a company does to keep faith in the future during hard economic times. Preston Construction was spotlighted for its willingness to serve the community, for motivating and inspiring others, and for being innovative and forward-thinking.

Client appreciation Clients have noticed the company’s emphasis on quality work. “We are always excited to know that Preston Construction will be our contractor because we know the completed project will be a quality project, completed on time and on budget,” says Robert Reedy with Reedy & Sykes.

Reedy goes on to say: “When my wife and I added on to our home, we only considered using Preston Construction.”

Adds Pete Tackett with Antioch Baptist: “For 30 years, I have worked with growing churches and construction companies on proj-

ects, big and small. Our work with Preston Construction was so positive that it made all others pale in comparison.”

On August 31, the company marked its 50th anniversary with a celebration lunch attended by around 200 people, including past and present clients, subcontractors, architects, other affiliates, friends and family. They showcased the company’s history with old tools and photographs throughout the years. “It was a humbling event to see how many came out and supported the company,” Richard says.

Compact fleet Preston Construction uses primarily compact equipment, and the company’s fleet includes compact excavators, skid steers, compact track loaders and a forklift. “We keep our equipment busy,” Richard says.

The company also uses shortterm rentals, although Richard likes to put machines under a rental purchase option whenever it makes sense. “I hate to put money away on rent and not get anything back,” he says.

Although his father always had a backhoe on hand, Richard says he converted to compact excavators after a confined-space job showcased that machine’s maneuverability.

Multi-talented crews But in the end, it comes down to his people. “Our guys are multitalented,” Richard says. “With our

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The Preston Construction crew gathers at a recent job. crews, we can do a little bit of everything.” That approach, he adds, makes him more cost effective than subcontracting out portions of a job, and helps the company maintain a competitive advantage.

Looking back at his start in the industry, Richard recognizes the wisdom of those crew members with years of experience under their belt. “These guys have done it for years. I might not agree with how they do it, but you’ve got to give them some space to do their thing.”

Richard likes to show his appreciation to the team by providing lunches and team outings. “Getting out of the office and jobsite throughout the year helps build comradery with the team.” One recent such outing was a guided quail hunt.

The Lord first “We strive to put the Lord first, our families second and our business third,” Richard says. “We seek to honor God in our resources, the way we perform our work and the manner in which we interact with our employees and partners.

Getting away from it all is important, says Richard Preston. Here, Preston Construction team members take part in a guided quail hunt.

We want each person to know we care about them – not just during the work week – but long after a project is finished.”

Because of client requests, Richard is considering getting back to what his father was doing when he started the company: housing construction. The company has the skilled tradespeople, and housing

is something that can be tackled outside of the schedule demands of the firm’s school-related jobs.

Above all, Richard wants Preston Construction to continue his father’s legacy of building, impacting and honoring. “To us, our long-term relationships are just as important as the finished product,” he says.

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Equip0614PG055.pdf

1

5/27/14

3:19 PM

Looking for safety resources? ..............................................

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Equipment World’s Safety Watch articles are now available for download on our website. Designed for use in training and in toolbox talks, the articles cover a range of important safety topics such as falls, trenching, welding, back-over accidents and more.

..............................................

Each Safety Watch features an actual construction accident, and outlines ways to prevent similar accidents from occurring on your jobsite.

AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH and SPANISH

Visit equipmentworld.com/safetywatch

safety watch

| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

Shortcuts shorten lives

Illustration by Don Lomax

E

xperience can be a great teacher. It can also lead to a careless attitude when operators think they’re so good they can ignore the rules and take shortcuts.

At 68 years old, the victim knew his way around a construction site. He had been operating a dozer that morning. As dump trucks came and went depositing fill dirt on the site, he’d push the mounds back and forth to raise and level the site.

About 7:40 a.m., he exited the dozer on its right side to tell a dump truck driver where to deposit his dirt. He left the dozer running in neutral and did not set the parking brake.

After talking with the dump truck driver, he walked around the dozer and climbed on the tracks on the left side to get back in the cab. But as he was standing on top of the tracks, his elbow hit the transmission lever, shifting the machine from neutral into reverse.

When the dozer lurched backward, the victim lost his balance and fell on the track. His left foot became caught between the track and underside of the fender of the dozer. As the dozer continued backward, his leg was pulled through and crushed until he was ejected onto the ground.

The dump truck driver called emergency medical personnel from his radio and rushed to aid the victim. EMS arrived just minutes later and took the victim to the hospital

where he died 15 days later from his injuries.

The company in question had a written health and safety program but no specific instructions on safe equipment operation. It did conduct training on machine operation and was known for hiring only experienced crews. Safety consultants were used on an occasional basis, and the company had a safety officer and held weekly safety meetings.

Given the company’s safety processes, one can assume the accident was caused partly by the dozer operator’s negligence.

Perhaps he had become so familiar with its operation, so confident of his skills, that he felt he could take shortcuts.

tors should put the machine in neutral, set the parking brake and follow all additional manufacturer’s recommended procedures for lock-out/tag-out and safe egress.

• Employers should develop, implement and enforce a written safety program that includes procedures for entering, exiting and securing dozers and other mobile equipment against unintended movement.

• Employers should advise operators against exiting machines with the engines in idle. For most modern equipment, idling for long periods harms the engine exhaust aftertreatment, wastes fuel and creates potential hazards.

How this accident could have been prevented: • Before exiting a dozer or any construction machine, opera-

For more information see: http:// www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/ FACE/Files/BulldozerOperatorCaughtInTrack.pdf

Date of safety talk: Leader: _____________________ Attending: EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 55

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alerta de seguridad

| por Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

Tomar atajos puede tomar vidas

Illustration por Don Lomax

L

a experiencia puede ser una gran maestra. Pero también puede conducir a una actitud de descuido, cuando los operadores piensan que son tan buenos en lo que hacen que pueden ignorar las reglas y tomar atajos.

A sus 68 años de edad, la víctima conocía de sobra cómo era un área de construcción. Había estado operando una motoniveladora esa mañana.

Mientras los camiones iban y venían depositando tierra de relleno en el área, él empujaba los montículos adelante y atrás para elevar y nivelar el terreno del área.

Alrededor de las 7:40 a.m., la víctima abandonó la motoniveladora por el lado derecho para decirle a uno de los conductores de un camión de volteo adónde depositar la tierra. Dejó la motoniveladora en neutral y no activó el freno de estacionamiento.

Después de hablar con el conductor del camión, la víctima caminó alrededor de la motoniveladora y trepó sobre la banda de tracción en el lado izquierdo para regresar a la cabina. Pero mientras estaba parado sobre la banda de tracción, su codo golpeó la palanca de la transmisión, haciendo que la máquina pase de neutral a reversa.

Cuando la motoniveladora se activó súbitamente yendo hacia atrás, la víctima perdió el equilibrio y cayó sobre la banda de tracción. Su pie izquierdo quedó atrapado entre la banda de tracción y la parte inferior del guardafangos de la motoniveladora. A medida que la motoniveladora siguió yendo en reversa su pierna fue jaloneada y triturada hasta que el trabajador fue expulsado hacia tierra.

El chofer del camión llamó al personal médico de emergencia desde su radio y corrió a asistir a la víctima.

El equipo médico llegó minutos después llevando a la víctima al hospital en donde falleció 15 días después a causa de sus heridas.

La compañía en cuestión tenía un programa de salud y seguridad por escrito pero no tenía instrucciones específicas en cuanto a la operación segura de maquinaria.

Sí había llevado a cabo, en cambio, capacitación en la operación de maquinarias y era conocida por contratar únicamente personal experimentado. Ocasionalmente utilizaban consultores de seguridad y la compañía tenía un funcionario de seguridad y sostenía reuniones semanales de seguridad.

Dados los procesos de seguridad de la compañía, uno puede asumir que el accidente fue causado en parte por la negligencia del operador de la motoniveladora. Quizá estaba tan familiarizado con su operación y tenía tanta confianza en sus habilidades, que sintió que podía tomar atajos sin problemas.

Cómo pudo haberse prevenido este accidente: • Antes de salir de una motoniveladora o de cualquier máquina de construcción, los operadores deberían colocar la máquina en neutral, activar el freno de estacionamiento y seguir todos los procedimientos recomendados por el fabricante para cerrar/señalizar la salida y para retirarse con seguridad.

• Los empleados deberían desarrollar, implementar y demandar la aplicación de un programa escrito de seguridad que incluya procedimientos para entrar, salir y asegurar las motoniveladoras y otros equipos móviles para evitar que se pongan en movimiento.

• Los empleadores deberían aconsejar a los operadores que no salgan de las maquinarias con los motores encendidos. Para la mayoría de las maquinarias modernas, tener el motor encendido por largos periodos de tiempo resulta dañino para el sistema de tratamiento de los gases de escape, desperdicia combustible y crea riesgos potenciales.

Para mayor información sobre este accidente visite: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/FACE/Files/BulldozerOperatorCaughtInTrack.pdf

Fecha de la charla de seguridad: Líder: Asistentes: 56 February 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

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pro pickup

| by Tom Jackson |

SERVICE TRUCK

TJackson@randallreilly.com

OF THE FUTURE? T

Bruce Bunting grew up in a sixth-generation, family-owned agribusiness and equipment company and has 20 years of experience working with end users to identify, improve and standardize service and support vehicles.

He is a veteran of the United States Navy.

he traditional large-scale service trucks that have become bigger and bigger throughout the years dominate the world of field service, and they will always remain the most visible in the heavy equipment world. However, vans – as in Ford Transits, Mercedes Sprinters and Ram Promasters – are beginning to play an increasing role as service vehicles for heavy equipment fleets.

That’s the opinion of Bruce Bunting, industrial products specialist at Knapheide Manufacturing and a 20-year veteran in the service truck arena.

Bunting shared this vision of service trucks at the Association of Equipment Management Professionals Equipment Shift Conference held in October. “The days of simply being larger and heavier are not going to be sustainable,” Bunting says. “Everybody is going to get smaller.

There is a niche now in your fleet for a Class 2 service truck.”

According to Bunting, five main developments are driving this change in the heavy

Service vans like this 2017 Ford Transit are becoming more common on jobsites as contractors see cost savings with smaller vehicles versus large service trucks.

equipment environment: emissions, weight, comfort, technology and the bottom line.

Emissions On Class 7 and 8 service trucks with diesel engines, emissions regulations bring a whole new set of service requirements, not to mention additional costs. These engines require a diesel particulate filter (DPF) or diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) to remove soot from the exhaust stream. These devices regenerate or self-clean easily in a highway haul truck barreling down the road at 70 mph. But a big service truck in the field may idle most of the day, causing soot to build up quickly. Even when the technician is using the truck’s PTO to drive a compressor or a welder-generator, he’s not creating enough heat through the engine to regenerate or burn out the soot.

“I still see jobsites where service trucks idle for three or four hours, and there is nobody in the truck,” Bunting says. “We still see guys EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 57

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pro pickup

| continued

working on jobsites where they never go over 30 mph. We’re seeing major issues with DPFs, and that has all kinds of ripple effects. We simply can’t afford to operate trucks that way. Old habits have got to change.”

Weight “The scope of work on today’s modern earthmoving equipment is rapidly changing,” Bunting says.

Not every technician on every call needs a big air compressor sitting in their truck bed. “That’s the single biggest horsepower draw when that truck runs at idle.” Some technicians are eliminating the compressor in favor of cordless rechargeable impact guns. “Those are getting more efficient and changing the landscape of what you need to put on your truck.”

Likewise with welders, which may weigh 600 to 800 pounds. In some applications, they’re necessary. But when not needed, you’re wasting fuel just to haul them around.

As an alternative to PTOs, some service techs are using auxiliary power units, says Bunting. These APUs require you to keep up with a second engine, but you benefit by not turning the entire drive train of a 7-liter, 300-plus-horsepower diesel engine just to power one tool.

Trucks gain weight over time, says Bunting. “A lot of service trucks have been overweight for years, and it’s an accepted practice,” he says. These overweight trucks are a target for DOT enforcement. With the new electronic logging device mandate, companies are looking for lighter trucks, even if they’re only down one class size.

The increasing use of compact machines like skid steers and compact track loaders means that not every service truck in your fleet needs a full compressor, generator/ welder and 4,000-pound crane. The increased use of rental machines also reduces the need for big service trucks, Bunting says. If the size of the work being done is shrinking, he says, then the size of the service

vehicle should shrink as well.

Cargo security If you have an open-bed truck, valuable parts or tools must be secured against theft and pilferage.

Locking storage boxes do this well, but a truck with three or four or a half-dozen small exterior boxes and storage units can make organization and retrieval of these items cumbersome, says Bunting.

With a van, one key handles all your security You can get much of what you need to service needs. And if you equip equipment inside a van and cut your O&O costs considerably. your van with a door alarm system, you gain additional security not available in exterior storage units.

The bottom line Some companies order the same Comfortable and convenient service truck each year without acBunting also thinks the van as sercounting for changing costs and the vice vehicle appeals to older mework being done. Bunting suggests chanics and can be a good recruiting reviewing your needs and specs evtool to keep them at your company. ery three years, or at least halfway The interiors are quieter and more in a truck purchase life cycle. automotive like. A van is easier to Bunting adds that vans are not park and maneuver in traffic. It can just for light-duty work or applicabe outfitted with a small bench or tions, noting that service vans with work table to do small detail work, four-wheel drive capabilities are on things like electronics, wiring and working in the Canadian oil sands sensors, out of the rain and eleregions, which is a very challenging ments. And most of today’s vans are work environment. However, he tall enough to stand in. encourages fleet owners and dealerships to look closely at their needs Technology and the costs of running traditional, The changing nature of technifully outfitted service trucks and cians’ daily operations is also give serious consideration to a van affecting service truck choices, or two in their fleet mix. says Bunting. In many cases, their “If you wait five or 10 years, there are so many things that change. Just tasks in the field involve sensors, blueprinting the same truck year in electronic communications and and year out is not going to work,” telematics.

Bunting says. “Small changes can “The ability to talk to these malead to big results on the backside. chines from your truck is becomYou can take steps that can create ing vital,” Bunting says. “A van new pathways to better efficiency provides the environment to do that. Some of these vans are lookand add a tremendous amount of ing like surveillance vehicles with profitability back to the bottom all the monitors on the inside.” line.”

58 February 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

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product report

| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

New Caterpillar C9.3B engine sets stage for the future

C

aterpillar launched a new engine in December that will serve as a blueprint for many of the company’s engines to come.

The C9.3B is a simpler, lighter engine system with 18 percent more power compared to previous engines, says Christopher Massey, commercial manager, Cat industrial engine group. Ratings on this 6-cylinder, 9.3-liter platform run from 335 to 456 horsepower at speeds of 1,800 to 2,200 rpm. Max torque at 1,400 rpms measures 1,540 foot-pounds.

“In many cases this allows our customers to use a 9-liter engine in a space where they traditionally used a 13-liter engine,” said Massey.

Cat C9.3 packs more power into a smaller and Part of the weight savings lighter envelope than previous engines. comes from a new exhaust aftertreatment system, which is 39 percent smaller and 55 percent packages, Massey said. lighter, says Massey. It combines the “The second key area is a new diesel particulate filter (DPF) and high-pressure common rail fuel diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) into system, which is optimized for the a single can configured as a module performance requirements of our so OEMs can position it in differcustomers,” says Massey. In most ent locations about the engine for applications, the new fuel system installation flexibility. will eliminate the need for fuel An inlet throttle valve is the encoolers, further simplifying the degine’s primary technology for mansign, he says. aging heat and in-cylinder dosing A single engine control module for DPF regeneration. A high-effi(ECM) controls the engine, fuel and ciency, selective catalytic reduction aftertreatment, rather than multiple (SCR) system enabled Caterpillar control units. The new ECM also to eliminate exhaust gas recirculahas about 13 times more processtion (EGR) in the engine. No EGR ing power than previous systems means less plumbing on the side of and a two-wire Ethernet that allows the engine, fewer parts and reduced customers more advanced data service requirements. This will enanalytics. able some customers to optimize Caterpillar is offering the C9.3B and reduce the size of their cooling in two packages, says Massey. One

is just the engine and aftertreatment for customers who do their own integration. The second, more comprehensive package includes engine, aftertreatment, cooling package, air cleaner control module and a range of other attachment options for customers with lower volumes and less design capability.

The C9.3B is being built in Caterpillar’s new engine plant in Seguin, Texas, just outside of San Antonio. Cat started taking orders for the new engine in September, and the first engines will ship starting this March.

Caterpillar is also working on a redesigned C13B engine that will have many of the same features as the C9.3B. The 13-liter engine is in the R&D and validation stage, says Dave Nicoll, global marketing director, with a production timeline of 2019 or 2020. The company is also working on new designs for its 3-liter offerings including the C2.8 and C3.6.

The design of Cat’s “clean emissions module” puts the DPF and DOC into a single canister for flexible installation configurations.

EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 59

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EXPERIENCE. DIALOGUE. RELATIONSHIPS.

WHAT IS AN EQUIPMENT WORLD PEER GROUP?

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Engage with fellow group members at bi-annual, in-person meetings.

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technology

| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

WHAT’S NEW IN WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY Be seen for 2 miles with LED-powered safety light Guardian Angel’s new Elite Series personal safety device features up to 2 miles of visibility. Multiple mounting accessories enable you to attach it to any hardhat or clothing.

The Elite Series’ lithium-ion battery is USB rechargeable. Front, rear and top controls give you a 360-degree light pattern and three light intensity settings.

The 3-ounce device is housed in an indestructible polycarbonate and waterproof exterior shell. It exceeds the requirements for Class 3 Reflective Apparel regulations, which dictate visibility at 1,280 feet. Priced at about $100. https://www.guardianangeldevices.com

GuardHat watches over your workers and reports any safety issues.

Hardhat monitors your workers’ safety GuardHat manufacturers a smart hardhat with sensors in it that continuously transmit data to a safety control center, enabling the system to pinpoint each worker’s location and detect dangerous conditions – it monitors vital signs, takes video and detects impacts and sounds such as blasts.

If a worker falls, the device instantly sends an alert to the monitored control center with the precise location of the fall and notifies nearby workers. GuardHat will also establish audio and video contact with the injured worker. It can offer moving-object detection and remote guidance for workers in areas with limited visibility.

Sensors in the hat can be deployed to warn of toxic gas buildup, and with a geo-fence, warn workers when they’re about to enter a dangerous area. Available in mid-2018, GuardHat will be priced on a subscription model depending on feature set and certification level. https://guardhat.com/guardhat-solution

Guardian Angel Elite can be seen 2 miles away.

Non-GPS solution for tracking equipment, people The Spot-r EquipTag from Triax Technologies tracks operator identity, equipment location and utilization indoors or out without the need for satellite-dependent GPS. When the machine tag is combined with the company’s Spot-r Clip wearable sensor and Spot-r network, you have complete, real-time information on where the equipment and people are, what they’re doing and the safety parameters.

The Spot-r Clip wearable sensor gives you immediate alerts if an unauthorized or untrained person tries to operate a machine. The EquipTag adheres to any piece of equipment and automatically collects activity and utilization data so you can coordinate rentals, optimize schedules, improve safety and compliance, and schedule delivery or service vehicles. www.triaxtechnologies

The Spot-r EquipTag identifies the machine, its operation and location. The Spot-r Clip is worn by workers to identify them on the Spot-r network.

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| by Richard| Ries

by Don McLoud grade machine control matters attachments

|

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

Excavating with ease and speed Trimble Earthworks for Excavators lets operators of all skill levels work faster and more productively, and represents the industry’s first integrated 3D aftermarket excavator automatics capability, according to Trimble. The company says the software, which runs on an Android operating system and on the new 10-inch TD520 touchscreen display, is easy to use. And data files can be transferred to and from the office wirelessly and automatically so the operator always has the latest design.

Grading in high gear

The Leica iCON iGD4SP grading solution for dozers allows operators to fine grade with the bulldozer in top gear. Equipped with six-way blades, it provides exact calculation of blade tilt and angle so operators can precisely move dirt from pass to pass. A dual antenna enables the dozer to be used for fine grading applications and final trim, similar to a motor grader, which means fewer machines needed onsite, the company says. The iCON grading solution also lets you expand the dozer’s system as projects grow in scope and size.

Eliminating antenna, masts, cables

Topcon Positioning Group’s 3D-MCMAX dozer grading solutions use dual Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to eliminate the need for a mast on the blade. That means no need to install and remove the antenna, cables and mast each day, which reduces downtime. The IMUs are designed to maximize speed and blade response. The system is also geared for rough or fine grade operations, slopes and in areas where sight would be restricted by traditional grade-control masts or where hanging cables on traditional grade control would create risks.

Check depths anywhere around excavator

Ocala Instruments’ ExcaVision used with the company’s Ocalaser automatic laser receiver can tackle most jobs, such as septic tanks, foundations and trenches, the company says. It is for use on bulldozers and augers on excavators. The Ocalaser wirelessly transmits the position of the laser strike within the laser receiver range. The combination of the ExcaVision depth monitor with the Ocalaser allows you to get the laser reference with the boom, stick and bucket in any position and check depths anywhere around the excavator.

62 February 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

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EQUIPMENT INFORMATION

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equipmentworld.com | February 2018

AD INDEX Equipment World February, 2018 Advertiser

®

EXCAVATION INNOVATION MID-SIZED EXCAVATORS

20

GET SMART

P.

Web URL

Page

AEMP

aemp.org

24

ATI Level Best

level-best.com

27

Atlas Copco

atlascopco.us

28

Beka World

beka-lube.com

63

Bobcat

Bobcat.com/NewR-Series

10

Brunner & lay

brunnerlay.com

31

Clearspan

clearspan.com

63

Contractor of the Year

equipmentworld.com/contractor-of-the-year

50

Cummins

cumminsengines.com/more-with-less

Dominion

depparts.com/fiori

Doosan

DoosanEquipment.com/Excavator

Eberspacher

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EZ DRILL INC

ezdrill.com

Felling Trailers

felling.com/eq-world

Geith Inc.

Geith.com

Hino Trucks

hino.com/next

Hyundai

tomorrowsedgetoday.com

14

Intermat WOC Europe

paris.intermatconstruction.com

36

JLG Industries Inc

jlg.com/no-def

19

John Deere Construction

www.deere.com/mmc

46

Kobelco USA

kobelco-usa.com

Liebherr Construction Equipment Co.

liebherr.us

42

Mack Trucks

build.macktrucks.com

16

Mobile Barriers

mobilebarriers.com

Navistar

internationaltrucks.com/A26

Progressive Commercial

progressive.com

30

Rubbertrax

rubbertrax.com

40

Vacuworx

vacuworx.com

39

VMAC

VMACAIR.com/EW/DTMH

41

Volvo Construction Equipment

volvoce.com/WOA2018

22

Volvo Trucks

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67

Wirtgen

wirtgen-group.com/america

BC

5 64

P.

59

CAT ENGINE FOR THE FUTURE

WEARABLE TECH DESIGNED TO PROTECT

P.

61

6 13 63 38 60

34-35

2

64 8-9

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final word | by Tom Jackson

TJackson@randallreilly.com

A tale of two builders

I

n his first book, “The Art of the Deal,” Donald Trump paints himself as a shrewd developer who took an inheritance and built an empire. His story compares on many levels with the story of Conrad Hilton, a hotel builder from an earlier generation who also wrote a book, titled “Be My Guest.” But the two could not be further apart in temperament. If there is a lesson to be learned, if there is a model to follow for builders or businessmen, it’s Hilton’s.

Hilton’s father didn’t leave him a multimillion-dollar inheritance. He gave him a wagon, a team of horses and some peddler’s goods to try to sell to ranchers and farmers – mostly Hispanic – in the Territory of New Mexico, before it became a state.

Upon arrival with his wagon, Hilton knew to butter up the kids with a little free candy.

He made sure the wives, desperate for a touch of civilization, got to see some of the finery he had for sale. Then once the farmer came out, the conversation started with pleasantries, compliments, inquires as to health, crops, hearth and family, followed by a drink and maybe even a meal before getting down to business, sometimes not until the next day.

In his book, Hilton says this work he did as a teenager helped form the core of his business philosophy. The company he founded is worth $22 billion today, with 570 hotels and 14 brands in 103 countries.

Trump refuses to show his books to the public, but he has declared bankruptcy six times; Conrad Hilton never did – even when his lawyers told him to, even in the financial crush of the Depression, even after he had to borrow $300 from a bellboy.

This comparison is important to our industry because Trump’s approach to Mexicans and our immigration policy is the exact opposite of what we need. The United States and Mexico have deep and mutually beneficial trade and financial arrangements.

More than one-quarter of Mexico’s electricity comes from imports of our natural gas.

More than 20 U.S. pipelines are feeding this gas into Mexico, and contractors in Texas are scrambling, and getting rich, building more.

Hilton knew, as any good businessman knows, the value of relationships, the value of give and take. Trump starts out all take, no give, no respect, no courtesy. This will only lead to disaster. Mexico can and will wait us out. Should Trump torpedo our partnerships with Mexico and make the labor shortage in construction even worse than it is today, everybody loses. That’s not negotiation. That’s folly.

A TV commentator the other day admitted that the border wall would not be effective, but said it was still needed as a symbolic gesture. So, are you OK with the government spending $30 billion of your tax dollars on symbolism?

66 February 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

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T:10.5”

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