Brock_EquipmentWorld0320_Combined

equipmentworld.com | March 2020

®

P. 20

ROCK

ON! Compact Utility Loaders take on skid steers, CTLs with increased power and performance

TIRES FOR YOUR PICKUP TRUCK

P. 49

Different seasons, different applications prove challenging

SHORTER-THAN-EXPECTED DPF SERVICE LIFE?

Ash from your engine oil is likely to blame

90

%

OF INCOMBUSTIBLES IN THE DPF COME FROM LUBRICANTS

Incombustible ash particles from today’s heavy-duty engine oils clog the diesel particulate filter (DPF) in Tier 4 Final aftertreatment systems, increasing maintenance costs and sidelining major equipment.

Now there’s a breakthrough solution.

Get the facts at DeloEmissionsControlCenter.com © 2020 Chevron. All rights reserved. All trademarks are property of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC or their respective owners.

NEW Delo 600 ADF: Less ash. More service life.

Delo 600 ADF with OMNIMAX ™ Technology solves the issue of DPF ash buildup while providing outstanding engine protection. By producing 60% less ash compared to today’s low-ash engine oils, Delo 600 ADF extends DPF service life by 2.5X to keep heavy-duty equipment running stronger, longer.

Protect your engine and your aftertreatment system with new Delo 600 ADF.

It’s time to kick some ash.

MADE SMALL FOR YOU.

Nothing little about the jobs you do.

Nothing little about the power in new Doosan® Mini Excavators.

Seems like you two have a lot in common.

Learn more at discoverdoosan.com/EquipmentWorld

Doosan® and the Doosan logo are registered trademarks of Doosan Corp. in the United States and various other countries around the world. © 2020 Doosan Infracore North America, LLC. All rights reserved.

Vol. 32 Number 3 |

Cover Story

table of contents | March 2020

Machine Matters:

COMPACT UTILITY LOADERS Growing in popularity and capability

P.

20

Equipment 15

Marketplace

New equipment from Doosan, JCB, Komatsu, JLG, Polaris, Mecalac

45

Product Report

Case unveils 5 CTLs, 8 skid steers in new B Series with improved controls

59

Landscaping Attachments

Mulch, mow, grab and grind with these tools for excavators, skids, CTLs

EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020

5

table of contents | continued

Features 31 Maintenance

Stop! Turn off the engine when you see these red flags on an oil analysis report

34 Road Works

World of Concrete 2020: New products feature advanced technology for road construction

41 Contractor of the Year Finalist

John Kovacs, Diamond Construction, Brick, New Jersey

®

equipmentworld.com facebook.com/EquipmentWorld twitter.com/Equipment_World Editorial Director: Marcia Gruver Doyle Executive Editor: Tom Jackson Online Editor: Wayne Grayson Senior 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 Michael Newman: mnewman@randallreilly.com Art Director: Tony Brock Advertising Production Manager: Leah Boyd production@equipmentworld.com

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Departments 9 On Record

“Right to repair” vs. “right to tamper”

For change of address and other subscription inquiries, please contact: equipmentworld@halldata.com Editorial Awards:

11 Reporter

Azbee Award of Excellence, Special Section National Gold Award, 2019 American Society of Business Publication Editors

47 Pro Pickup

Jesse H. Neal Award, Best Single Issue of a Tabloid/Newspaper/Magazine, 2019, American Business Media

49 Pickup Truck Tires

Jesse H. Neal Award finalist, Best Subject-Related Package, 2019, American Business Media

LGMG, Pettibone, LiuGong enter AWP market; more entrants likely Test Drive: 2020 Ford Super Duty lineup delivers power and more power Don’t get stuck: Pickup tire choice is critical for contractors who venture off road

55 Heavy Trucks

Mack brings improved auto braking, lane warnings to Granite trucks

57 Safety Watch Mixer mayhem

66 Final Word

The robots are coming, Part 2

For subscription information/inquiries, please email equipmentworld@omeda.com. Equipment World (ISSN 1057-7262) is published monthly by Randall-Reilly, LLC, 3200 Rice Mine Road N.E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. Periodicals Postage-Paid at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: SEND ALL UAA TO CFS (SEE DMM 507.1.5.2). Non-postal and military facilities: send address corrections to Equipment World, P.O. Box 2029, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 or email at equipmentworld@ omeda.com. Customer service: 1-800-517-4979. Single copies are available for $6 US, $9 Canada/Mexico and $12 foreign. The advertiser and/or advertising agency will defend, indemnify and hold Randall-Reilly, LLC harmless from and against any loss, expenses or other liability resulting from any claims or suits for libel violations of right of privacy or publicity, plagiarisms, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or suits that arise out of publication of such advertisement. Copyright ©2018 Randall-Reilly, LLC, all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Equipment World is a trademark of Randall-Reilly, LLC. Randall-Reilly, LLC neither endorses nor makes any representation or guarantee regarding the quality of goods and services advertised herein.

6

Chairman Emeritus: Mike Reilly President/CEO: Brent Reilly Executive Vice President and General Manager, Equipment: Prescott Shibles Senior Vice President and General Manager, Recruiting: Scott Miller Executive Vice President, Internal Consulting Services: Nick Reid Senior Vice President, Audience: Linda Longton Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Business Development: Robert Lake Senior Vice President, Marketing: Julie Arsenault

March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

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UNEARTH MORE

OUR DE ALER S ENSURE THAT E VERY THING YOU NEED TO RUN YOUR WORLD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK .

JohnDeere.com/Vegas2020

KOBELCO-USA.COM

on record | by Marcia Doyle MarciaDoyle@randallreilly.com

“Right to repair” vs. “right to tamper”

A

concern on the ag equipment side for the past few years is starting to catch the attention of the construction equipment industry. It’s an issue that may put some contractors on the opposite side of their equipment providers.

Construction equipment dealers, manufacturers and others are relabeling what’s called the “right to repair” (R2R) movement as the “right to tamper.” R2R advocates on the ag side want laws passed to give equipment owners access to the proprietary software that governs the onboard technology of their equipment.

Why, they argue, should they have to go to a dealer when the needed repair used to be something they could do themselves prefancy technology?

Seems reasonable, but there’s a lot more at stake, says the newly formed Coalition Opposed to Illegal Tampering. The coalition – which includes the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Associated Equipment Distributors and Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, among others – says if users are allowed to modify the embedded software on a machine, the unit may no longer meet emission requirements, retain certain safety features or have the resale value of nonmodified machines.

It also presents a cybersecurity risk, especially in the coming age of autonomous capability, said Matthew C. Larsgaard, president of the Pioneer Equipment Dealers Association in remarks made to a Minnesota House committee considering an R2R bill last year. A user-modified machine could use a less-secure network than what’s provided

by OEMs and dealers, he said: “A worst-case scenario might be one of a hacker being

able to take control of a 500-horsepower tractor and drive it wherever or into anything they wish.”

Another argument, according to Larsgaard, and one more likely: when a modified machine enters the used equipment market, there’s no way to track the modifications. A user could have modified an engine to run at a higher horsepower well above OEM specs and then modified it back to OEM specs prior to resale. An unaware buyer could be left with a mess if the engine blows and the modifications are discovered, voiding any remaining warranty.

On the ag side, OEMs have created a memorandum of understanding to combat the R2R movement. In the MOU, manufacturers say they are committing to providing customers with full repair information and an onboard diagnostic tool for assessing the severity of machine alerts on tractors and combines put into service after January 1, 2021. The coalition is using this voluntary commitment as a demonstration it doesn’t object to customer equipment repairs per se.

There’s no question that contractors miss the easier fixability of earlier machines.

Some have told us outright they’re holding off buying Tier 4 machines because they intensely dislike having to deal with not only the aftertreatment and DEF requirements, but the inability to fix machines as they did before.

A panel on R2R at the recent AED Summit said it hadn’t seen the same advocacy movement from construction equipment owners as has been experienced on the ag side. As machines age and more customers find it necessary to switch to Tier 4 equipment, that may be changing.

EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020

9

A LONG WAY

TOGETHER

SR 41 BKT USA Inc. 2660 West Market St., Suite 100 Fairlawn (Akron) - OH 44333 Toll free: (+1) 888-660-0662 Office: (+1) 330-836-1090 Fax: (+1) 330-836-1091

All-Steel casing Extra-long tread life Excellent traction Superior stability Steel belts

reporter

| staff report

LGMG, Pettibone, LiuGong enter AWP market; more entrants likely

LGMG North America keeps 300 to 500 pieces of machinery in stock at any one time in the United States, according to company president Craig Paylor.

LiuGong

Pettibone

C

raig Paylor, former president of JLG, was looking to add some scissor lifts in 2018 as an additional revenue stream to his truck distribution business. But he couldn’t find any to buy.

“The market was superheated,” he says. “I couldn’t even get anybody to talk to me about selling me scissors.”

He figured that as JLG’s former top executive, if he couldn’t find scissor lifts, others were having problems as well. So he started looking around on the international

market, eventually homing in on China, where he knew some new products were being launched.

He approached Lingong Group Jinan Heavy Machinery, or LGMG, which let him test out one of its scissor lifts. After he bought about 24 lifts, LGMG representatives asked if he would help start LGMG North America as its president. The company also bought back the lifts.

“The company bought them back, and I went out and sold them to somebody else,” he says of one of his first acts as president.

So began LGMG’s entry into the North American aerial work platform market in 2019.

LGMG opened its first U.S. location in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, from which it distributes fully assembled imported scissor lifts and other aerial work platforms for the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Private label for Pettibone Soon after starting with LGMG, Paylor met with representatives from Michigan-based telehandler manufacturer Pettibone.

EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 11

reporter |

continued

Pettibone wanted to enter the aerial work platform market. The two companies signed an agreement for LGMG to manufacture private-label aerial work platforms for Pettibone.

Pettibone has started with 13 scissor lift models. In the second half of the year, Pettibone plans to expand its private-label LGMG offerings to rough-terrain scissors and telescopic and articulating aerial boom lifts.

The deal is part of Pettibone’s long-term strategy, says Scott Raffaelli, Pettibone vice president and general manager.

“The North American market is very strong and is growing,” Raffaelli says. “And our current customer base for our telehandler products is really, for the most part, the same customer base in the construction sector for the scissors. So it just made sense.”

LiuGong jumps into scissor market, too LiuGong North America says it will launch four new scissor lifts this year to the North American market.

The move is part of the company’s recently announced rental and used equipment initiative.

The LSC0607DE, with a 5.8-meter platform height, and the 10-meter platform height LSC1012DE will be the initial entries. LiuGong will also start offering mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) to the Asia Pacific and European markets.

“LiuGong is very focused on serving the needs of the rental industry,” says Graziano Cassinelli, LiuGong Machinery’s global director of rental and used equipment. “MEWPs are the critical tool for rental customers to work safely above ground level. China is predicted to become the largest market for MEWPs in the near

Earnings reports

C

aterpillar saw sales and revenues drop 8 percent during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019 on lower demand from customers than the company expected. Though lead times on new machines have improved, falling dealer inventories are hurting the company’s bottom line and are expected to continue doing so into 2020.

Volvo Construction Equipment reported a 5 percent sales gain in 2019, despite a 3 percent sales drop in the fourth quarter. Volvo CE also announced it started taking orders for both electric compact wheel loaders and compact excavators in February.

Serial production is planned for thirdquarter 2020.

Terex posted fourth-quarter 2019 net sales that were down 15.6 percent versus 4Q 2018. For the full year, net sales declined 3.6 percent.

Total revenues for United Rentals increased 16.2 percent in 2019, with rental revenues increasing 14.8 percent.

For the fourth quarter, total revenues increased by 6.5 percent, and rental revenues increased by 3.7 percent.

12 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

future. We are pleased to be able to leverage the scale of the China market for the benefit of our customers in North America and Europe.”

More entrants on the way?

Paylor believes more companies, particularly those based in China, will soon enter the U.S. aerial work platform market.

“Some of these companies will definitely try to come in because they already build some other kinds of products that they’re already selling in North America,” he says.

The new entries will not just be from China.

“When you see a market the size of aerial work platforms in North America,” he says, “any good manufacturer anywhere else in the world is not going to let that pass.”

–Don McLoud and Marcia Doyle

Briefs Cat dealer Carter Machinery has bought Baltimore-based Alban Tractor, expanding its territory to include northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Delaware. Also, Ohio Machinery, parent of Ohio Cat, is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2020.

Bigwood

Compact equipment manufacturer Mecalac has named Peter Bigwood general manager. Bigwood’s responsibilities include expanding the French manufacturer’s reach in North and South America by building brand awareness and developing a strong dealer network.

Jay Winford, president of Prairie Contractors in Louisiana, is the new chairman of the National Asphalt Pavement Association. Winford succeeds 2019 chairman John Harper, senior vice president of Construction Partners in Dothan, Alabama.

Winford

Kearby

Dave Kearby is the new executive director of national transportation research nonprofit TRIP. He replaces Will Wilkins, who retired this year after 33 years as executive director. Kenneth K. Wert, chairman of Oklahoma-based Haskell Lemon Construction, serves as TRIP’s chairman.

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

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EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 13

The proof is in the payload.

RTV-X

Hydraulic bed lift

Diesel powered

Load it. Haul it. Dump it. And bring the crew along with you. The versatile, half-ton Kubota RTV-X is North America’s #1-selling diesel utility vehicle.* So no matter what you’re hauling, building, or tearing down, the RTV-X is built to help get the job done right.

Together we do more.

KubotaUSA.com *Based on Power Products Marketing North American 2018 sales data for the pure utility vehicle (PUV) segment. © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2020. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For complete warranty, safety and product information, consult your local Kubota dealer. For the complete disclaimer, go to KubotaUSA.com/disclaimers and see the posted disclaimer.

marketplace

| by Don McLoud |

Doosan adds reducedtail-swing compact excavator

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

EDI PI TOR’S CK

The reduced-tail-swing 59-horsepower DX62R-3 is the latest addition in the Doosan Infracore North America compact excavator lineup. With 4.9 inches of side overhang, the 13,779-pound DX62R-3 allows users to maneuver in confined areas. The excavator has a 13foot, 6-inch maximum dig depth and maximum reach of 21 feet 4 inches. Bucket capacity is 6.18 cubic feet, and overall width is 6.5 feet. Doosan adjusted the position of the upperstructure to reduce tail swing and extend digging reach 11 inches. Doosan also reconfigured its quick coupler hydraulic piping kit with hard lines installed to the base of the arm.

For added reach, lift, dig depth

JCB designed its new 2TS-7T Teleskid compact track loader for small jobsites that need extra lift, reach and digging ability.

The 2TS is built on the company’s small skid steer chassis, and with an operating weight of 9,914 pounds, it can be transported without requiring a CDL, depending on local regulations.

The Teleskid has a lift height of 11 feet 10 inches and forward reach of 7 feet. It can dig 2 feet down. Rated operating capacity when the boom is retracted is 2,096 pounds, and 1,140 pounds when fully extended.

An alternative to diesel UTVs

Polaris is now offering gas-powered models of its Pro XD utility task vehicles, a follow-up to 2018’s launch of the diesel Pro XDs. The new gas-powered UTVs are similar to the diesel models, including seating for two to four riders, depending on the model. The four-seat 4000G AWD model has 2,075 pounds of payload capacity and a 2,500-pound towing capacity. The two-seat 2000G AWD has a 1,900-pound payload. The UTVs can travel up to 26 mph. Features include puncture-resistant seats and tires and heavy-duty suspension.

EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 15

marketplace

| continued

180-degree dumping ability Mecalac’s new TA3SH Power Swivel Site Dumper is designed to maneuver small to mid-sized jobsites, especially those in crowded or confined areas. It offers power forward and swivel tipping. It can rotate 180 degrees to dump on the right or left side. The dumper has a payload of 6,613 pounds, is 13 feet long, and 6 feet 1 inch wide. It can travel up to 19 mph. Its 24-horsepower engine does not require diesel exhaust fluid or a diesel particulate filter to meet Tier 4 Final emissions standards. It is geared to concrete work, landscaping and urban construction.

More maneuverable rigid-frame truck Komatsu touts the ability of its HD785-8 rigid-frame truck to maneuver the jobsite, enhanced by such standard features as wet multiple disc brakes on all four wheels and automatic traction control. The wet disc brakes are designed to improve downhill brake performance. Komatsu says the truck, made for mining, quarry and aggregates operations, also accelerates fast out of the pit. It boasts a 101.6-ton payload capacity, and its engine delivers 1,140 net horsepower. Other features include Automatic Retard Speed Control and K-ATOMiCS transmission.

Easy transport The new SkyTrak 3013 “ultracompact” telehandler is light enough to be hauled with a small tow-behind trailer and is designed to challenge the place of skid steers on small materialhandling jobs. The new telehandler is the result of a 10-year partnership between JLG and Spain-based equipment manufacturer AUSA. Weighing 5,300 pounds, the 3013 has a load capacity of 2,700 pounds and a 13-foot lift height. It runs on a 30.8-horsepower Kubota diesel engine. It features four-wheel drive and two-wheel steer.

These product introductions are just a few of the many featured regularly on equipmentworld.com.

16 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

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Works with any combination of compact track loader and guidance system For about half the price of a new pickup, the new Level Best Precision Grader Blade is compatible with every major make of compact track loader and every guidance system on the market.

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machine matters

| by Richard Ries

COMPACT UTIL Growing in popularity, size and capability

A

s the compact utility loader market continues to grow in popularity, CULs are getting larger, more powerful and, because of their lower prices, even challenging skid steers and compact track loaders on some jobsites.

“They are definitely a growth category for Vermeer, especially over the past five years,” says Brett Newendorp, Vermeer landscape marketing manager.

Newendorp cites several reasons for this surge in sales. Customers are bringing their first CULs into their fleet. They’re adding crews and equipment in response to a strong construction market. Rental remains active. A CUL can be operated by a newer employee. An expanding list of tools and attachments enhances CULs’ versatility.

“And there’s an entrepreneurial spirit in construction,” says Newendorp. “A lot of people want to enter this business. Machines with this level of capability at this level of investment speak to that.”

Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the Toro e-Dingo has several power modes for various levels of performance and battery life conservation. The machine shifts to low idle after 5 seconds of non-use and shuts off when not in use for over 30 seconds. Instant restarts are accomplished by double-tapping the traction control lever.

20 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

One of the drivers for these increases is rising prices in other small equipment. “Increased operating capacities of compact utility loaders has offset the increased expense due to Tier 4 Final emissions regulations compliance of larger, higher-horsepower skid steers and other machines,” says Jason Showers, product manager, tree care products for Morbark, makers of Boxer CULs. “Large CULs have become attractive

LITY LOADERS

The Ditch Witch SK3000 has a Yanmar engine rated at 58.9 gross horsepower and can deliver up to 51 horsepower to the attachment.

Hydraulic flow can be set to 8, 14 or 22 gallons per minute. The SK3000 weighs 7,600 pounds, has a hinge pin height of 118 inches and has breakout force of 5,500 pounds.

EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 21

machine matters alternatives to compact equipment and skid steer loaders because of their lower initial investment.”

But that approach can backfire, warns Showers: “While price is important, the most common buying mistake we see is purchasing a machine too small for the application.” Overloading a machine creates a dangerous environment for the operator, as well as costly repairs and downtime. Even if the equipment is marginally acceptable now, “a machine on the fringe of working in the current application does not allow for future expansion of workload. Going smaller is not always the answer.”

When going smaller does make sense, choosing from the swelling list of CULs can be challenging. Seth Mathesen, Ditch Witch category manager, provides some guidance: “Residential landscapers navigate

| continued close corners and space-restricted areas. A compact, lightweight unit such as the Ditch Witch SK600 is right for these applications. Con-

Compact utility loader growth 2015-2019* While still a relatively small part of the compact market, the number of CULs financed has more than doubled over the past five years.

5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000

4,673

2018

2019

2,156

1,000 0

2015 2016 2017

*Number of units financed. Source: EDA, a division of Randall-Reilly. 2019 results partial since data incomplete until later in the year.

A pilot-operated ground drive on the Vermeer CTX160 allows smooth control of the joystick over rough terrain. The dual auxiliary hydraulic system provides 9.4 or 16.7 gallons per minute of flow.

This vertical-lift CUL has a lift capacity of 1,600 pounds and a hinge pin height of 88.75 inches. A universal mounting plate mates with a range of Vermeer-authorized attachments.

22 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

3,068

4,409 3,763

tractors in tree care or construction need a machine with a higher operating capacity, such as the Ditch Witch SK3000.”

CULs also simplify transport. “Even with a couple of attachments included on the trailer, CULs tow below CDL limits,” says Newendorp.

Customers who haven’t stayed up to date with CUL development will find a variety of advancements with the current equipment.

“Not long ago these machines maxed out at one-third to one-half the operating capacity of today’s models,” says Newendorp. “Many had air-cooled gasoline engines.

Today’s compact utility loaders are far advanced from models available in the past.”

He and others recommend renting or arranging a dealer demo to get familiar with the current crop.

And a final note on machine selection: mounting systems on these

CASTROL IS PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. BUT THAT’S JUST HALF OF IT. ®

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Castrol VECTON is also the world’s first certified carbon neutral commercial engine oil,* which helps reduce your carbon footprint. And our System Pro Technology™ delivers an extra performance reserve of up to 45%** for longer useful oil life to help reduce operating costs.

LEARN MORE AT CASTROL.COM/EW *Defined by the BSI’s PAS 2060 carbon-neutral certification standard. ** Average of percentages by which VECTON exceeds the industry standard requirement limits in API CK-4 and ACEA E9-16 engine tests for viscosity maintenance, heat protection, deposit control, minimum oil limits and acid neutralization. In API CK-4 tests only, the VECTON performance reserve is 37%.

IT’S MORE THAN JUST OIL. IT’S LIQUID ENGINEERING.®

machine matters

| continued

machines are not standardized. Be sure the CUL you’re considering will accept the tools and attachments you now have, or commit to buying new tools and attachments to fit your new loader. If this is your first CUL and you don’t have accessories yet, check that the mounting system is compatible with the attachments you anticipate buying.

Here’s an overview of recent advancements to existing machines plus a list of new machines.

Bobcat Bobcat has two CULs in its catalog, the MT55 and MT85. Although the MT85 is the larger of the two, with an 850-pound ROC at 35 percent of

The Bobcat MT85 has a 24.8-horsepower diesel engine and an 850-pound ROC at 35 percent of tipping load. Hinge pin height is 80.9 inches and width is 35.6 inches. The MT85 is available with the proprietary Bob-Tach attachment mounting system or a common industry interface (CII) that is compatible with other brands of attachments.

24 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

The Australiabased Kanga has established its U.S. headquarters in Dyersville, Iowa, and is currently developing its dealer network. Features of Kanga loaders include high ground clearance, a self-levelling bucket, compatibility with more than 60 attachments and rugged body panels to protect the operator.

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machine matters tipping load, it’s still small enough to work in tight spaces. Pelletieri Associates of New Hampshire, which has 40 employees and owns 10 pieces of Bobcat equipment, chose the MT85 for this reason.

PAI does work around the country and rents the MT85 in other locations. It performs oceanfront and mountainside site prep, and the MT85 is robust enough for those tasks. The company also develops rooftop gardens and recreational paths, where the MT85’s nimble nature comes into play.

“We were doing a woodland path in Pennsylvania that was going through a park,” says George Pelletieri, “and no other machine would have been able to navigate the terrain and the curves.”

| continued Boxer

Ditch Witch

The 700HDX has a redesigned track expansion system with two stop bolts per side instead of the previous single-bolt design, making the entire system more robust. The loader function control valve has been redesigned for smoother boom and bucket operation, which also provides additional hydraulic holding power for suspended loads as well as reduced stiffness in the joystick.

The 600HD also has an improved loader function control valve plus an upgraded electrical circuit. All four models in the Boxer lineup now have powder-coat finishes for greater durability.

The company recently unveiled the SK3000 full-size “stand-on skid steer.” (Ditch Witch does not use the term “compact utility loader.” While acceptance of “compact utility loader” is growing, the market is far from settling on this term.)

“This is the most powerful stand-on skid steer in the market,” says Mathesen, “with an operating capacity of 3,100 pounds – 50 percent more than the closest competitor – and the ability to apply 5,500 pounds of breakout force. The SK3000 is designed to complete jobs typically reserved for a traditional caged skid steer but with the convenience and visibility of a stand-on machine.”

The Boxer 700HDX features a hydraulically expandable undercarriage that goes from 35 to 43.5 inches wide. Its Kubota engine is rated at 34.8 horsepower. The high/low auxiliary hydraulic system provides 8.7 or 11.3 gallons per minute of flow.

ROC is 707 pounds at 35 percent of tipping load. A universal CUL mounting plate and quick-attach system are standard.

26 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

B O B C A T. C O M / N E W M O D E L S

R-SERIES LOADERS ARE HERE. The only thing better than your last Bobcat ® loader is the next Bobcat loader.

Because, like you, we never stop improving. R-Series loaders revolutionize performance, quality, comfort and more.

Bobcat is a Doosan company. Doosan is a global leader in construction equipment, power and water solutions, engines, and engineering, proudly serving customers and communities for more than a century.

Bobcat ®, the Bobcat logo and the colors of the Bobcat machine are registered trademarks of Bobcat Company in the United States and various other countries. ©2020 Bobcat Company. All rights reserved. | 1403

machine matters Toro The e-Dingo 500, introduced as a prototype at last year’s Rental Show, is now slated to be in production this spring. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the zero-emission, low-noise eDingo uses an Auto Idle feature to automatically power off the motor after it’s been idle for 30 seconds. By double-tapping the traction control lever, operators can instantly restart the machine.

Toro wanted to make sure the e-Dingo gave users the same familiar controls and offered full performance and power as its diesel counterpart, says Jay Thaker, Toro rental marketing manager. “The e-Dingo is ideal for indoor construction jobs requiring fast completion times and reduced overall costs,” he says. “These applications include

| continued demolition, flooring and renovation work.”

Maximum operating capacity is 515 pounds, and the e-Dingo can use all standard Dingo attachments, including buckets, grapples, breakers and forks. Toro’s 4-Paw independent four-wheel drive provides added traction and spin-turn performance for agility in tight workspaces.

In late 2018, Toro added the TXL 2000 to the Dingo catalog.

Most notable are the telescoping loader arms, which provide a hinge pin height of 10 feet 3 inches when fully extended and the ability to dig below grade.

Powered by a 49.6-horsepower Kubota engine, the TXL 2000 has a 2,000-pound ROC retracted (907 pounds fully extended) and features traction control as standard.

The Sherpa 100 ECO has a front-mounted electric motor and uses the space that normally contains the diesel engine to store a 360-amphere battery pack that powers the unit for up to 8 hours. The machine has a breakout force of 1,851 pounds and a 2,756-psi hydraulic drive system.

28 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Vermeer Since October 2016, Vermeer has rolled out three new models. The CTX100 has a 40-horsepower turbocharged Kohler KDI 1903 diesel engine and 1,035-pound ROC. The CTX100 is available with wide or narrow track configuration. The S925TX has a 925-pound ROC. Engine options are a Kubota V1505 rated at either 24.5 or 40 gross horsepower.

The CTX160 is the newest and largest model, launched in October 2019. Rated operating capacity is 1,600 pounds. Like the CTX100, the CTX160 uses a Kohler KDI 1903 engine rated at 40 horsepower.

Vermeer offers more than two dozen attachments for its compact utility loaders, many of which have been beefed up to handle the new models’ higher power.

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5448

maintenance

STOP!

| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

Cease work and turn off the engine when you see these red flags on an oil analysis report

O

il analysis can show you trends in the health of your engines and oil. It can also tip you off to eminent catastrophic failure.

If you catch these problems early enough, you can fix the underlying problem, drain and refill the crankcase with new oil, and monitor the

results with further oil analysis, saving thousands of dollars in emergency repairs and possibly prevent a ruined engine.

Severe contamination “A large amount of coolant – ethylene glycol – in the engine oil would be pretty high on my list,” says Stede Granger, OEM technical ser-

vice manager for Shell Lubricants.

That means a leak somewhere between the parts of the engine containing lube oil and the parts of the engine carrying coolant.

Today’s engines have multiple cooling systems – the main radiator for engine cooling, but also oil coolers and EGR coolers as well. A leak in one of these from a gasket EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 31

maintenance

| continued

or fitting requires an immediate fix.

If not, the slow drip of coolant into the lube oil could contaminate the oil, resulting in overheating, corrosion or damage to the engine.

Most labs check for water, but water by itself is not a guaranteed indicator of coolant leaks, says Granger. “As the engine heats up the water and even ethylene glycol will evaporate. But we sometimes see telltale signs of coolant additives, typically potassium or sodium, depending on the type of coolant they’re using.”

Two to four hundred parts per million of potassium or sodium is the upper limit, says Granger. As for water, anything above 500 ppm is cause for immediate corrective action, he says.

Fuel in the oil Fuel dilution of lube oil is another big cause for concern and can cause engine damage. It has the same effect as water or coolant dilution except fuel doesn’t burn off as easily. Fuel can get into your lube oil through worn or damaged piston rings, leaky injectors, misfires, bad timing or the emissions system.

“I’ve seen some really high fuel dilution levels, up to 10 percent, in the engine oil, so that would be one to keep an eye on,” says Granger. Fuel dilution can lower your viscosity, reducing high-temperature performance which would mitigate the protective qualities of your lube oil, resulting in accelerated wear on the engine.

Modern engines are getting better.

Exhaust blow-by has been reduced, fuel injection is more precisely controlled, and ring packs have been improved. But unlike water, which burns off as the engine heats up, fuel dilution is accumulative. “It’s not as big a problem as it used to be, but it’s still something to look out for,” says Granger.

Vandalism Not all vandalism shows up as spray paint and smashed glass.

Vandals and disgruntled employees have been known to put water, molasses, even DEF fluid in the fuel tank of an idle truck or piece of equipment. And when any foreign substances get into the fuel, they can overwhelm the lube oil’s ability to protect the engine, Granger says.

Oil analysis can detect this contamination, but given the time between oil changes today (as much as 500 hours of engine time), you may not catch it right away. If you’re having engine failures you can’t diagnose, get a quick oil sample and look for any anomalies or spikes in the trend lines. Excessive water or a crazy viscosity number may indicate vandalism, says Granger.

Silicon Silicon is another contaminant to keep your eye on. It typically comes from one or two sources.

One source is coolant additives.

Old-style coolants had silicon in them, but new extended-life formulations do not. Still, says Granger, some people prefer to keep using the silicate formulas.

The other source is a leak in your air filtration system. Silica is present in the dust typically kicked up on jobsites. Today’s air filtration systems do a great job of eliminating this contaminant from your engine’s air stream, Granger says.

But a hole in your filter media or a leak in your system can cause a sudden spike in silica levels.

“When I see silica levels above 10 ppm, then it gets a little concerning,” says Granger. “At 400 to 500 ppm, those silica particles could literally be sandblasting the inside of your engine.”

Wrong oil The current API CK-4 certified

32 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

lube oils will work in most heavy diesel engines, but there’s a possibility somebody might fill with the wrong product during an oil change. In this case, the oil analysis will show additives like zinc and phosphorus present in amounts clearly not indicative of OEM-recommended engine oil, says David Fields, manager Cummins OilGuard. This may cause a variety of problems, even major engine wear or failure, depending on the fluid used, says Fields.

Skipped oil change Overly degraded oil caused by excessive duty cycle or going beyond recommended oil drain intervals can lead to high oil oxidation and viscosity, says Fields. This can also happen when somebody skips or forgets a scheduled oil change. Degraded oil can cause lead or copper corrosion in bearings and bushings, which will show up as a spike in the wear metals on the next oil sample. The thickened oil can also harm the lubrication system.

Important but not always critical In addition to various forms of contamination, you should check viscosity, total base number/total acid number (TBN/TAN), soot levels and oxidation. One reading won’t tell you much, but by doing an oil analysis with every oil change, you can see trends in these parameters over time that can help you fine-tune your maintenance program.

A successful oil analysis program requires good practices and recordkeeping and a bit of knowledge about what the results mean. But it’s nothing you can’t learn from a good provider.

Choose a lab that will red flag any critical issues and work with you to expand your knowledge of this essential measure of your fleet’s health.

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road works

| staff report

World of Concrete 2020 New products feature advanced technology to improve road construction

W

orld of Concrete 2020 became a launching pad last month for a variety products to attack road construction projects.

Wirtgen debuted a new paver, a spreader and the latest version of its 3D machine control.

GOMACO brought out a new truss-mounted screed and new paver touchscreen control system. Liebherr rolled out its latest concrete pump truck. Vacuworx displayed a new lightweight

vacuum lift. And some newer firms introduced high-tech products designed to make life easier on the road crew.

The companies were among 1,300 businesses that displayed their wares at the show. Organizers report a crowd of 54,000 attended the annual event in Las Vegas during the first week of February.

Here’s a look at some of the new products on display.

WIRTGEN

tributed over the entire working surface, the company says. It can feed on either the left or right side.

The spreader can feed at paving widths of 12 to 24 feet, which can be adjusted by removing individual segments. It can apply concrete up to 20 inches thick.

The spreader’s modular design and quick-change couplings make for easier reconfiguration and transport.

Leading the paving train The new WPS 62i placer/spreader is designed to continuously feed concrete from the side in front of a slipform paver to head up the paver train.

The two-track machine is ideal for spreading fresh concrete over pre-placed reinforced steel. It is fed by truck from the side, and the concrete is evenly dis34 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Turn on the spot with four crawler units Wirtgen’s SP 124i and SP 124 slipform concrete paver models pave up to 40 feet wide, as narrow as 14 feet and as thick as 18 inches.

The pavers feature four steerable, slewing crawler units and can be equipped with a new slew-drive steering system for a steering angle of up to 260 degrees. The operator can also turn almost on the spot with these pavers by pushing a button to rotation mode. Such maneuverability allows for paving the next lane in the opposite direction without having to reposition the machine.

Wirtgen made the pavers narrow and reduced trackline for paving close to obstacles. The pavers’ swing legs can be swung inward for transport.

The main difference in the models is their engines.

The SP 124i has a 430-horsepower Tier 4 Final Cummins engine, while the SP 124 comes with a Tier 3 engine that delivers 365 horsepower.

Wirtgen says it designed the pavers for paving accuracy and easier operation. Its Eco Mode reduces fuel consumption and noise. Its 3D interface is compatible with 3D machine control systems from major aftermarket suppliers. FleetView telematics provide position and condition monitoring, as well as maintenance and diagnostic information.

The pavers can be configured to various jobs with a range of optional equipment, such as a self-loading dowel bar inserter (DBI) with fully automated dowel magazine, tie-bar and side tie-bar inserter, or trough systems.

Cutting the stringline Wirtgen’s AutoPilot 2.0 eliminates the need to set out and take down stringline on concrete paving operations. The 3D control system can use existing models,

or it can create a new digital data model on site, which eliminates the need for having a surveyor create a geodetic data model in advance.

With AutoPilot 2.0, a Field Rover survey pole equipped with a tablet measures the virtual stringline support points. Using all measured points, the software calculates the course for concrete paving, the company says. The tablet also controls the paver.

Two GPS receivers mounted on the machine communicate with a GPS reference station at the jobsite. The global navigation satellite system automatically controls the steering and transverse tilt of the slipform paver, and with an ultrasonic sensor or a robot-controlled total station, it also controls the machine height.

The 3D system can be used for paving concrete safety barriers, curbs, gutter profiles or traffic islands. It can also be used for road surfaces up to 12 feet wide using the inset method, and up to 8.2 feet wide using the offset method. Wirtgen offers the AutoPilot 2.0 for its SP 15/SP 15i and SP 25/SP 25i models. It is also possible to retrofit existing pavers with the new system, the company says.

–Don McLoud

GOMACO

Paving widths up to 104 feet GOMACO designed its new truss-mounted screed for high-production bridge-deck finishing.

The screed mounts to the company’s C-450 truss system, allowing finishing widths up to 104 feet. Along with bridge decks, it can be used for such projects as city streets, tunnels, canals and concrete floors. The C-450 mount also allows for an optional 3D machine control package for finishing to a 3D design model.

The screed can advance up to 4 feet in a single pass, which the company says reduces finishing time and saves on concrete delivery costs and project labor.

The C-450 and screed can be controlled by a touchEquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 35

road works

| continued

screen at ground level, allowing the ability to see what is being produced, control how far to advance the system and make changes as needed.

Fingertip control at ground level All of GOMACO’s concrete slipform pavers have the option for ground-level touchscreen control, thanks to the company’s new Navigator software system.

Mounted on the paver, the touchscreen allows personnel on the ground to fine-tune the paving operation.

They can configure settings for the GOMACO Smoothness Indicator for monitoring pavement smoothness on the go. Elevation and steering modifications can be monitored, and control sensitivities adjusted. Personnel can also monitor the pave-time operation of the paver’s bar insertion systems and power transition adjusters.

The new system ties in with the company’s G+ machine control system and is designed to bring together all G+ paver accessories for monitoring and control. It also allows owners to retrofit G+ to older GOMACO pavers that have G21/G22 control systems.

–Don McLoud

eliminates numerous hydraulic hoses and other parts.

The Powerbloc is powered by a semi-closed hydraulic circuit. As a result, the oil volume is reduced and the system weighs less and is more efficient, quiet and safe, says the company.

One significant advantage of the one-piece Powerbloc unit is that it can be replaced with a new unit in 2.5 hours, says Clint Nichols, regional sales manager, Liebherr Concrete Technology. “This has drastically decreased the amount of time it takes to service the drive unit,” he says. And the Powerbloc can be rebuilt and then used by owners as standby spares. It also frees up deck space on the truck deck. It will be standard on all new Liebherr concrete pumps.

Equipped with a five-piece multi-folding mast, the 42 M5 XXT truck-mounted concrete pump has an unfolding height of less than 28.2 feet and a vertical reach of 135 feet. Its XXT outrigger support system provides safety and stability in any position, according to the company. A redesigned rear end permits easy access to the pump for operation and maintenance.

–Marcia Doyle

VACUWORX

LIEBHERR

More efficient, quieter concrete pump drive The Liebherr 42 M5 XXT truck-mounted concrete pump debuts the company’s Powerbloc drive unit, which it says combines the best features of open and closed hydraulic systems.

With Powerbloc, all hydraulic switching and measuring elements are integrated, which the company says 36 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

25-pound lift hoists up to 2,500 pounds of concrete Vacuworx’s new PHD vacuum lifting system packs more than a ton of lifting power into a very portable package.

Despite its small size and 25-pound weight, it can lift up to 2,500 pounds when mounted to compact equipment, such as compact utility loaders, compact excavators, small cranes and demolition robots like the Husqvarna one seen in the photo above.

The attachment is powered by a 12-volt, 30-amp/ hour LFP battery that provides a full day’s worth of work per charge. Vacuworx says if you leave it on the whole time, the battery will last 8 to 10 hours. However, if you power it down between uses, it could last up to a couple of days. The PHD gets a full recharge overnight.

Wacker Neuson excavators, skid steers and compact track loaders are working their way across more and more job sites in North America. Designed to provide outstanding performance, comfort and reliability, Wacker Neuson equipment saves time and money by offering excellent service accessibility and the best warranties in the industry. So, no matter what the task, Wacker Neuson has all it takes to gain traction on your next job.

Contact your local Wacker Neuson dealer or schedule a demo today at www.wackerneuson.com/request-a-demo

www.wackerneuson.com

road works

| continued

Lifting power comes from dual-stage vacuum pumps that quickly build a seal. The system is designed to draw less power from the battery while providing a deeper vacuum than single-stage pumps.

The PHD is also designed to be quiet by absorbing pump vibration. It features an inline, easily replaceable filter for protection from dust and debris. And Vacuworx has provided quick-connection hoses to both the unit and the pads.

–Wayne Grayson

and other factors, Searock says, a purchase will set you back $796,000. The good news is that most sites only need one. Plus, because of the huge increases in productivity and cost savings, Searock says, the typical return on investment is about one year.

Searock says the company plans to release a robot in 2021 called IronBot that will carry and place rebar.

Sites that use IronBot to install rebar and TyBot to tie will be able to do twice the amount of work in half the time, he says.

–Wayne Grayson

KRYTON INTERNATIONAL ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION ROBOTICS

Robot ties rebar so crews don’t have to “This is not science fiction,” said Advanced Construction Robotics co-founder and president Jeremy Searock while standing in front of TyBot, a rebar-tying robot.

“This is a real product that you can buy right now.”

Apart from getting the TyBot into position to start its work and telling it what direction to work in – all through a small remote-control panel – the robot works completely autonomously.

The robot doesn’t even use building information modeling or plans of any sort to do its work. It can actually see the rebar using computer vision. ACR says the robot is capable of approximately 1,000 ties an hour and can do the same amount of work that would normally require six to eight workers. It has primarily been targeted at the bridge industry, but it’s now ready for any horizontal rebar work, Searock says.

The machine can be leased or purchased. And while the leasing terms can be negotiated based on job size 38 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Wirelessly monitor the concrete curing process Maturix Smart Concrete Sensors distributed by Kryton International, wirelessly monitor the concrete hardening process, eliminating the need for manual data collection.

The sensors transmit concrete temperatures at chosen depths in real-time to internet-connected devices. The system then automatically estimates the concrete’s maturity and strength, the company says.

The sensors use the Sigfox 0G internet-of-things network to transmit data to the cloud for access anywhere in the world. The concrete sensors’ batteries can last for 10 years, the company says. They receive temperature data from sacrificial thermocouple wires that are attached to rebar before concrete is poured. After the concrete is poured, the thermocouple wire is plugged into the reusable sensor (see photo above) to transmit data automatically every 10 minutes.

The sensors have been used on construction projects in Europe. Maturix was developed by Denmark-based Sensohive Technologies, which started in 2015. Canadian firm Kryton acquired 30 percent of Sensohive and is introducing the product to North America.

–Don McLoud

The Eagle is back.

Find a dealer near you at transcraft.com

CONGRATULATIONS

to the 2019 Contractor of the Year winner and finalists

IN

R

E

N

W

Joseph Shrock

Todd Eichholz, Bob Olson

John Kovacs

Dean Evans, Craig Evans

Shrock Premier Custom Construction Loudonville, OH

Diamond Construction Brick, NJ

Rita Lawrence L & L Asphalt Phoenix, AZ

A&A Paving Contractors Roselle, IL

Jason, Jami, Tyler & Mike Jackson Deming Excavating Deming, NM

James K. (Ken) & Kellie Cooley

Evans Construction Greentown, OH

Don Logan

Logan Excavating Rock Spring, GA

K-Co Enterprises Piedmont, SC

Michel Noury

Noury Construction Coral Springs, FL

Robert & Joyce Oliver Total Asphalt Paving Washington, MI

Sponsored by:

Greg and Jodee Huylar Tri-Valley Construction Yakima, WA

Jim Davis, Terry Davis, Jim Davis Sr. Whirl Construction Port Monmouth, NJ

contractor of the year finalist

| by Wayne Grayson |

WayneGrayson@randallreilly.com

Engineer ‘wanted to be the guy.’ So he built a construction firm

J

ohn Kovacs never thought he was on a path to a career in construction. With an engineering degree from The Citadel and ambitions to work in Manhattan, Kovacs started his career with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and entered the agency’s management training program.

However, Kovacs’ opinion of contracting changed drastically when he was assigned to a rehab project on New Jersey’s Lynwood Avenue bridge, which crosses over several main arteries of the George Washington Bridge.

“On that project I realized how little input I actually had in the construction of that [overpass rehab],” Kovacs recalls. “I was only there to watch and inspect. I wasn’t in charge of calling the concrete truck. I wasn’t in charge of buying the steel. I wasn’t in charge of telling the guys what to do. ... I wasn’t the guy.

After getting a taste for the construction industry as an engineer, John Kovacs started Diamond Construction to “be the guy” calling the shots.

John Kovacs, Diamond Construction City, State: Brick, New Jersey Year Started: 1990 Number of 40-50 employees: Annual revenue: $7.6 million for fiscal year 2018 Markets served: Asphalt, concrete, curbing, sidewalks.

Primarily public contractors.

EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 41

contractor of the year finalist |

continued

Diamond’s Las Vegas division, which operates under the name NV NJ Construction Group, is seen here in Sparks, Nevada, performing work in front of the Nugget Hotel.

“You either want to be the guy or you don’t, and I wanted to be the guy.”

To be the guy, Kovacs decided he needed to learn from the guy.

So, every weekend for the next year and a half he would sit by the 42 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

desk of the contractor for that Lynwood Avenue project, Frank Del Vecchio. “I’d watch and he’d do his estimates. … Guys that age want to teach people that are younger.

They’re a wealth of knowledge and will gladly give it away.”

With Del Vecchio’s guidance, Kovacs started Diamond Construction in Brick, New Jersey, in 1990.

His first job was cutting grass for the Old Bridge Township Board of Education for $825. It was a humble beginning, but it wasn’t

long before the contracts began reaching five and six digits.

“One thing a lot of people don’t realize about construction is that it’s a marathon not a sprint,” Kovacs says. “It’s not a get-rich-overnight scheme.”

Diamond started out doing concrete, curbing and sidewalk work.

Around 1995, the company began taking on municipal school projects. By 2004, school projects were about half of the company’s volume, and Kovacs decided to take on asphalt paving to supplement the company’s success in concrete.

Kovacs also drummed up a trucking business that brings in about $500,000 annually. Eventually, he says, he wants the company to do more state road work as well.

Today the company runs as many as 50 employees, depending on the season, and brought in $7.6 million in fiscal year 2018, performing asphalt, concrete, curbing, sidewalk and trucking jobs.

Always looking forward And though a lot of folks with Kovacs’ lengthy business tenure would either be comfortable with their current size or eyeing retirement, he still has a desire to keep the company growing.

“A lot of guys my age are trying to slow down,” Kovacs says. “Not me. I have a 25-year outlook. I’m of the mind that I just started today, and I’m not going to retire for another 30 years.”

One factor curbing that desired growth is the fact that Diamond is limited to an eight-month working season due to the New Jersey climate. And even during the season, Kovacs classified the weather as “disruptive” and “always stopping work.”

“Our revenues are essentially always capped,” he says.

So to expand the company’s construction season, Kovacs has

set up a new division of the company in Las Vegas doing the same work he offers in New Jersey.

Though the Las Vegas division, operating under the name NV NJ Construction Group, requires more than a few cross-country

“

A lot of guys my age are trying to slow down. Not me. I have a 25year outlook.

”

– John Kovacs

flights every year, Kovacs says he can handle much of the business from New Jersey via internet telecommute.

“We’re not looking to be the lowest bid,” Kovacs says of his entrance into the Las Vegas market.

“We’re looking to get jobs at our price.”

The second office required more than two years of work to get up and running and, in some ways, it will be like starting completely from scratch. But the move is emblematic of Kovacs’ philosophy toward business.

“In this business, you have to be forward thinking. You can’t just tread water, because it’s such a turbulent industry,” he explains.

The company’s Las Vegas office recently gained a contract with the city of Reno, and Kovacs says they expect to begin work there in early March.

Kovacs says his approach requires constant vigilance. “I’m here at 4 o’clock in the morning most days. ... You start small and you put your nose to the grindstone every single day,” he says.

“It can be a very thankless, singular existence.”

Because of that, Kovacs says the biggest challenge he faces is balancing his work and home life.

“Nobody (outside of the industry) realizes how hard it is. Being in business for yourself is a familial balancing act,” he says.

However, Kovacs’ hard work has earned Diamond a sterling reputation in northeastern New Jersey.

“When I use John’s services, I know that I’m going to get a stamp of approval from the customer,” says Ike Steward of Nickers Corporation. “He’s worked in probably every [school] district that we have and he’s established, and it gives our customers a certain comfort level.”

“I cannot recall ever having to have them come back for even a minor deficiency,” says Ed Ostroff of the Jackson Township Board of Education. “To me that’s a huge deal. That’s one less folder on my desk. That’s one less phone call I gotta make, one less final inspection that I’m waiting for.”

EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 43

WE KEEP AMERICA ON TRACK

8 models made in the USA, with 3 rotators to choose from.

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product report

| by Marcia Doyle |

MarciaDoyle@randallreilly.com

Case unveils B Series with 5 CTLs, 8 skid steers with improved controls

C

ase Construction Equipment’s new B Series compact track loaders and skid steers focus on operator controls and comfort. The five CTLs and eight skid steers mirror the size and model offering of Case CE’s previous Alpha Series and include both radial and vertical lift patterns.

The loaders feature a redesigned operator interface, including new leftand right-hand posts controls that offer simplicity in ignition, throttle control and switches. Contractors can opt between standard mechanical, mechanical hand-and-foot, and electro-hydraulic controls when specifying a machine.

“We’ve redesigned the electro-hydraulic joysticks with brand new layout, switches and controls, providing fingertip joystick triggers and all the key features right there at the touch of the palm of the hands,” says Eric Zieser, Case CE global product manager for compact equipment. “The joysticks have a smaller head than

our previous generation, which makes them more comfortable and gives operators a better feel of the buttons they use most frequently.”

The layout on the right-hand post now features a keyless startup that Zieser calls “intuitive” and “almost automotive.” To release the parking brake, operators press a large “push to operate” button on the post. Using a rotary hand dial, operators can precisely dial in the throttle to match the job. A standard Bluetooth radio lets operators take calls while keeping their hands and eyes on the task before them.

Center stage in the B Series electro-hydraulic machines is a new 8-inch LCD split-screen display. “The split screen gives you full visibility to the rearview camera all the time,” Zieser says.

The rearview camera is standard with the display and can be used in two modes. One mode is with the rearview camera on at all times while showing the main machine parameters at the bottom of the split screen.

In the other mode, the rearview camera is shown only when the machine is in reverse; otherwise, the top part of the screen is in “trip” mode. Working in the same general fashion as an automotive trip setting, users can record specific data – such as hours of usage – for two jobsites (Trip A and Trip B).

Standard on all electro-hydraulic models, the display also can be added to mechanical configurations for use with the backup camera and operational displays (but without the electro-hydraulic control capabilities).

Electro-hydraulic models allow users to switch between ISO and H operating patterns with a button push.

EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 45

PARTNER SOLUTIONS | JALTEST DIAGNOSTICS

JALTEST DIAGNOSTICS HELPS YOU REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR MACHINERY REPAIRS

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epairing today’s machines can be a complex undertaking, particularly given the advanced interconnectedness between its electronic control modules.

With an all-makes approach to repairing these complex machines, brand and model don’t matter. All you need is your PC and your communicator link. With an easy-to-use and intuitive interface, Jaltest Diagnostics allows you to become a pro regardless of the tractor, crane or skid steer. However, it provides more than just codes. Jaltest Diagnostics allows you to do your preventive maintenance, set parameters, modify implements and launch a diesel particulate filter forced regen.

Let’s take a look at the Bobcat S450 compact loader, for example. A machine operator is carrying out a job when she notices that there are problems in the elevation process, descent process, loading and unloading. This is a common loss in calibration for machines that are under such dire workloads and is caused by the deterioration of the hydraulic system.

Two step-by-step engines, which are electric, comprise the actuators. The engines need to be perfectly aligned to properly function, but when there is overload and loss of calibration, these actuators misalign, causing error and breakage. To avoid breakage, an operator should identify the system problem and change it before it has a

chance to go down that path.

If you found yourself in this scenario, you could do the mechanical work at your shop, but after going through the whole process, the machine still wouldn’t work because there is a calibration process that requires a diagnostics tool. You could call the dealer to come run the calibration, which comes with a cost; or you could use Jaltest OHW Diagnostics, which allows calibration and adjustment on machinery, like this compact loader With Jaltest OHW, you would have the specific connector that allows you to communicate with the engine and the machine side of the skid steer. There is also an option to calibrate the actuator, so you could run the calibration via Jaltest OHW, and the machine would then understand the proper behavior of the new actuator. Problem solved.

Jaltest Diagnostics allows you to regain control of your machinery, repair it and maintain it, and all on your clock.

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pro pickup

| staff report

TEST 2020 Ford Super Duty lineup DRIVE: delivers power and more power

H

ard work just got a little easier thanks to Ford’s new powertrain lineup for model year 2020.

Ford’s new 7.3-liter V8 gas engine and its new third-generation 6.7-liter Powerstroke diesel are not only exciting to drive, they’re delivering best-in-class capabilities across several vehicle classes.

But what’s power without grace?

Enter Ford’s all-new heavy-duty 10-speed TorqShift transmission available in 2020 F-250 Super Duty all the way through the new F-600 chassis cab. At the same size as the TorqShift six-speed and only 4 pounds more, the new electronically controlled 10-speed offers selectable drive modes and a live drive power takeoff provision with a best-in-class 300 pound-feet of

torque with diesel.

Whether bolted to the new 430-horsepower, 7.3-liter gasoline engine or 475-horsepower, 6.7-liter Powerstroke, the 10-speed TorqShift turned uphill towing on a roughly 6 percent grade into smooth, powerful and efficient work at Ford’s recent media event near Phoenix, Arizona.

But it’s the new 7.3-liter V8 – nicknamed Godzilla – that’s getting a lot of attention. Ford’s first pushrod V8 since the mid-90s is lighter, faster, more compact and more versatile than the Triton V10 it’s replacing.

The numbers don’t lie. The retired V10, which ended for model year 2019, weighs in at 617 pounds. The fit and trim 7.3-liter muscles in at 587.4 pounds while

delivering a dyno certified best-inclass 350 horsepower and bestin-class 468 pound feet of torque.

That’s 45 more horses and 112 more pound-feet than its predecessor. Chassis certified numbers for Super Duty pickups below 14,000 pounds GVWR have the 7.3 maxing out at 430 horses and 475 pound-feet of torque.

The Windsor-produced 445-cubicinch V8 was designed from the ground up, Ford Super Duty chief engineer Mike Pruitt explained. It’s not only lighter and more powerful than the outgoing V10, it has fewer parts – such as 16 valves and one cam versus 32 valves and four cams found in the V10.

“We’ve put a lot of thought into the engine about making it bulletproof, keep-it-simple, so we went EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 47

pro pickup

| continued

back to a cam and block design,” Pruitt said. “We wanted that commonality between ourselves as well as the medium-duty truck and keeping that simplification for maintenance purposes, which is very important to the fleet business.”

Ford has stepped up oil management in the 7.3. A variable displacement oil pump reduces friction and cuts parasitic losses, while piston cooling oil jets help tackle the heat.

Increased efficiency keeps coming as oil-change intervals in the new 7.3 get an impressive bump from 7,500 miles to 10,000 miles over the outgoing V10.

“That’s a big advantage to fleet customers,” said Patrick Hurtrich, Ford’s gas V8 engine supervisor.

The 7.3’s four-bolt main cast-iron

block is capped by aluminum, highflow heads with port fuel injection.

During a recent cross-country trip, a 2020 F-250 I drove with the new 7.3 and a 3.55 rear axle averaged 15.5 mpg. Gear changes for the 10-speed TorqShift were remarkably smooth and got the Lariat crew cab up to speed fast. A vertical display within the tachometer indicates current gear.

The new 7.3-liter costs roughly $2,045 over the 6.2-liter gas V8, which still comes standard in 2020 F-250 and F-350 pickups and the F-350 chassis cab.

If you need more power, consider the best-in-class 475-horsepower third-generation 6.7-liter Powerstroke diesel, which has 25 more horses and an additional 120

pound-feet of torque than the previous iteration.

Ford’s most powerful oil burner yet is also paired with a new variable displacement oil pump that helps to keep that top workhorse lubed as it maxes out at a class-best 1,050 pound-feet of torque. When passing a slow driver on an Arizona highway, the F-250 I was in had zero lag. The new 6.7 responded like no other factory-produced diesel I’ve driven and blasted us safely ahead in amazing time. Such power doesn’t come cheap though. Expect to shell out roughly $10,500 more over the 6.2 for the privilege.

That investment can more quickly pay off if you do more hauling and towing.

–Tom Quimby

GMC unveils 2021 Canyon, adds AT4 off-road trim

G

MC has revealed the 2021 Canyon with a slightly tweaked look and the addition of the AT4 off-road trim to the midsize model’s lineup of options.

First introduced on the Sierra 1500 before being brought over to the heavy duty models last year, the AT4 trim brings the following equipment to the Canyon for the first time: • 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires wrapped around 17-inch aluminum wheels • Off-road tuned suspension with Advanced Hill Descent Control System • Four-wheel-drive system with Eaton G80 Rear Automatic Locking Differential • Transfer case skid plate • Red recovery hooks • Dark chrome accents For 2021, the entire Canyon lineup gets a new grille design that GMC says is slightly larger. Overall, GMC says, the truck’s new look brings it more in line with the design of the latest Sierra and Sierra HD pickups.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Canyon Denali features a unique grille design, 20-inch wheels and 5-inch

48 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

chrome assist steps.

The interior of the Canyon Denali features open-pore ash wood trim, aluminum decor and unique stitching, GMC says. Heated and ventilated front seats with a heated steering wheel are standard on the Canyon Denali.

A 308-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine powers both the 2021 Canyon Denali and AT4 variants. A 2.8-liter diesel providing 369 pound-feet of torque is an available option.

Pricing will be announced closer to the 2021 Canyon’s launch later this year.

– Wayne Grayson

pickup truck tires

| by Tom Jackson |

DON’T GET

TJackson@randallreilly.com

pickup tire choice is critical for contractors who venture off road

I

f you never leave the dependable surfaces of a paved road, pickup truck tire selection is easy. Just go with what the OEMs recommend.

But for contractors who crawl over roots, rock, debris and sometimes rebar and who may have to drive through deep, soft dirt or push a snowplow on icy roads, tire selection is more of a challenge. The argument can be made that you need two sets of tires, especially if one set will be used in snowplowing.

We asked two truck tire experts to weigh in on the best tires for the many different conditions contractors face with their pickup trucks.

Here’s what they said.

For rocks, roots, rebar and rubble A tire with a tread stock formulated to resist abrasion, cutting and chipping is ideal, says Ken Reuille, advanced engineer for Cooper Tire.

Typically this involves higher levels of natural rubber in the tread stock, as it has higher rupture strength.

Three-ply sidewall construction affords greater puncture resistance than a traditional 2-ply tire, especially in the upper sidewall area that is more vulnerable to off-road impacts, says Reuille. In addition, choosing

a tire with added sidewall rubber gauge above the plies can decrease the possibility of tire rupture when driving on rocky terrain. Curb bars, or raised pads of rubber in the buttress area, can also give you this type of added protection, he says.

When choosing a tread pattern, look for a tire with a pattern composed of large tread blocks with minimal or no siping to minimize the number of vulnerable tread block edges, which can easily be torn or chipped off in difficult rocky or gravel environments, says Reuille.

The 3-peak Mountain Snowflake symbol stamped into the side of a tire indicates the tire’s capability for winter and snow traction, which is important for snowplowing.

For soft dirt and sand where traction may be a problem A tire that provides a balance of loose-surface flotation while maintaining traction is ideal for soft sand and dirt, says Travis Roffler, director of marketing for U.S. passenger and light truck tires for Continental Tire. If a tread pattern is too aggressive and open, the tire can dig into loose sand, ultimately sinking and spinning. A closed and mild pattern has insufficient features to provide loose-surface traction. Traction notches, alternating shoulder scoops and multi-angle traction edges provide loose-surface, offroad grip, he says.

Best tire for trucks snowplowing If you do seasonal snowplowing with your truck, a load range “E” tire in a size that can support the weight of the vehicle, the snowplow and other payload requireEquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 49

pickup truck tires ments is recommended over an SUV tire, says Reuille. These have more robust construction and generally deeper non-skid tread. Since the vehicle will operate on paved streets, it will likely encounter hard packed snow and ice, as well as new snow so traction performance should be considered. A narrower tire that is rated for severe snow by being stamped with a 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake Symbol (3PMS) would be a good choice, says Reuille. A narrower tire would enable the tire to cut through new snow easier because the resistance developed by the snow in the path in front of the tire would be lessened.

Traction is critical for pickup trucks with snowplows, says Roffler.

And while tires with a 3PMS marking are tested to pass a specified level of snow traction, keep in mind the test only ensures a minimum acceptable level of snow traction.

3PMS-marked tires can have vastly

| continued different levels of snow traction and other performance characteristics, he says.

Many all-terrain product lines provide good winter traction, balanced with excellent off-road capability, says Roffler, but a dedicated winter line can exceed winter traction mandated by 3PMS while providing a well-mannered, quiet ride with balanced paved surface performance.

Tires for lifted trucks?

Pickup truck drivers generally prefer the added forward visibility that a vehicle lift kit provides, says Reuille. A vehicle lift gives greater ground clearance, which can prevent the vehicle from getting stuck in deep snow or mud, or from damaging underbody components if the vehicle is used in rocky or uneven off-road terrain.

Many people like the aesthetics that larger-sized tires and a lift kit provide. However, Reuille cautions

The Advantage is Safety

vacuworx.com 50 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Tires that see a lot of gravel and rocks need extra protection against cutting and chipping.

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pickup truck tires

| continued

that using tires that are larger than the recommended diameter may cause vehicle instability with abrupt steering changes, like a sudden lane-change maneuver. Vehicle manufacturers should be consulted before installing a lift kit or nonoriginal equipment size tire to gain an understanding of the consequences and appropriateness of such changes, he says.

If you venture off road as part of your job, a premium all-terrain tire is often the best choice for traction and tire life. will eliminate the downtime of changeovers without need for storage costs of a second set of tires, and it may be the most cost-effective solution, he says.

If winter traction is imperative, having a second set of rims mounted with dedicated winter tires carrying the 3PMS symbol could be consid-

ered, says Reuille. In some states, these dedicated winter tires could be studded with metal studs to further increase ice traction. If winter traction is not important but off-road, mud traction and puncture resistance is, a second set of rims mounted with 3-ply mud terrain tires should be considered, he says.

Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affiliates.

How about two sets of tires?

Premium highway tires provide a quiet ride with excellent wet and dry grip, good fuel economy and long tread life, says Roffler. All-terrain tire lines focus on loose-surface grip and off-road capability.

If extended periods of operation in either condition is expected, two sets of tires designed for these different conditions makes sense.

That being said, time is money for contactors. If the terrain is often mixed, a premium all-terrain tire

At Progressive, we’re proud to offer truckers the kind of coverage and service that helps them drive progress.

Call your local agent or visit ProgressiveCommercial.com

52 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

BEHIND EVERYTHING GREAT IN AMERICA, THERE’S A TRUCK.

heavy trucks

| by Wayne Grayson |

WayneGrayson@randallreilly.com

Mack brings improved auto braking, lane warnings to Granite trucks

A

utomatic Emergency Braking and lane departure warnings are among the improved driver-assistance features that Mack is bringing to its Granite lineup of vocational trucks.

The features are part of the second generation of Bendix’s Wingman Fusion suite of driver-assist technology features enabled by a system composed of cameras and radar.

With version 2.0 of the system, Granite drivers will now get alerts up to 3.5 seconds before a potential front impact with a vehicle. Mack construction product manager Tim Wrinkle says the distance alerts can be tuned to a fleet owner or driver’s preference.

The system provides three levels of driver notification before automatically applying the brakes to safely avoid a collision. The system can stop a truck traveling up to 50 mph.

This feature was also available on

past Granite trucks under the first generation of Wingman Fusion; however, it could only provide automatic braking to trucks traveling at 35 mph or less, Wrinkle says.

The system can also automatically apply the brakes if it detects a slow or stopped vehicle in the adjacent lane when changing lanes. If a vehicle is detected, the system first alerts the driver. If it is necessary to avoid a collision, the system then applies the brakes.

Lane departure warnings are also improved on Wingman Fusion 2.0.

The system uses windshield-mounted cameras to warn the driver should he or she begin drifting outside of his or her lane or off the road. New with the 2.0 system is how it manages multiple lane-departure alerts should they occur simultaneously. Mack says the system organizes them in order of importance, delivering only the most crucial alert to the driver to

minimize distraction.

The system also alerts the driver when an unintended lane departure occurs at speeds above 37 mph. And Wingman Fusion 2.0 can detect speed limit signs and alert the driver if the truck is speeding.

An available option is a driverfacing camera for monitoring driver behavior and recording what’s going on in the cab, should an accident or other event happen.

Wrinkle says the obvious selling point to this system is the improved driver safety. But there’s a cost benefit for fleet owners as well.

“Insurance rates are going up, and this can help with that. Plus, in some instances, we’ve heard of insurance companies demanding certain features be present on a truck, like driverfacing cameras,” Wrinkle says.

Granite trucks with Bendix Wingman 2.0 are available to order at your local Mack dealer.

EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 55

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2019 WINNER Nick Georgelos, the owner of Geo Contracting has been selected as the winner of the 2019 Contractor’s Dream Package. Based in Girdwood Alaska, Nick is involved in excavation services for residential, commercial and government clients in the state of Alaska. Nick is a long-time subscriber and registered for the Contractor’s Dream Package on the Equipment World website.

The awards presentation was hosted by Kendall Ford of Anchorage. Nick was very appreciative to all the sponsors of this great program.

Visit www.ContractorsDreamPackage.com for your chance to win!

Michael Newman (R) presenting Nick and Lauren Georgelos with the Contractor’s Dream Package.

Sponsors for the 2019 Contractor’s Dream Package:

safety watch

| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

ner determined the cause of death to be asphyxia due to compression of the neck by the mixer’s paddles.

Mixer mayhem A

fter completing most of a day of work, a mason instructed one of his helpers to clean out the 8-cubicfoot, 8-horsepower mixer and hose down the interior and mixing paddles in preparation for the next day, a routine operation.

The helper turned the drum so the opening faced downward and used a garden hose to spray the interior and loosen the mortar while allowing the residue to drain out. The guard over the top of the mixer opens automatically when the drum is inverted to prevent the mortar or concrete from accumulating on the grate.

During the spray-down, the mixer’s engine was running and the paddles turning. The helper Date of safety talk: Attending:

Illustration by Don Lomax

then rotated the mixer drum back to upright and continued to spray water into it.

A nearby painter heard a scream and, seeing the helper struggling with his arm caught in the paddles, ran toward the mixer. Unfamiliar with the machine, he was unable to shut off the engine or disengage the clutch driving the paddles. The mason heard the commotion and ran from the other side of the worksite, but by the time he got there, only the helper’s leg was protruding from the top of the mixer. He turned the engine off and a neighbor called 911. Rescue personnel removed the mixer’s drive belt and reversed the blades so they could free the helper, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. The coroLeader:

How this accident could have been prevented • Companies should have a written safety policy that covers the hazards of every piece of equipment, including small powered units and hand tools. Task-specific procedures should be detailed, including the cleaning of the equipment. The policy and safe operating procedures should be communicated to everyone in the field.

• Manufacturers’ operating manuals should be available to all employees and reviewed before anyone is allowed to operate or work around a specific machine. In this case, the OEM manual clearly stated the engine should be off anytime the guard is raised or the paddles are being cleaned. It also warned against sticking one’s hands through the guard when the machine is running.

• Employers should assign an OSHA-competent person to each jobsite whose responsibilities are to make sure that everyone on the jobsite is trained and aware of the potential hazards.

• Employers should establish a lockout/tag-out program to ensure that workers are not exposed to moving machine parts.

• Manufacturers should ensure that warning labels are affixed to the machine and indestructible. If the warning labels become damaged, the equipment owner should contact the OEM for replacements.

• Manufacturers should consider supplying a clearly visible and accessible engine kill switch on any machine with moving parts.

For more information on this incident see: http://bit.ly/mixermishap.

_____________________ EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 57

alerta de seguridad

| por Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

Desastre en la mezcladora

Cómo pudo haberse evitado este accidente • Las empresas deberían tener una política de seguridad por escrito que cubra los riesgos de cada uno de los equipos, incluyendo unidades pequeñas y herramientas portátiles. Se deben detallar los procedimientos específicos de las tareas, incluyendo la limpieza de los equipos. En el área de trabajo se debe informar a todos acerca de las políticas y procedimientos operativos más seguros.

• Los manuales de operación de los fabricantes deFecha de la charla de seguridad: Asistentes: 58 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Líder:

Illustration por Don Lomax

C

asi al terminar la jornada, un albañil le pidió a uno de sus ayudantes que limpiara una mezcladora de ocho pies cúbicos y ocho caballos de fuerza, y que lavara el interior y las paletas de mezcla con una manguera para dejarlo todo listo para el día siguiente como era rutina.

El ayudante giró el tambor dejando la abertura mirando hacia abajo para rociar el interior y aflojar la mezcla de hormigón con una manguera de jardín mientras dejaba caer afuera los residuos. El protector de la parte superior de la mezcladora se abre automáticamente cuando se invierte el tambor para evitar que la mezcla o el hormigón se acumulen en la rejilla.

Mientras echaba el agua, el motor de la mezcladora estaba en marcha y las paletas giraban. El ayudante entonces giró el tambor de la mezcladora de nuevo a la posición vertical y le continuó rociando agua.

Un pintor cercano oyó un grito y, al ver al ayudante luchando con su brazo atrapado en las paletas, corrió hacia la mezcladora. Como no estaba familiarizado con la máquina, no pudo apagar el motor ni desconectar el embrague que accionaba las paletas. El albañil escuchó la conmoción y corrió desde el lado opuesto del lugar de trabajo, pero al llegar solo la pierna del ayudante sobresalía de la parte superior de la mezcladora. Apagó el motor y un vecino llamó al 911. El personal de rescate retiró la correa de transmisión de la mezcladora e invirtió las paletas para poder liberar al ayudante, pero fue declarado muerto en el lugar. El forense determinó que la causa de la muerte fue asfixia por compresión del cuello por las paletas de la mezcladora.

berían estar disponibles para todos los empleados y revisarse antes de que alguien pueda operar o trabajar alrededor de una máquina específica. En este caso, el manual del fabricante original claramente establecía que el motor debería estar apagado cada vez que se levantara el protector o se limpiaran las paletas. También advertía no meter las manos a través del protector si la máquina estaba funcionando.

• Los empleadores deberían asignar a una persona competente con las regulaciones de OSHA a cada sitio de trabajo con la misión de asegurarse de que todos en el sitio de trabajo estén capacitados y sean conscientes de los peligros potenciales.

• Los empleadores deberían establecer un programa para bloquear y etiquetar elementos para que los trabajadores no se expongan a las partes móviles de las maquinarias.

• Los fabricantes deberían asegurarse de que las etiquetas de advertencia estén adheridas a las máquinas y sean indestructibles. Si las etiquetas de advertencia se dañan, el propietario del equipo debería comunicarse con el OEM para obtener reemplazos.

• Los fabricantes deberían considerar colocar un interruptor de apagado del motor claramente visible y accesible en toda maquinaria con partes móviles.

Para mayor información sobre este incidente, visite http://bit.ly/mixermishap.

landscaping attachments

| by Don McLoud |

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

Clear hardwoods up to 10 inches John Deere’s RX72 and RX84 rotary cutter attachments for large skid steers and compact track loaders have high-flow hydraulics and a severe-duty door. They can clear medium to heavy brush and hardwoods up to 10 inches in diameter.

Features include three blades made of AR400 steel, a pressure gauge to monitor blade load and a motor with direct drive bearing. The attachments have a retractable forward shield that rolls back to expose the blades to larger-diameter trees and closes after the material is cleared.

Grab debris, brush, limbs

The brush grapple attachment for Ditch Witch’s stand-on compact utility loaders is designed to collect debris, loose limbs and brush. The grapples come in two widths: 42 and 54 inches. They are 25.5 inches high, 31.25 inches long and have a grapple opening of 29 inches. The 42-inch grapple weighs 270 pounds and the 54-inch attachment weighs 295 pounds. The grapples are also designed to be compact and easy to transport and can be maneuvered on tight jobsites.

1 YEAR

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Guaranteed Fit. 1721 Old Covington Road NE | Conyers, GA EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 59

landscaping attachments

| continued

Cut up to 72 inches wide The Edge Open Face Rotary Brush Mower cuts through brush, undergrowth and saplings up to 4 inches in diameter. It has a 72-inch cutting width. Its open face design cuts vegetation before the frame pushes the material over. It features two halfinch by 4-inch high-strength steel blades and a balanced stump jumper.

It is compatible with skid loaders, compact track loaders and articulated loaders. The attachment is available in widths of 48 to 90 inches for standard or high-flow hydraulic systems. The direct-drive hydraulic motor requires flow of 8 to 40 gallons per minute.

Motor speed adjusts to load Case’s mulcher attachment for its skid steers and compact track loaders features a variable two-speed motor that automatically adjusts motor displacement to changing material loads to maximize rotor speed and torque. The attachment comes standard with a high-flow configuration and can be converted at the dealership for “enhanced high flow� hydraulics systems for carrier machines over 90 horsepower.

Other features include double-carbide teeth, a drum-style rotor system with a smooth rotor surface and spiral tool pattern.

60 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Turn stumps into dust

Eterra Attachments designed its Vortex Skid Steer Stump Grinder attachment to improve stump grinding efficiency with added power and cutting capacity. The company says the stump grinder quickly removes unwanted tree stumps and doesn’t leave anything behind, turning stumps into dust. The attachment comes in two models. The V27 has a 27-inch-diameter cutting wheel and a standard flow rating of 18 to 30 gallons per minute. The V31 has a 13-inch-diameter cutting wheel and a flow rate of 30 to 45 gpm.

Handle difficult material Geith’s MX Hydraulic Thumb for compact excavators is designed for handling rocks, brush, stumps and other material that is difficult to maneuver. It features reinforced pivot areas for extra strength and a load-holding valve to prevent slippage. It can rotate up to 133 degrees and fit excavators from 1 to 10 tons. Hydraulics enable controlled movement of the thumb, and the serrated edge holds material secure to the bucket. The highstrength universal base plate is compatible with most excavator models, the company says.

ON THE JOB. DOING THE JOB.

EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 61

landscaping attachments

| continued

Cleaner, quieter stump grinding Premier Attachments’ stump planer auger is designed to safely grind stumps without mess and noise. The auger is available in 12- or 16-inch diameter. It can be used on compact utility loaders, skid steers, compact track loaders, tractors, backhoes and excavators. A .75-inch flighting helps remove shavings from the cutting edges. The cutting edges can be removed and sharpened. The spiral center point is designed to pull the stump planer into the stump, so little downward pressure is needed. The center point can also be replaced.

Mulch down to the ground Seppi’s Miniforst CL features a new Cut Control rotor to adjust the attachment’s cut depth. The operator can mulch material all the way down to the ground, as well as grind material up to 8 inches in diameter. It is designed for skid steers and compact track loaders with up to 63 gallons per minute of hydraulic flow. The Miniforst can be equipped with tungsten carbide inserts or the company’s Mini Blades. A hydraulic hood is available for the tungsten carbide inserts to control flying debris. All grease points are protected and don’t require tools to access them.

Check out Equipment World’s 2020 Attachments Yearbook, which can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/EWattach.

62 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

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EquipmentWorld.com | March 2020 65

final word | by Tom Jackson

TJackson@randallreilly.com

The robots are coming, Part 2

L

ast month we discussed autonomous construction technology as it relates to large machines like excavators, wheel loaders and articulated trucks.

And while that technology is certainly coming down the pike in the next three to five years, this year’s World of Concrete show gave us two examples of how robotics can transform what is arguably construction’s most tedious and time-consuming task – tying rebar.

The two systems on display were the TyBot and SkyMul. TyBot puts a sliding rebar-tying head on a large beam that spans the width of a concrete paving job, and the SkyMul system uses a drone that carries a rebar-tying head from intersection to intersection to tie off the rods.

You can read more about the TyBot on page 38 and at http://bit.ly/tybotrobot.

What I like about both TyBot and SkyMul as innovations is that they meet my four criteria for the successful development of robotic and autonomous technology for the construction industry: 1. They take a low skill, repetitive process from a human and give it to a machine.

2. They enhance safety and reduce repetitivemotion injuries.

3. They improve productivity.

4. They turn a worker doing a mindless task into a higher-skilled, higher-value technician who manages the robot.

What most people fear about robotics and autonomy in construction is that these techno-

66 March 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

logical innovations will take away jobs from hardworking Americans. That’s a kneejerk, emotional reaction, and it’s entirely wrong. So wrong in fact that if you continue to think that way, you are liable to get outbid sometime before the middle of this decade by construction companies embracing the change.

First: You are not eliminating a job. You are making better use of the people you have by eliminating the low-skill, low-value part of their day.

Second: Despite the industry’s best efforts, there are few young people who want to work in construction today. It’s the biggest problem the industry faces. Why? Because of the mind-bending drudgery of tasks like tying off the rebar on an entire bridge deck, for one. Safety is another issue, and rod busters report 10 times more soft-tissue injuries than other construction workers – not to mention the ergonomic wear and tear of such tasks.

Third: Being a drone technician is exactly the sort of job many young people today are going to find attractive and which will bring more enthusiastic young people into our industry.

This type of technology is a win on all accounts. And while being on the cutting edge of any new technology is risky, in the multimillion dollar world of construction, being outgunned by a competitor who can do the job 5 or 10 percent faster and can get much higher value from his employees is much riskier.

Mack Granite Concrete Mixer ÂŽ

ÂŽ

Brains meets brawn.

When it comes to the science of a smarter jobsite, Mack delivers the trucks, tech and support that help you maximize uptime and build tough.

Visit MackTrucks.com/Granite to learn more.