Equipment World April 2020

equipmentworld.com | April 2020

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WHEEL LOADERS

Greater loading capacity, automated features, even remote control

P. 32

CONEXPO REPORT: P. 18 A slew of machine introductions amid the gathering coronavirus storm

KOBELCO-USA.COM

Vol. 32 Number 4 |

Cover Story

table of contents | April 2020

P.

32

Machine Matters:

WHEELGreater LOADERS ADVANCE loading capacity, automated

features, even remote control

Equipment 15

Marketplace

New equipment from Case, New Holland, ASV, Xtreme, Felling, Minnich

18

ConExpo 2020

The show goes on despite a gathering global storm

61

Technology

Vanguard’s lithium-ion battery looks to autonomous future

EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020

3

table of contents | continued

Features 44 Road Works

Speed cameras in work zones gain traction in some states

53 Contractor of the Year Finalist Dean Evans, Evans Construction, Greentown, Ohio

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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 6 On Record

A very different ConExpo

9 Reporter

New ANSI standards for aerial work platforms delayed. Contractors must provide paid leave under coronavirus law.

57 Technology

Rod busters rejoice! SkyMul rebar-tying drone eliminates grunt work, boosts speed and safety

66 Final Word

What Mike Rowe wants you to do

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4

April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Azbee Award of Excellence, Special Section National Gold Award, 2019 American Society of Business Publication Editors Jesse H. Neal Award, Best Single Issue of a Tabloid/Newspaper/Magazine, 2019, American Business Media Jesse H. Neal Award finalist, Best Subject-Related Package, 2019, American Business Media Best Editorial Series, 2018, 2019 Construction Media Alliance Eddie award for B-to-B Series of Articles, 2016 Highways 2.0, Folio: magazine Editorial Excellence, Original Research, Silver Award, 2016 American Society of Business Publication Editors Jesse H. Neal Award, Better Roads, 2011 American Business Media Robert F. Boger Award for Special Reports, 2006, 2007, 2008 Construction Writers Association Jesse H. Neal Award, Best Subject-Related Series of Articles, 2006 American Business Media Editorial Excellence Special Section Gold Award, 2006 Midwest-South Region, American Society of Business Publication Editors

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on record | by Marcia Doyle MarciaDoyle@randallreilly.com

A very different ConExpo

I

t already was going to be different.

ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020 had more complicated logistics to overcome from the get-go.

The Las Vegas Convention Center is in the middle of a massive expansion that took out the footprint of the former Gold Lot, forcing companies there to relocate. Many relocated to what became Festival Grounds, situated a mile away from the main show. There were going to be waits no matter how many minibuses you threw into the mix.

But no one anticipated it would be this different.

When the first widespread reports of COVID-19 came out in mid-January, there was little indication that by March the virus would change the face and nature of North America’s largest construction equipment trade show, even shortening it by a day.

A few weeks before the show, AEM started issuing advisories. It would follow Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization guidelines, supply bottles of hand sanitizer throughout the show, increase cleaning and issue buttons with the red international banned sign over a handshake saying, “No offense. Just makes sense.”

Then there were rumblings of exhibitors pulling out over COVID-19 concerns, which reached a crescendo the Thursday before the show when Volvo Group – including Volvo Construction Equipment and Mack Trucks – said they would not attend. The next day AEM and Volvo CE issued a joint statement saying Volvo CE’s machines would be on display, only there would be no staff present.

In the press release wrapping up the show’s figures, AEM said “registrations for the show totaled over 130,000.” It went on to add, “At the conclusion of the show, cancellations from international attendees totaled less than 1 percent.” The AEM press release had show chairperson Mary Erholtz of Supe-

6

April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

rior Industries saying, “This has been one of the best editions of CONEXPO-CON/AGG – ever.”

My vote is for oddest. While the show definitely went on, you couldn’t ignore the cadence of what was happening outside its gates. At previous shows, if you happened to check the news at the end of a long day, you might have a mild oh-thathappened reaction. This was different times ten.

For us in the trade press, it was a wonderful newsgathering event. Except for Volvo Group, all the major construction equipment manufacturers stayed and put on the dog. Caterpillar in particular drew people to the off-main-site Festival Grounds with a genuine in-the-dirt demo. And although no staff were present in its across-the-aisle neighbor Volvo Construction Equipment booth, its team came up with a creative way to reach out to attendees.

In the humming North Hall, it definitely felt like ConExpos of past, with crowded aisles and excited exhibitors. Thursday finally saw sustained sunshine after bouts of rain, and the smiles came out. What coronavirus? What stock market uncertainty?

But the outside bad-news tempo gained momentum, and on March 12th, AEM announced the show would close a day early due to growing COVID-19 concerns, travel restrictions and changing corporate travel policies.

This show went through extraordinary outside negative impacts, with unusually rainy weather being the least of them. Everything ConExpo 2017 was blessed with – our headline at the time said, “Sunny skies, sunny moods” – seemed to be a negative for the 2020 show.

Time will be the verdict as to whether the show should have taken place – and let me be clear, I was all for opening the doors. But there’s no question that attendees returned to a world much different than when they left.

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B O B C A T. C O M / N E W M A C H I N E S

From its outstanding quality to its incredible performance and comfort, the latest generation of Bobcat ® equipment is our best yet. Ask your dealer about new R-Series loaders and R2-Series excavators.

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. | 1405

reporter

| staff report

New ANSI standards for aerial work platforms delayed until June 1 The effective date for new ANSI standards that would affect aerial work platforms has been delayed again, until June 1, due to appeals, according to the Scaffold and Access Industry Association.

The new standards by the American National Standards Institute would govern most aspects of the manufacturing, operation, ownership and maintenance of “mobile elevating work platforms,” the new name for aerial work platforms, under the standards.

The standards were originally set to take effect in December, but appeals led to a delay until March 1. Those appeals have resulted in revisions to language that allegedly violated ANSI Commercial Terms Policy. However, two objectors to the standards have asked for a hearing because their complaints could not be resolved informally, resulting in a delay until June 1, SAIA says.

“We are in the process of confirming the appeal panel members for these hearings,” SAIA said February 27 in a news release. “Once the hearing takes place, the appeal panel will have 30 days to render their decision.”

For contractors, the new standards require getting MEWP operators trained, as well as developing safe-use programs, among other changes.

The American Rental Association and Tutus Solutions filed the appeals, challenging language that said each MEWP must have a “manual of responsibility” when it is delivered and that the manual be maintained on the machine by its owner. ARA argued that the manual is copyrighted by SAIA, and that SAIA is its only source. ARA said the manuals cost $8 per copy and requiring rental companies to buy one for each machine “amounted to a significant burden on the industry.”

Before the latest delay, several organizations and

aerial lift manufacturers called on the standards to be enacted March 1. Signers of a petition opposing further delay included the Association of Equipment Manufacturers and the Associated Builders and Contractors, as well as manufacturers Genie and JLG. Check out Equipment World’s recent series on the new standards for a more in-depth look at what the changes mean for contractors at http://bit.ly/ANSIdelay.

–Don McLoud EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020

9

reporter |

continued

Contractors must provide paid sick, family leave for coronavirus A coronavirus response bill signed into law March 18

by President Trump requires all employers with fewer than 500 workers to provide paid sick leave and family care leave.

Employers with fewer than 50 workers can file for a hardship exemption with the U.S. Department of Labor.

The paid-leave provisions of the law take effect 15 days after Trump’s signature and expire December 31.

The law requires up to 80 hours of paid sick leave for employees who have COVID-19 or are seeking preventive care for the illness. For contractors and other employers, that will mean providing the paid leave at regular pay rates for not only full-time employees but part-time employees as well. Part-time workers are eligible for leave pay equal to their normal weekly hours.

The law also covers employees who are caring for a relative with the virus or to take care of children whose school or daycare has been closed because of the pandemic. Those caring for a relative are to be paid at two-thirds their regular rate for up to 10 days. Employ-

ees caring for children whose day care or school has closed can claim up to 12 weeks of family leave at twothirds pay.

Employers who have to cover the paid sick leave and family leave time will be eligible for a payroll tax credit to reimburse them. Reimbursement will be up to $511 a day for sick leave and $200 a day for family leave.

–Don McLoud

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

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SHORTER-THAN-EXPECTED DPF SERVICE LIFE?

Ash from your engine oil is likely to blame

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The proof is in the payload.

RTV-X

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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 |

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

New Holland intros 11-model 300 Series of skids, CTLs New Holland launched its 300 Series of skid steers and compact track loaders, rolling out 11 models with either radial lift or Super Boom vertical lift. Models range from 60 to 90 gross horsepower, 1,600 to 4,500 rated operating capacity and 18.5 to 35.5 inches of dump reach. New Holland increased dump height

and reach, for easier loading of truck boxes and hoppers with high sides. Operators get a clear view of the bucket at full height due to a see-through area at the top of the cab. A new 8-inch multifunction LCD screen displays the reverse camera. The cab was designed to be more comfortable and with intuitive controls.

R’S O IT EDPICK

Greater lifting capacity

Xtreme’s three new C-class rough-terrain telehandlers come with additional lifting capacity over predecessors and a new modular cab design for switching to an open or enclosed operator space. The latest additions – the XR1347-C, XR1547-C and XR1555-C – have lifting capacities ranging from 13,000 to 15,000 pounds and max lift heights of 47 to 55 feet. The company says it modernized the cabs and made them more comfortable. Operators have 360-degree visibility, and intuitive controls enable them to keep one hand on the steering wheel at all times.

Make fewer passes while compacting

Case Construction Equipment’s new PT240D pneumatic tire roller is designed to require fewer passes and improve penetration and compaction density. It is built for sub-base and asphalt compaction on large road and highway projects, airport runways and commercial development. The compactor runs on a 100-horsepower, Tier 4 Final Deutz engine and delivers a compaction width of 78.2 inches. The roller has four tires in front and back with 2-inch tire overlap that gently kneads hot-mix asphalt as it rolls across it, for greater density and to prevent voids.

EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020 15

marketplace

| continued

Delivering more power to attachments ASV’s new mid-size RT-50 Posi-Track loader can be towed behind a half-ton pickup, has a 1,400-pound rated operating capacity and weighs 5,350 pounds. Powered by a 50-horsepower engine, the compact track loader has 3,000 pounds per square inch of auxiliary hydraulic pressure with 13.3 gallons per minute of flow. The hydraulic system features large line sizes, hydraulic coolers and direct-drive pumps, to transfer more flow and pressure to the attachment. A 109.6-inch pin height allows for loading landscape trucks and small dump trucks.

Concrete vibrator as backpack

Thanks to a small, four-stroke Honda gas engine, Minnich has developed a backpack-style concrete vibrator to make vibration and consolidation of concrete pours easier, faster and more ergonomic. The Back Pack Vibrator has a removable throttle assembly that enables operators to relocate the throttle for more comfortable operation. The backpack straps are adjustable. All Minnich core/casings and vibrator heads are interchangeable between this model and the company’s gaspowered and electric flex-shaft units. The entire unit weighs 20.5 pounds.

Protect new pavement when trailering The new Air Bi-Fold Ramp system from Felling Trailers is designed to protect the surfaces beneath it, such as newly paved roads. The new system is featured on the company’s 25-ton FT-50-3 LP triaxle low-profile flatbed tag trailer and is designed with low-clearance machinery, such as pavers and

directional drills, in mind. The system’s flip ramp locks out fully when extending, which prevents scraping the ground.

The controlled-flow air ramp also provides soft contact with the ground to prevent damage to new surfaces, the company says.

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

16 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

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ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020

| staff report

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020

North America’s largest trade show goes on, despite gathering global storm ConExpo unveiled a new statue honoring women in construction.

C

onExpo-ConAgg is first and foremost an experience. For those who love construction equipment, it’s the center of the universe. Manufacturers plan for years how to lure you into their booths. That can mean loud music, flashing lights, splashy graphics, dancers and drummers, equipment demos…anything to draw a crowd during this every-three-year event.

But those are normal show distrac-

We also will be highlighting additional ConExpo intros throughout our May and June issues. But to get the real skinny on what’s new, go to equipmentworld.com, where we’ll be providing much more detail on what caught our attention at the show.

tions, and this was not a normal show. Attendees at this year’s show had much more to contend with then how to get to the new Festival Grounds, located a mile away from the convention center. The gathering storm of the global pandemic COVID-19 was an ever-present factor as attendees used hand sanitizer stations and gave each other elbow bumps instead of handshakes. (For more commentary on the show, go to On Record on page 6.)

Case unveils world’s first electric backhoe Developed under the name “Project Zeus,” Case Construction Equipment debuted the first fully electric backhoe: the 580 EV. Case says it delivers the same power and performance you’d expect from a dieselpowered backhoe in a machine that produces zero emissions. Though the production model will look more like a traditional backhoe, the special-design 580 EV Case unveiled at the show is not a concept machine. Those production models are already on their way to two U.S. utilities.

The backhoe is powered by a 480-volt, 90-kilowatthour lithium-ion battery pack. This battery pack separately powers the drivetrain and hydraulic motors of the machine -- and that is the key to achieving breakout forces equal to those you’d find on a dieselpowered machine. When the 580 EV is in simultaneous operation of the loader and drivetrain, the battery 18 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

There’s way more

Case Project Zeus

But the show did go on – although it was shortened by a day – and manufacturers unveiled a multitude of products. These are just a few of the highlights we saw; to get much, much more go to equipmentworld.com.

As you’ll see in the following pages, these challenges didn’t stop the construction equipment industry’s premier event, although it did shorten it. Here are a few highlights of what we saw.

With staff absent from the show due to COVID-19 concerns, Volvo Construction Equipment used QR codes to reach out the show attendees.

Several attendees took advantage of this show selfie opportunity between the Central and South halls. pack actually delivers better performance than its diesel counterpart, says Eric Ziesser, Case CE global product director for compact equipment.

Charging the battery will take about eight hours, and Case expects most customers to charge up overnight. On a full charge, the 580 EV can work an eighthour shift.

The 580 EV will be priced higher than Case’s diesel backhoes, but Case says an electric backhoe could save fleets as much as 90 percent in annual vehicle service and maintenance costs. Case says owners could see a payback on the purchase-price premium of the 580 EV in five years, though some fleets could see that payback sooner.

Cat D7

Cat’s D7 dozer: faster, better, more powerful Cat’s new D7 packs more power, more weight and potentially huge productivity gains over its predecessors. The D7 replaces the D7E and features a High Drive undercarriage design. It will be available in standard and low ground pressure configurations.

Cat dozer product manager Sam Meeker tells us that Cat felt the old D7E was a bit too close in terms of capability to the company’s new D6. So on this D7, Cat bumped up the weight, horsepower and blade size to get its charts closer to that of the D8. The D7 is powered by a Cat 9.3B engine delivering a 12 percent boost to 265 horsepower and featuring a fully automatic four-speed transmission like the one found on the D6 and D8T. Cat bumped up the weight of the D7 by about 6 percent. It now weighs between 62,000 and 65,000 pounds, depending on the configuration. Blade ca-

pacity has increased by 10 percent, and Cat boosted drawbar pull, winch and ripper performance. Cat says you should be able to move 8 percent more material than with the D7E.

Komatsu previews dozer and excavator, intros new loaders Komatsu unveiled its latest Intelligent Machine Control (iMC) dozer in the D71PXi-24. When it launches later this year, it will do so with the second generation of Komatsu’s iMC technology including proactive dozing control, which can operate automatically 100 percent of the time, and lift layer control, which automatically spreads fill from the existing terrain with the press of one button.

EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020 19

ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020

| continued

In addition, Komatsu previewed its PC130-11 excavator. Aimed at utility work and smaller construction jobs, Komatsu says, this 28,660-pound conventional tail swing excavator is built to be easily transported.

Equipped with the Komatsu closed-center hydraulic system, the machine boasts fast loading cycles and high productivity. Another excavator, the D155CX-8 Pipelayer, is designed for pipeline companies with an emphasis on easy transport and stability. The machine has a 170,000-pound rated lift capacity, and stability comes from its front/rear and left/right weight distribution and 12 feet 10 inches of track on ground.

Wheel loader introductions included the WA475-10,

kilowatts. (Avant says a version that uses a lithium-ion battery is in the works.) The e5 has an auxiliary hydraulic flow of 7.9 gallons per minute, which allows working with many of Avant’s attachments.

Avant electric loader

Komatsu PC130

Cat crowns world’s best operator: Canada’s Jaus Neigum

which has 22 more horsepower than the previous WA4708 model. Thanks to a hydraulic mechanical transmission, it achieves up to a 30 percent increase in fuel efficiency.

Komatsu says the transmission’s dynamic braking also reduces brake wear. Rounding out the Komatsu introductions was the WA800-8 wheel loader. The machine features redesigned front and rear frame and loader linkages, and what Komatsu is calling the most durable chassis in model history. The loader is designed to load 60- to 100-ton haul trucks in quarry, aggregate and mining applications and features automatic dig, semi-automatic approach and semi-automatic dump systems that can be used together or separately to automate the work phases when V-cycle loading haul trucks.

Avant intros its first electric loader, the e5 Avant Tecno USA used ConExpo to unveil its first fully electric compact articulated loader, the e5. The loader is in the same size class as Avant’s 500 series loader, but is battery-powered, produces zero emissions and drops noise levels considerably. Avant says the loader is well suited for indoor work and demolition where there is little to no ventilation.

The e5 is equipped with an Absorbent Glass Mat battery that is maintenance free and has a capacity of 13.6 20 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Throughout 2019, Cat held dozens of local and regional competitions throughout the world. At ConExpo, nine operators were left standing from a field of thousands.

When the dirt settled, Canada’s Jaus Neigum took home the trophy and the title of World’s Best Equipment Operator.

“We practiced every day. The first challenge out the gate I think I set the bar pretty high,” Neigum tells Equipment World. “The stadium, the people, the live coverage of it – it was pretty intense.”

Adds Neigum: “I was privileged to compete against eight operators from around the world. This is like an Olympic sport at this point....I think Caterpillar should be proud of what they did here today. I think they made history.”

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*For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. Offer valid only on new CASE Alpha Series skid steer loaders and Alpha Series compact track loaders. Only at participating dealers, see your CASE dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment may be required. Offer good through June 30, 2020. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. standard terms and conditions will apply. This transaction will be unconditionally interest free. Canada Example - 0% per annum for a total contract term of 60 months: Based on a retail contract date of April 1, 2020, with a suggested retail price on a new CASE Alpha Series SR210 of C$77,631.60, customer provides down payment of C$15,526.32 and finances the balance of C$62,105.28 at 0% per annum for 60 months. There will be 60 equal monthly installment payments of C$1,035.10 each. The total amount payable will be C$77,631.60, which includes finance charges of $0. This offer may not represent actual sales price. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. Š2020 CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. All rights reserved. CASE Construction and CNH Industrial Capital are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020

| continued

Bobcat previews largest excavator, electric machines Bobcat announced a new excavator at the top of its lineup and had concept machines on display to preview the electrification technology it is working on.

The E165 will be Bobcat’s largest excavator and is scheduled to launch this summer. Bobcat says the machine is large enough for heavy digging and lifting operations on commercial and residential sites as Bobcat E165

Deere 333G

well as underground utility applications and road and bridge projects. Yet it is light enough for easy transport between jobsites.

The Bobcat ConExpo booth housed four concept electric machines: the all-electric T76e compact track loader and the electric/hydraulic S70e skid steer, E10e excavator and E17e excavator. The T76e eschews hydraulics for control of horsepower and performance through electronic mechanics. The S70e, E10e and E17e combine a lithium-ion battery and hydraulics. Bobcat says it hopes to launch the first of its electric machines in two years.

Deere adds grade control technology to CTL John Deere put its 333G compact track loader with SmartGrade in the center of its ConExpo booth, highlighting what it says is the first time a fully integrated grade-control technology will be available on compact equipment.

The SmartGrade-equipped CTL gives operators greater accuracy, enabling them to complete grading tasks faster and with fewer passes than machines without the feature, Deere says. Masts and cables are eliminated.

In addition, Deere launched DozerMode, which enables the electro-hydraulic joystick control system to 22 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

function like a crawler dozer with the push of a button.

Deere says DozerMode is beneficial when operating the six-way dozer blade attachment, streamlining attachment needs and setup time because the blade does not require tools to change between attachments.

In conjunction with SmartGrade technology, the blade reduces the amount of operator input and lowers operator fatigue.

“Integrating our innovative SmartGrade technology into the 333G compact track loader provides our customers with a solution that is transportable, can fit into tighter spaces and will ultimately reduce labor costs,” says Gregg Zupancic, product marketing manager, skid steers and compact track loaders.

Doosan intros loader, excavator, arctic; previews electric excavator Doosan’s ConExpo booth featured three new machines, including the DL580-5 wheel loader. Weighing in at 79,433 pounds, the loader is designed for heavy-duty construction, mining and aggregate work. Doosan says the 380-horsepower DL580-5 can fill a 24-ton capacity truck in two passes. With a hinge pin height of 15 feet 8 inches, the loader is capable of moving large amounts of abrasive material and is equipped with an enhanced front work group that features a reinforced Z-bar, a larger profile arm and lift cylinder geometry that work together to improve lifting capacity and performance. The loader is also available with Trimble’s Loadrite L3180 SmartScale.

The DX800LC-7 crawler excavator is the largest model Doosan has introduced in North America and is built







ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020

| continued

Doosan DL580-5

for customers in mining applications and those removing overburden and loading large amounts of material into articulated dump trucks or rigid-frame trucks.

Doosan’s DA30-5 and DA45-5 articulated trucks feature a hydro-gas self-leveling front suspension that offers a better ride and operator comfort through better shock absorption, especially when the trucks are driven while empty. The trucks come standard with an active payload measuring system, a new braking system and a redesigned cab.

Doosan also previewed an electric excavator in the zero-tail-swing DX17Z-5. The machine is battery-powered with the battery located where the engine and fuel tank would normally be placed, Doosan says. The battery supplies power to an electric motor that is used to operate the hydraulic system.

engines at the heart of its latest wheel loaders and excavators. Hyundai showed the HL930A wheel loader, HX210A crawler excavator, HX85A compact excavator and HW250MH wheeled material handler. Hyundai says the Cummins engines that power all of these new machines – except for the HX85A, which has a Yanmar engine – deliver big performance gains from a smaller, lighter power package, while also complying with the international Stage 5 emissions control standard.

Hyundai also showed off two prototype electric excavators in the R18E and the R35E. The 2-ton R18E has a digging depth of 7 feet 11 inches and is powered by a lithium-ion battery and an induction-type motor.

Charge time is 5 hours, and once charged, the machine can operate eight hours. The R35E was developed in conjunction with Cummins and is powered by Cummins’ BM4.4E flexible battery modules (5.9 horsepower, or 4.4 kilowatts, each) that deliver a total of 47 horsepower. Hyundai says the R35E is designed to be charged in less than three hours.

Topcon’s bring-your-own-device machine control system Topcon’s new MC Mobile is a bring-your-own-device machine control system aimed at small excavators, skid steers, compact track loaders and backhoes. It uses Topcon MC Mobile

Hyundai intros A-Series loaders, excavators with Cummins engines; previews electric mini excavator Hyundai’s big news from ConExpo was its new partnership with Cummins that places Performance Series Hyundai HL930A

the same hardware for Topcon 3D machine control but with an indicate-only option that runs on Android phones and tablets through a free app called PocketMC. It’s meant to be an easy-to-use and inexpensive way for contractors to dip their toes into machine control on compact equipment.

24 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

OPERATED BY YOU. Learn more at

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Our lineup of wheel loaders is designed to work as hard as you do.

Demo a machine today.

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

ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020

| continued

New to Topcon’s Automatic Excavator platform is tiltrotator functionality, allowing operators to easily swivel or tilt the bucket with automatic boom control for faster and more efficient excavation, Topcon says.

Topcon’s new Thermal Mapper is designed to monitor temperature segregation to prevent future problems and to measure performance during asphalt paving. The device also easily provides accurate compliance reporting with real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning accuracy, the company says. The mapper records temperature readings behind an asphalt paver during paving. It provides a real-time visualization to operators of whether the mix falls within a predefined temperature range and if any segregation is limited within specifications.

Kubota enters compact utility loader market Compact equipment giant Kubota unveiled its first model in the mini skid steer/compact utility loader segment, the SCL1000 with a rated operating capacity of 1,000 pounds. The machine will be available in the second half of the year.

Kubota SCL1000

speed helps increase maneuverability.

In addition, the vertical-lift unit has a sealed and lubed undercarriage welded to the mainframe of the body.

Powered by a 24.8-horsepower turbocharged Kubota diesel engine, the SCL1000 has a hinge pin height of 84.7 inches and a reach of 25.9 inches at a 45-degree dump angle.

Operator comfort is increased through cushioned loader boom cylinders and an adjustable platform suspension system. The loader comes standard with a 12-volt charging port and a 4.3-inch LCD color dash monitor.

Kubota is releasing five attachments with the machine, in partnership with its Land Pride division. In fact, the SCL1000 is being built in the Land Pride plant in Salina, Kansas.

Gehl shows off electric skid steer Gehl joined a host of other manufacturers that chose to bring out their latest concept electric machines to ConExpo. The Manitou subsidiary demonstrated its 165E electric skid steer, based on the company’s mid-size frame 69-horsepower R165 skid loader.

The loader runs on a 48-volt lithium-ion battery system and has a charge life of eight hours, company officials said. The 1,650-pound load capacity, 118-inch height to hinge pin and drive speeds are the same as for the diesel-powered R165. It can operate in the same outdoor environments, but because of its quiet operation and zero emissions, it could also be used for indoor demolition and work near hospitals, schools and other noise- and pollution-sensitive areas, company officials said. The 165E is designed to require little maintenance, partly because it uses less hydraulic fluid.

The company used ConExpo to gather feedback on the concept machine and plans to use that input to further tweak the design.

Gehl 165E

Kubota is distinguishing its product – which it calls a stand-on track loader – with a standard 9.8-inchwide track compared with the more typical 7-inch track, all while still maintaining a 36-inch total machine width. The wide track has a 4-psi ground pressure for a softer footprint on sensitive areas.

The SCL1000 also features a keyless start and password protection on its dash. Its 5.1-mph top 26 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

THIS IRON WILL WORK SMARTER. MORE EFFICIENT. MORE POWERFUL. Exclusive, three-pump hydraulic technology for incredibly fast cycle times. Reduced tail swing with a full-sized cab.

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HitachiConstruction.com

ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020

| continued

Snorkel launches world’s longest telescopic boom lift Snorkel unveiled the world’s longest self-propelled telescopic boom lift at ConExpo, with a platform height of 210 feet.

The 2100SJ telescopic boom lift also has the longest horizontal outreach, of 100 feet. It is compliant with new ANSI standards set to take effect June 1 for mobile elevating work platforms, or MEWPs, the company says.

Snorkel is calling the 2100SJ a “Mega Boom.” It has an unrestricted platform capacity of 660 pounds. The company also gave the lift an 8-foot, 2-inch storage width for easier transport.

Snorkel 2100SJ

Thunder Creek MTO

Thunder Creek expands size, versatility on 3 new fluid-handling trailers Thunder Creek Equipment, which makes dieselexhaust-fluid handling and storage equipment, revealed three new fluid trailers at ConExpo. The trailers are designed to carry not just DEF but oil, fuel and other fluids.

The new MTO service, fuel and lube trailer handles up to five different fluid types, including fresh oil, grease, reclaimed oil, DEF and diesel fuel.

Each MTO can be tailored with fluid capacity tanks 28 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

of 115, 55 and 25 gallons. Total fluid capacity for the MTO can be 460, 690 or 920 gallons.

Thunder Creek’s Multi-Tank Upfit (MTU) is now available for a Dodge Ram chassis, while also adding an optional heated DEF handling system. It combines the technology of Thunder Creek’s MultiTank diesel transportation platform, which does not require HAZMAT authorization or, in some cases, even a commercial driver’s license, to operate.

The company’s redesigned Service and Lube Trailer (SLT) is a customizable solution for heavyequipment fleets needing a platform that costs less to own and operate than a lube truck. It also offers up to 10 different fluids, in configurable 115-, 55-, and 25-gallon tanks.

Volvo unveils double-drum compactor Volvo Construction Equipment’s new DD128C double-drum compactor, showcased at its ConExpo booth, is designed to provide both smoothness and productivity, says the company.

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

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ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020

| continued DD128C has an amplitude range of 0.003 - 0.03 inches, giving it the ability to compact materials from an ultra-thin lift on up to a 4-inch lift. Using technology to detect the amplitude setting, vibration frequency is automatically adjusted to the highest vpm available for the amplitude setting.

Powered by a 148-horsepower Volvo D4 Tier 4 Final engine, the DD128C has optional auto-idling and auto-engine shutdown.

Volvo CE DD128C

Mecalac rolls out swing loaders The 79-inch-wide drum with chamfer and radii drum edges gives the machine high compaction performance and reliability, Volvo CE says. With a diameter of 55 inches, the drum has auto-reversing eccentrics to ensure eccentric rotation in the direction the drum is rolling. An automatic drum-wetting system adjusts water flow to the speed of the drum to both minimize water use and ensure uniform drum coverage, preventing material pickup.

With an eight-amplitude eccentric system, the

The latest innovation from Mecalac for the U.S. market is its AS Series of swing loaders. Unlike traditional and articulated wheel loaders, the swing loaders’ arm and bucket are positioned to the side, allowing for 180-degree arm swivel in either direction. In four-wheel-steering mode, the company says, the swing loaders need 20 percent less space to perform a complete rotation than a conventional loader.

The swing loader also provides more stability than an articulated loader, says Mecalac, able to maintain its maximum tipping load at full swing and turn.

The models in the series include the AS700, AS900, AS1600, AS 210, and a telescopic version, the AS900TELE. Operating weights range from 13,183 to 33,070 pounds; horsepower from 75 to 175; and bucket volumes from .02 to 4 cubic yards.

Mecalac AS700

www.EquipmentWorld.com We are proud to announce the launch of the new mobile version of EquipmentWorld.com. Stay up to date while you are on the go, with the latest construction industry news, products and insight from our award-winning editorial team.

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machine matters

| by Richard Ries

Wheel loaders boast greater loading capacity, automated features, even remote control

The Volvo L110H has a Volvo D8J engine rated at 259 gross horsepower. Operating weight ranges from 36,680 to 45,635 pounds, and bucket capacity from 3.2 to 12.4 cubic yards.

Breakout force is 36,210 pound-feet. Optional Opti-Shift reduces fuel consumption up to 18 percent.

32 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

The new John Deere L-Series utilityand production-class wheel loaders include the 444L through 844L models.

Improvements over the K models they replace include a roomier cab, electrohydraulic controls with the ability to program multiple functions, and on the 744L, 824L and 844L, a factory-installed Payload Weighing System option.

Wheel loaders are receiving significant improvements in design and functionality.

Here’s what manufacturers are telling us.

Case Case G Series wheel loaders have a new onboard payload system integrated into the standard display. It provides bucket weight, pass counts, accumulated/running weight and job tracking data for high-volume loading and production applications. The display is a touchscreen, offering tablet-like performance. Three color-coded buttons mounted on the armrest allow operators to toggle through key functions without taking their hands from the controls.

Advances in electrohydraulic design allow operators of G Series loaders to independently set responsiveness of both boom lift and bucket tilt. Other advances provide parallel lift for Z-bar and XR (extended reach) models. “This gives operators the breakout force of a Z-bar linkage with the material retention and loader characteristics of a parallel-lift design in one machine,” says Andrew Dargatz, Case product marketing manager.

Caterpillar Caterpillar’s Command for Loading will be available as a dealerinstalled kit in the fourth quarter of 2020. This remote-control technology can be configured in two ways. The Command Center non-line-of-sight has the operator remote from the equipment.

All usual machine controls are available, and the remote operator has a 360-degree field of view from the machine. The Command Console offers line-of-sight control within 400 meters of the machine being controlled. Command for Loading can be retrofitted to all

926M, 930M and 938M models.

Cat now includes a number of features allowing wheel loaders to compete with other OEMs’ machines in the next highest weight class. For example, Cat says, an available extra counterweight means the 926M can compete with machines positioned against Cat 930 machines, providing comparable performance at a lower initial investment. The 938M is available with optional 23.5-inch tires. Cat loaders will meet European Stage V emissions standards in North America. “Stage V compliance is done with changes to software and hardware that will not affect maintenance or operation practices,” says Andy Massey, Cat product application specialist, small wheel loaders.

Doosan Doosan unveiled its largest wheel loader for the North American market, the 380-horsepower DL580-5.

This model will load on-highway trucks in just two passes, boosting production in pit and quarry applications. As with all new Doosan wheel loaders, the DL580-5 has a load-sensing hydraulic system for improved efficiency and lower fuel consumption. Loss is minimized during carry operations, and the bucket circuit has higher priority when the boom and bucket operate simultaneously. A lockup torque converter is available for further fuel efficiency.

Doosan has partnered with Trimble to provide the Trimble Loadrite L3180 SmartScale as an option. Loadrite L3180 provides precise weighing in a range of EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020 33

machine matters

| continued

conditions. “The L3180 adjusts for rough terrain, ground slope, operator technique and machine movement to provide outstanding accuracy,” says Aaron Kleingartner, Doosan marketing manager. Information is provided on a 5.7-inch color touchscreen display.

Hitachi Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America debuted the ZW370-6 at ConExpo. As with all loaders in the HCMA lineup, the ZW370-6 has an aftertreatment system that does not use a diesel particulate filter.

Hitachi also used ConExpo to roll out the ConSite comprehensive telematics package. The customizable Global e-Service portal provides data by email or web. Reports can be generated in real time or as daily recaps. The Owner’s Site feature provides information on utilization rate, fuel consumption and machine location, and assists with maintenance programs. ConSite uses intelligent filtering to prioritize information by urgency. The ConSite Pocket App uses Google maps to monitor loaders via smartphone. Using the ConSite Shot App, owners or their employees can create comprehensive documents complete with images, captions and notes that can be shared with their dealer who can then formulate an action plan. “All these are part of the ConSite Suite,” says Sam Shelton, Hitachi marketing manager, “which is included at no cost to the original purchaser of a new Hitachi wheel loader.”

Hyundai Hyundai is moving the HL900 series wheel loaders to its new Performance Series product lines.

All Hyundai Performance Series loaders will be powered exclusively by Cummins Performance Series engines. “These engines will deliver substantial performance gains from a smaller, lighter power package,” says Chad Parker, Hyundai senior product specialist and sales trainer. Power will increase by more than 10 percent, torque will increase nearly 20 percent, and fuel consumption will decrease.

Other features of the Performance Series include Engine-Connected Diagnostics, which allow service technicians to remotely diagnose and report on engine problems. Radar detects obstacles behind the machine in any lighting conditions and reports whether those obstacles are moving or stationary. Eco Report analyzes the loader’s operation status reflective of operator performance, so the operator can adjust 34 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Case G Series loaders include seven models from the 141-grosshorsepower 521G to the 347-gross-horsepower 1121G. Configurations include Z-bar for greatest breakout force and best balance of all-around performance, XR extended reach, and XT toolcarrier with parallel lift for optimal performance with stacked and pallet materials.

The 380-horsepower Doosan DL580 has a bucket capacity range of 8 to 10.3 cubic yards. Key to its load-sensing hydraulic system is its variable axial piston pump that generates flow proportional to demand. An optional lockup torque converter delivers 100 percent torque from second through the top (fifth) gear. When activated, the system engages automatically.

Standard bucket capacity of the Hyundai HL960 is 4.3 cubic yards, and breakout force is 35,160 pound-feet. Power comes from a Cummins QSB6.7 rated at 222 net horsepower. Maximum travel speeds are 24.9 mph forward and 18.5 mph reverse. Operating weight is 42,825 pounds. A hydraulic locking front axle and conventional rear axle are designed to give balanced performance in a variety of conditions.

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machine matters

| continued

behaviors to achieve greater productivity and efficiency. Smart Power Mode adjusts engine speed in high-demand applications to reduce fuel consumption and also balances traction force with breakout force for enhanced productivity.

An improved standard onboard weighing system is also part of the Performance Series package.

John Deere John Deere brought out four new models in the L-Series line, the 444L, 644L, 644L Hybrid and 724L. A factory-installed Payload Weighing System option is available on the 744L, 824L and 844L that is fully integrated with JDLink telematics.

Those three models come with a factory-installed auto-lube system that is also integrated with JDLink. The loaders have a premium cab as standard (optional on other models) with heated and ventilated air-suspension seat, automatic temperature controls and premium radio with Bluetooth.

Electrohydraulic controls are standard on all utility- and production-class L-Series wheel loaders. EH controls provide return-to-dig functionality programmable from inside the cab, storable attachment configuration settings and settings to optimize performance for specific applications.

The operator can control up to six functions using a single joystick on models 444L through 724L that are equipped with a single lever joystick. Compared to K-Series models, all L-Series wheel loaders have more floor space, legroom and storage space. “The new L-Series wheel loaders have the features operators need to stay productive all day long,” says Grant Van Tine, Deere product marketing manager.

Komatsu Several automation features are being introduced on the Komatsu WA800-8, the smallest of Komatsu’s three models directed toward the mining sector. Automatic Dig senses pressure on the work equipment and actuates the proper cylinders to fill the bucket. Semi-automatic Approach raises the lift arms to a kick-out position set by the operator after digging in the face. Based on wheel rotation throughout the V-pattern cycle, this feature raises the bucket to clear the side of the haul truck.

Semi-automatic dump allows completion of the dump cycle with the press of a button. After the bucket is dumped, it is levelled when the loader is shifted into reverse. “These features can be used independently or together,” says Robert Hussey, Komatsu project manager. “Settings of each system can be set by the operator to improve efficiency and reduce fatigue.”

36 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

The largest of Cat’s small wheel loaders, the 190-horsepower 938M Aggregate Handler has an additional counterweight, optimized Z-bar loader linkage and long-wear Performance Series buckets. While offering performance comparable to larger machines, the 938M offers hydrostatic operation the larger machines lack, for increased productivity in short (quarter-mile or less) load-and-carry travel.

The ZW370-6 from Hitachi is powered by a 389-horsepower Isuzu engine. Operating weight is 73,800 pounds. Bucket capacities are from 7.3 to 8.1 cubic yards, and breakout force is 48,780 pounds. Traction is improved 30 percent from previous models, and the cab provides 360-degree visibility.

The Komatsu WA800-8 has a 254,000-pound operating weight. Power comes from a Komatsu engine displacing 30.48 liters and providing 854 net horsepower. Bucket capacity range is 14.4 to 16 cubic yards.

Features include the six-camera KomVision all-around monitoring system with Radar Obstacle Detection and an available integrated power ladder for ease of access.

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machine matters

| continued

Power for the Mecalac AS1600 comes from a Deutz engine rated at 134 horsepower. Four-wheel steering provides a turning radius of just 14.3 feet. Bucket volume range is 2.1 (standard bucket) to 3.3 cubic yards. Operating weight is 24,074 pounds.

The WA475-10 also has features to beneďŹ t the operator. Hill Hold keeps the loader in place on an incline without using the brakes. Work equipment levers are pressure sensitive so the operator doesn’t have to use the accelerator pedal to speed work equipment. And the Komatsu Hydraulic Mechanical Transmission divides power into mechanical and hydraulic circuits to provide stepless shifting. “Part of the complete redesign of this model is the use of this hydraulic-mechanical transmission instead of the torque converter transmission typically found in this size class machine,â€? says Adam Braun, Komatsu product manager. “BeneďŹ ts include optimized performance and reduced fuel consumption.â€?

Mecalac Two of Mecalac’s 16 wheel loaders are currently over 90 horsepower: the AS210 and AS1600 with 175 and 136

The 100-horsepower V12 is the largest wheel loader in the Yanmar line. Operating weight is 15,432 pounds, and breakout force is 13,264 pounds. Features include a joystick with third and fourth control circuit for easy one-handed control and a central pivot with floating axle for improved performance. horsepower, respectively. The “AS� indicates these models grew out of the acquisition of Ahlmann by Mecalac nearly 20 years ago and that they are Swing models where the entire bucket assembly swivels 90 degrees left and right.

The ability to swing the bucket reduces load cycle times by allowing simple back-and-forth travel instead of the traditional V-pattern. It’s faster for backďŹ lling trenches since the loader can travel parallel to the ditch while dumping. It’s also an advantage in roadwork because a second lane isn’t required to be blocked for loader navigation. The AS models come with four-wheel steer.

How does the swing feature affect stability when the bucket is over the side? Peter Bigwood, Mecalac general manager, says the geometry of the swing assembly puts the load within the footprint of the four wheels. “If stability with the bucket straight ahead is used as a baseline ďŹ gure of 100 percent, stability over the side is actually greater at 105 percent,â€? he explains.

Mecalac AS loaders “are admittedly premium-priced machines,â€? says Bigwood, “but in applications where the swing feature is a beneďŹ t, the payback comes quickly.â€?

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38 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

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SDLG Not all applications require advanced features and not all customers can afford or will use such features. This is where SDLG comes in. SDLG serves the market with machines with fewer features and, therefore, a lower cost. “SDLG loaders are solid, well-made machines that forgo some of the features of higher-cost machines,� says Babilton Cardoso, sales and support director at Volvo Construction Equipment and team lead for SDLG loaders.

(Volvo bought a 70 percent stake in SDLG in 2007. SDLG loaders are sold

The SDLG L948F is powered by a Deutz 6.0-liter engine rated at 184 gross horsepower. Standard bucket capacity is 3 cubic yards.

Breakout force is 34,620 pound-feet. Operating weight is 32,010 pounds. Features include joystick with integrated directional control switch, ISO quick coupler and SDLG conventional axles with air-cooled, dry disc brakes to simplify servicing. and serviced by Volvo CE dealers in North America.)

“They’re a great way for customers to transition from used equipment to new, so they get the advantages of high reliability and warranty coverage.”

The 28,000-pound L938F, 32,000-pound L948F and 38,000-pound L959F are the three SDLG models that meet our horsepower threshold with 171, 184 and 256 horsepower, respectively. All three come with ISO quick couplers and backup cameras. Third-function hydraulics are standard, and all are plumbed for plows and brooms.

AXIAL PISTON MOTOR (TRAVEL)

PTM SERIES

The WL95 is the largest wheel loader in the Wacker Neuson line.

The standard engine is a Deutz TCD 3.6 L4 rated at 136 horsepower; optional is a Deutz TCD 4.1 L4 rated at 154 horsepower.

The ecospeed PRO continuously variable transmission is as compact and energy-efficient as conventional drives but provides higher tractive forces and driving speeds.

Volvo For large wheel loaders, such as the L150H, L180H, L220H and L260H, Volvo is now featuring its second-generation OptiShift technology, which allows operators to customize the lockup engagement of their machines. Volvo’s Reverse-By-Braking feature is integrated with the new lockup torque converter. RBB smooths direction changes by dropping engine speed and engaging service brakes

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machine matters

| continued

when the system detects the operator changing directions with the loader. A new transmission with smaller steps between gears was part of the upgrade. “The sum of the many advancements in this update promote faster cycle times, greater productivity and improved fuel efficiency,” says Eric Yeomans, Volvo product manager.

Volvo Load Assist is now standard on L150H to L260H models and optional on L110H and L120H machines. Load Assist includes onboard weighing but also now features Operator Coaching with real-time guidance on idling, braking, throttle control and use of transmission lockup. “This helps operators learn how their actions influence the machine and helps managers identify opportunities for additional improvement,” says Yeomans.

Mid-size loaders also got H-Series 2.0 update, notes Chris Connolly, Volvo product manager for that segment. The L60H, L70H and L90H have a new loader arm design for increased payload. Most offer an optional lockup torque converter transmission. Improved boom suspension systems minimize spillage and increase productivity by up to 20 percent on rough ground. “One of the most beneficial features is rim pull control,” says Connolly, “which lowers total cost of ownership by reducing tire wear, increasing productivity and increasing fuel efficiency.”

Wacker Neuson The newest Wacker Neuson wheel loader is also its largest. The 136-horsepower, 2-yard WL95 features automotive-style HVAC, power mirrors with optional heating, rearview camera with color display, and colorcoded controls and switches for quick identification.

Unique to the WL95 is Wacker Neuson’s MDrive system, which removes engine-speed control from the foot pedal and puts it in the hand lever. The operator can then set engine speed manually and vary travel speed with the foot pedal. “MDrive can greatly reduce fatigue, compared to the operator trying to balance the inch brake and accelerator pedal in a traditional wheel loader,” says Jay Quatro, field application and training specialist. Every WL95 comes with both MDrive and inch brake so operators can easily select the method with which they’re most comfortable.

Yanmar Yanmar’s 100-horsepower V12 features third and fourth control circuits in the joystick, a proportional hydraulic valve at the heart of the hydraulic control unit plus high-speed control for tilting, a thermostat in the oil circuit to provide rapid warmup, and automatic self-locking differentials in both axles to improve performance in rough terrain and soft underfoot conditions.

40 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

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quick data

| by Marcia Doyle |

MarciaDoyle@randallreilly.com

Crawler excavators A snapshot of new and used sales trends from Randall-Reilly’s EDA equipment financing data and TopBid auction price service.

$

300,000

Top auction price paid for a 2018 Cat 349FL with 1,138 hours at a Ritchie Bros. sale Dec. 18 in North East, Maryland.

290,000

$

OTHER TOP BID:

for a 2018 Komatsu PC490LC-11 with 1,536 hours at a Ritchie Bros. sale Jun. 18 in Minneapolis.

$

10

4 5,91

HIGH

2

AVERAGE

LOW

$

0 0 0 , 3

$

3

00 0 , 0 0

Brand market share for new, used financed excavators* New machines* Brand Cat Komatsu Deere Volvo Hitachi Case Kobelco Others

% of financed total 33% 20% 18% 8% 4% 3% 3% 11%

USED: FLAT

NEW: FLAT

*Comparison of number of crawler excavators financed in 2019 compared to 2018. Source: EDA, edadata.com

Top three states for excavator buyers* New

Final bids unit count: 741 Mar. 1, 2019-Feb. 29, 2020; prices for excavators 5 years old and newer, U.S. sales only. Only includes bids $5,000 and above. Source: TopBid, topbid.com

Year-over-year change*

Used machines* Brand Cat Deere Komatsu Volvo Kobelco Case Hitachi Others

% of financed total 31% 18% 18% 6% 6% 5% 5% 11%

State

# of buyers

Texas

714

Florida

421

North Carolina

356

Used State

# of buyers

Texas

970

Georgia

516

North Carolina

443

Top financed new excavator*

*In terms of number of new and used financed units sold in 2019. Source: EDA, edadata.com (Note: EDA reports are continually updated.)

New

Excavator new, used sales trends, 2009-2019* 14,000 13,000 12,000 11,000 10,000 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0

New low: 2010, 1,904 units

UNITS

2010

Used

Used low: 2010, 9,329 units

Other top selling new machine: New high: 2018, 11,894 units Used high: 2017, 12,597 units

2011

Cat 336, 769 units

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

*Financed equipment, 2009-2019, number of units sold by sale or lease. Source: EDA, edadata.com 42 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

Komatsu PC360LC-11, 456 units

Top financed used machine* Cat 336E L, 241 units

2018

2019

*In terms of number of new and used financed units sold in 2019.

Source: EDA, edadata.com (Note: EDA reports are continually updated.)

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:

road works

| by Don McLoud |

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

Speed cameras in work zones gain traction in some states

Photo: PennDOT

An SUV equipped with LIDAR laser and camera monitors speeding in a work zone in Pennsylvania.

L

ee Archer Jr., a maintainer for the Connecticut Department of Transportation for 24 years, has seen many accidents and close calls while working along the sides of the state’s roads.

But it got personal when Archer’s supervisor was struck by a tractor trailer while picking up a piece of metal from the road. During a hear44 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

ing before the state Senate’s Transportation Committee, he along with other members of a state employees union gave their support to a bill that would allow camera enforcement of speed limits in work zones.

“Every single day that we’re out there,” he said during the hearing February 27, “we’re putting our lives at risk.”

The bill is one of a handful of

efforts around the country to allow automated speed enforcement in work zones, where the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that close to 800 people are killed each year in the United States.

The bill is patterned after a law in Maryland, where the state has seen a 90 percent drop in the number of drivers traveling 12 mph or more

over the speed limit since the camera enforcement took effect in 2010. This is according data from the Maryland SafeZones Automated Speed Enforcement Program.

Pennsylvania is the latest state to put cameras in work zones, beginning enforcement the second week of March. Virginia’s state legislature passed a bill in early March approving the use of work-zone cameras in that state. (As of press time, the legislation was awaiting the governor’s signature.) And other states like Connecticut, New York and New Jersey have bills seeking camera enforcement in work zones.

On the national level, organizations that represent road construction contractors are calling on Congress to allow states to use a portion of federal transportation funding to implement automated enforcement in work zones. The organizations, which signed onto a letter to Congress in December, include the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, the National Asphalt Pavement Association and the Associated General Contractors of America.

Brad Sant, ARTBA senior vice president of safety and education, says the association has heard from states that would be interested in implementing work

Memorials for the 45 Pennsylvania Turnpike workers (top photo) and 89 PennDOT workers (bottom photo) who have died in work zones were part of the backdrop for the state’s recent rollout of its automated work-zone speed enforcement.

EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020 45

road works A mobile digital sign lets Pennsylvania drivers know how fast they are going before they reach speed cameras within the work zone ahead.

| continued

Photo: PennDOT

Pennsylvania motorists are warned ahead of time that cameras will be used to enforce speeding in this work zone.

Photo: PennDOT

zone speed cameras but don’t have the funding.

“Even 10 states picking it up and taking advantage of it could reduce the number of worker and motorist fatalities by a significant amount,” Sant says.

“It’s going to hopefully come down from that 700 or 800 number (of deaths) we’ve seen for the past decade.”

For Archer and his fellow workers, that can’t come soon enough.

“The only way we’re going to be able to stop this is to slow people down,” he told the Connecticut Senate commit-

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tee. “People have to be aware that we’re there.”

How it works The rules and penalties for automated speed enforcement vary among the states that allow it.

In Maryland, the state most often cited by camera supporters, the SafeZones program is used only in work zones along expressways and controlledaccess highways with speed limits of 45 mph or higher.

Violations result in a civil

Credit: PennDOT

This illustration shows how Pennsylvania will set up its automated speed enforcement in a work zone.

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road works

| continued fine of $40, issued when a driver exceeds the speed limit by 12 mph or more. The cameras, which are fixed atop a white SUV and use light detection and radar (LIDAR) lasers to detect speeding, are operated through a contract with private company Conduent, which is paid a fixed fee per deployment. The tickets are reviewed by state police before they are mailed to the speeding vehicles’ owners.

At work zones with the cameras, drivers are warned ahead of time of the camera enforcement with signs, and there is also a digital speed display trailer that the program says is far enough ahead of the cameras to give drivers a chance to slow down. The state also posts the locations of the speed cameras on the SafeZones website.

The state says it has deployed the cameras at 90 work zones since 2010 on interstates, national highways and state The state of Maryland reports a 90 percent drop in people exceeding work-zone speed limits by 12 mph or more since it began automated speed enforcement in work zones in 2010.

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48 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

routes. When the program started, 7 percent of drivers exceeded the work-zone speed limit by 12 mph or more. Since the cameras’ deployment, that number has dropped to less than 1 percent, according to the program.

In Illinois, the first state to enact automated speed enforcement in work zones, state police operate the cameras from within white vans that have digital speed displays on top. The minimum fine is $375 for a first offense and $1,000 for a second offense. If the second offense is within two years of the first offense, the speeder’s driver’s license is suspended for 90 days.

Pennsylvania begins enforcement Pennsylvania completed a 60-day pre-enforcement period for its work zone cameras on March 4 and then began formal enforcement for a five-year pilot program.

“Overall, it generally appears that drivers are beginning to pay more attention to the posted speed limits,” said Jennifer Kuntch, just after the pre-enforcement period. Kuntch is the deputy communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

The cameras will only be used when road workers are present in a zone on limited-access highways.

Drivers going 11 mph or more over the speed limit will receive a warning on a first offense, a $75 fine for a second offense, and a $150 fine for subsequent offenses. Camera operation will be conducted by a private company and tickets issued by state police by mail.

In explaining the need for the program, Kuntch said there were 1,804 work-zone crashes in the state in 2018, with 43 percent of them resulting in injuries or deaths. She also noted that 89 PennDOT workers have died in work zone crashes since 1970, and 45 Pennsylvania Turnpike workers have died in work zones since 1945.

“The program was implemented to reduce work zone speeds, change driver behavior and improve work zone safety for workers and motorists,” she said.

“The goal is to build awareness and, most importantly, to change unsafe driving behaviors,” adds Pennsylvania Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “The program serves as a roadway reminder that safety is literally in each driver’s hands when they are behind the wheel.”

Not an easy sale Though a few states have enacted automated speed enforcement in work zones, several others have rejected them.

Opponents cite privacy issues and concerns that the cameras are just revenue schemes for state and local governments and do little to improve safety.

A bill introduced this year to allow the cameras in Indiana passed a Senate committee but did not come to a full Senate vote due to opposition.

Along with concerns about privacy, opponents were concerned about when a speeding driver is not the actual vehicle owner.

Some states have bills being

considered that go so far as to ban cameras for any kind of traffic enforcement anywhere in their respective states. Under a Missouri bill, for instance, local governments using camera enforcement would have a year to complete or terminate their contracts with private companies.

A similar bill is being considered in Tennessee.

The National Motorists Association opposes any camera enforcement of any kind. NMA Communications Director Shelia Dunn says there are better ways to enforce speeding in work zones than with cameras. On her travels, she says, she often sees work zones with confusing signs, or no signs at all, to alert drivers to the proper speed. She also believes digital signs that display drivers’ speed and police vehicles with flashing blue lights will cause drivers to reduce speed.

“I just think there are a whole lot of things you can do before speed cameras,” she says.

She also is concerned about abuse of speed camera revenues by government officials. “The local municipalities and even the state get used to having the money, and it really becomes a taxation-by-citation

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road works

| continued nearly five years of lobbying by his and other organizations to pass the state’s automated speed enforcement law. Supporters agreed to a variety of compromises, such as tickets being issued at 11 mph over the speed limit and warnings for first offenses.

He also says the cameras are not about raising revenue. “This is nothing more than to save lives,” he says. “The bottom line is to save travelers’ lives and to save workers’ lives.”

“This technology works,” he adds. “It definitely slows traffic down or it gets people’s attention that you can’t be speeding through a work zone.”

Photo: Virginia State Police

What’s next?

Crews were paving June 2, 2019, on Interstate 95 in Henrico County, Virginia, when a pickup truck crashed into a contractorowned, truck-mounted crash cushion. Virginia’s General Assembly passed a bill in March that would allow automated enforcement in work zones to try to prevent such incidents. The legislation was awaiting the governor’s signature at press time.

scheme,” she says. “It’s not about safety.”

Learning to compromise Despite the opposition, supporters of speed cameras in work zones continue to press forward and have found that persistence sometimes pays off.

Though Indiana’s bill did not pass this year, Richard Hedgecock, president of Indiana Constructors Inc., was pleased that the bill made it out of committee.

“We look at it as a minor victory,” he said. “It’s the first time that legislation like this has gotten that far.

It’s been introduced in the past, but it’s never even gotten a hearing.”

50 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

He vowed that his organization, made up of the state’s AGC and ARTBA chapters, would continue to push for the legislation until it passes. It’s especially important, he says, as the state is gearing up for major road construction.

“We’re about to see a huge increase in the amount of work being done on our highways, and with past experiences in work zones and acknowledging how the number of work zones is going to increase rapidly, we are looking for every way possible to make them safer places to work,” he says.

Charlie Goodhart, executive director of the Pennsylvania Asphalt Pavement Association, said it took

Sant hopes that ARTBA’s and other associations’ push for federal funding will be successful and result in more states enacting laws to place speed cameras in work zones. He says the request has gained some Congressional interest and that it could be wrapped into a transportation reauthorization bill.

He’s also hopeful that just by focusing solely on cameras in work zones, the privacy concerns about cameras will be lessened. He says such laws should be specific about when and where the cameras will be used and to make sure the public is aware ahead of time that camera enforcement will be occurring.

The cameras should also only be used when roadwork is underway.

“We know that if camera enforcement is going on and there’s not work going on, that just leads to motorists’ frustration,” he says.

“There often can be a backlash.”

The program also can’t be a revenue generator.

“If the public views this type of enforcement as a revenue source instead of as a safety initiative, it will backlash,” he says. “It has to be done for safety reasons, not for revenue.”

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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 Don McLoud |

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

Contractor’s reputation, client relationships lead to big jobs with big utilities Dean Evans, Evans Construction

City, State: Greentown, Ohio Year Started: 1968 Number of 80 employees: Annual revenue: $5 million $7 million Markets served: Site work, demolition, utility installation, equipment setting and assembly, millwright services, foundation and building installation, crane services Dean and Craig Evans at Evans Construction’s jobsite at Dominion Energy’s Chippewa natural gas compressor station.

E

vans Construction didn’t blink when it got the opportunity to build a natural gas compressor station for one of the country’s largest power companies, even though it meant quickly doubling the number of employees from 40 to 80.

“The contractors typically that would do that station would be 20 times our size,” says owner Dean Evans.

But Dean loves a challenge, and so the hiring began for the 12-month project to build the Dominion Energy Ohio station consisting of two 3,750-horsepower compressor units, new gas lines

and other aspects of the station’s construction.

The project, which began in 2018 and ended a year later, was the result of decades of Evans Construction forming a relationship with the energy company. It has also developed close relationships with other large utilities over the years, to the point where the company doesn’t have to hunt for work.

“Most of the time, our customers come to us looking for a solution,” Dean says. “We specialize in doing the unusual.”

For example, American Electric Power approached Evans about four years ago for a project that in-

volved directional drilling for utility lines in residential areas. So Evans got into the directional drilling business, with employees receiving operator training.

“We solved the problem for them,” Dean says of AEP, “and it makes us a little more well-rounded.”

Humble beginnings That ability and willingness to take on new tasks has served Evans since it was formed in 1968 by Dean’s father.

Daniel Evans had worked for construction companies and began to buy equipment to start his own business. He began digging graves EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020 53

contractor of the year finalist |

An Evans Construction crew cuts pipe for the Chippewa compressor station. and moved to excavation for swimming pools.

It wasn’t an easy start.

Carol Evans, Dean’s mother who still comes into the office at 79, recalls trying to raise two boys while running a construction company out of their home on limited funds.

“We would go to Fishers Foods and get their damaged cans,” she says.

She adds with a laugh, “The only gifts I ever got for my birthday was either a dump truck or a backhoe.”

The break came when Daniel landed work with East Ohio Gas as a subcontractor and later as contractor.

“We’ve worked for them ever since,” Dean says of the 35-year relationship that continues today through modern-day Dominion Energy Ohio.

Dean came to work for his father in 1981 sweeping floors, then general labor, then he worked in the shop, and operated equipment including cranes. “I had a hand in everything,” he recalls.

The company was focused on oil distribution work in the early 1980s when the industry crashed. “So we kind of reinvented the wheel,” 54 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

continued

Dean says. “We started working for American Electric Power, and we’ve worked for them ever since.”

Daniel branched out into starting a contractor supply business. It began selling refurbished trucks, equipment and trailers.

In 2005, Daniel set up a succession plan in which Dean and his brother, David, would buy him out, and the brothers would share equally in the businesses. Dean runs the construction company, and David runs Evans Supply. Daniel Evans died in 2008.

“It stayed on an even keel until he passed away and then the boys took off with it,” Carol Evans says. “… We’re very proud of what my husband started and my boys are continuing.”

Staying in-house Along with solid, longtime customers Dominion and AEP, Evans has taken on eight or so more quality customers that keep the growth coming.

But to maintain such high-quality customers has involved acquiring new skills and knowledge, especially as the utilities do less of their own construction management.

“Most of our customers are bigger utility companies, and they’re insisting that their contractors do

more projects turnkey,” Dean says.

That has led Evans to focus more on doing an entire project from bottom to top and relying less on subcontractors. The company has added its own weld shop, does its own metal fabrication, runs its own concrete supply trucks and operates a crane service. The company gets most of its materials and supplies through Evans Supply, which can purchase direct from manufacturers, saving money.

“We take it to the nth degree on doing everything in-house,” Dean says.

The company’s ingenuity and ability to do the complete job has won praise from its customers.

“They came in, took the bull by the horns, and we haven’t had any problems since,” says Mark Wales with American Electric Power.

“Other contractors would like to be like them.”

‘Until the wheels fall off’ Dean still maintains his crane operator certification and can often be found operating one of the company’s cranes on a jobsite. All of the company’s management can also operate equipment.

“We’re not relying on that operator to tell us how that piece of equipment should be run,” Dean says. “We know how it should be run.”

Another advantage of having managers as operators is added safety. “You don’t have the preventable, the stupid accidents,” he says.

“We know that bucket will curl, or we know that crane can’t be swung without the stabilizers down or it will topple over.”

The focus on keeping work inhouse extends to the company’s 130 pieces of equipment. The company has two mechanics on staff and uses a GPS tracking system to keep up with its equipment and its maintenance. “We try to take extremely good care of it,” Dean says.

As evidence, Dean points to a 1968 Towmotor and a 1966 Cat

Evans Construction believes in keeping as much work in-house as possible, including metal fabrication.

D8H dozer the company still uses.

Its dump truck fleet from the 1990s still runs every day.

The company’s equipment strategy is a simple one.

“Our plan is,” Dean says, “we drive it until the wheels fall off.”

An employee who overheard Dean quipped: “We put the wheels back on and continue going.”

Everyone can stop work Safety is a major concern and requirement for Evans’ utility customers and has weeded out contractors that couldn’t keep up with requirements, which are often beyond those of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Craig Evans, Dean’s son and part of the third generation to join the family business, came aboard the construction firm in 2012 as safety manager. He built the program from the ground up, and now all of the

company’s safety standards are written. Each morning a jobsite analysis is conducted to go over any safety issues that might crop up during the day. He also performs safety talks on various topics during each site inspection.

Craig led the effort for the company to become ISNetworld certified, in which a contractor’s safety standards are matched with a prospective customers’ requirements.

“All of our standards meet our customers’ standards or exceed them,” Craig says.

On the jobsite, Dean believes in empowering each employee.

“Everyone has authority to stop work,” Dean says.

“They demonstrate safety is No. 1 and require that standard from their subcontractors as well,” says Ted Foster, division manager for Hilscher-Clarke Electrical Contractors and Engineers.

Driven by the market As Evans Construction has continued to grow, Dean realized he needed to make some changes in the company’s management structure. Before the huge Dominion Energy project, he and Craig were managing 40 or so employees.

“You get to a saturation level where you just can’t do everything,” Dean says. “The only way to sustain growth is to add more supervision.”

So the company now has nine managers to spread the load and become more efficient.

“My career has gone from running this company with 20 or 30 people making 300 decisions a day,” Dean says, “now to running with 80 people making four or five decisions.”

He believes that has positioned the company for even more growth.

“We don’t have any plans to plateau,” he says. “We let the market drive us.”

EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020 55

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technology

| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

Rod busters rejoice!

SkyMul rebar-tying drone eliminates grunt work, boosts speed and safety

Computer vision identifies the rebar intersections and guides the drone.

I

f anything made glad the hearts of workers at the World of Concrete 2020, it has to be the appearance of robotic/autonomous technologies for tying rebar. One of construction’s most tedious jobs is about to get much easier.

SkyMul has designed a drone that will swoop down on your rebar mat, identify each individual rebar intersection, tie it off and move on to the next.

You heard that right, a drone.

SkyMul is a startup from the Georgia Tech Robotics Institute.

This year it plans to subcontract the rebar-tying drone as a service to contractors, and next year, the goal is to sell the drone to companies in

the concrete business.

According to Stefan Posey, cofounder and chief technology officer, the drone can identify rebar intersections without CAD files, site plans or manual programming.

Instead, it uses computer vision and machine learning to map the work area and locate the intersections autonomously. Once it sees the intersection, it drops down onto the mat, wraps the two pieces of rebar with wire and takes off again for the next intersection.

The drone can tie approximately one intersection every 10 seconds, says Posey, depending on the spacing of the rebar. This may not be as fast as a worker with a rebartying gun. But the drone doesn’t

take smoke breaks, lunch breaks, vacations or occasionally stand up straight to stretch their backs either.

It enables the contractor to redeploy the person tying rebar to more productive work, such as column and vertical rebar installation that requires the dexterity and skill of a rod buster.

The person who used to spend hours tying rebar can also be trained to be more of a drone technician, says Posey. He checks to make sure the drone doesn’t have issues, swaps out batteries, replaces the tie wire spools and – should there be an anomaly – commands the robots to ensure safety of workspace.

“This is a skill set that doesn’t yet exist, but it creates a new type of EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020 57

technology |

continued

job,” says Posey.

This new type of job is also a new paradigm that’s integral to the automation of the construction environment. You’re taking a worker who does hours of low-skill, backbreaking work and elevating his status to a higher value, less physically debilitating job, while at the same time increasing productivity, Posey says.

Safety is another huge benefit of the SkyMul drone. “Walking over mats, bending over constantly is precarious,” he says. “If you twist your ankle, you won’t be carrying rebar the next day.” Rod busters have 10 times more soft-tissue injuries than other workers in the industrial trades, according to the company.

SkyMul is looking for contractors to work with it on pilot projects, especially those around the Atlanta area. If you are interested, send an email to contact@skymul.com.

Stefan Posey, SkyMul cofounder and chief technology officer.

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technology

| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

Vanguard’s lithium-ion battery looks to autonomous future, while its new engines support traditional power needs

B

Vanguard’s lithium-ion batteries will serve as the company’s power option in robotic and autonomous applications or where it is difficult or dangerous to put people.

The new Vanguard single-cylinder engines cut maintenance costs in half and can serve as direct, drop-in replacements for similar size engines.

riggs and Stratton announced two major initiatives at the World of Concrete – a new line of Vanguard commercial batteries for powering small machines, robots and autonomous construction equipment and a new line of Vanguard single-cylinder gasoline engines.

Let’s talk batteries first.

“We are taking all the experience we have with engines and moving it into batteries,” says Stephen Avery at Briggs and Stratton.

“OEMs are coming to us for engines for their manned vehicles and batteries for their robots.”

The battery launch at the World of Concrete centered around the company’s 5-kilowatt Vanguard lithium-ion battery, which will be offered with its own controller and charger. Eventually, the line will include batteries from 2.5 kW up to 20 kW. The batteries can be wired in parallel, up to four at a time, says Avery. The battery controller monitors current and temperature to protect the battery from overheating.

Vanguard is also producing a service tool that can identify a weak or failing battery cell and has made the battery packs modular and serviceable, so you can disassemble them and replace any cell that might not be functioning properly. Made in the United States, the batteries are Tier 1, lithium-ion batteries.

At World of Concrete, the company put four Vanguard batteries into an Argo all-terrain vehicle with a cargo capacity of 1,500 pounds. (Argo is a Canadian manufacturer of ATVs for recreational, commercial and military applications.) With the four batteries wired in parallel, the Argo flatbed buggy sprinted around the booth handily. It has a range of about 31 miles, six hours of run time on flat ground or about three hours on hills. The simplicity of using a battery for this and other types of unmanned EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020 61

technology |

continued

Four of Vanguard’s 5 kW batteries can power this remotecontrol vehicle for three to six hours. vehicles enables you to operate them with a remote-control device or a tablet and a set of GPS guidance instructions.

Charge time for the batteries is about six hours, and the chargers can be put in parallel for faster charge times.

While using batteries is slightly more expensive than gasoline engines, the goal is not to replace the gasoline models but to offer customers an expanded range of power options, says Avery. The Argo, for example, can be used as a material transport vehicle and cross shallow rivers or boggy areas. It can also be used to carry material, cameras, GPS rovers or measurement devices into hazardous areas where you wouldn’t want to put a human, or indoors where gasoline engine fumes might be problematic.

Single-cylinder gasoline engines Vanguard is well known for its V62 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

twin engines, so it was big industry news when it rolled out a new line of single-cylinder, horizontal-shaft engines.

There are four engines in the new lineup: the 400 (14 horsepower), 300 (10 horsepower), 200 (6.5 horsepower) and 160 (5.0 horsepower). They’re geared for equipment used in a variety of applications, including concrete screeds, trowels and vibrators, tillers, generators and pressure washers.

Before undertaking the new design, the company spent six months surveying customers’ wants and needs. “Power and start-ability were a given,” says Michael Logan, product manager for small horizontal engines.

“But customers also wanted easy maintenance and parts availability.”

In response, the company engineered these engines for reduced maintenance and maintenance costs, says Logan. The two primary maintenance intervals were cut in half.

A cyclonic air filter comes standard

and results in a 600-hour air filter change, and the oil change interval extends out to 200 hours. Over the life of the engine (about 2,000 hours), these will cut the maintenance time and cost in half, he says.

The engines are also quieter and smoother running. The carburetor has a special coating that prevents fuel from gumming up over the winter. A transport guard shuts off the fuel line automatically whenever you stop the engine. This prevents fuel from leaking down into the oil sump when the engine and machine are bouncing around in the back of a truck. “Rental houses love that feature because they don’t get their machines back with fuel contamination in the oil,” says Logan.

Vanguard also made the engines easier to start. You simply push the throttle and choke levers forward with one hand and give a light pull on the cord. The engines will start in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

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www.EZoildrainvalve.com EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020 64

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equipmentworld.com | April 2020

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EquipmentWorld.com | April 2020 65

final word | by Tom Jackson

TJackson@randallreilly.com

What Mike Rowe wants you to do

A

t ConExpo this year, I had the opportunity to interview Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs and the Mike Rowe Works Foundation about what contractors need to do about the skilled-labor shortage.

When people in this industry talk about the labor problem, it’s usually about what others should be doing – schools, government, parents, guidance counselors. All those entities play a role and could do more. But when it comes to what contractors should be doing, I don’t hear a lot of discussion. It’s almost as if contractors as a group are playing the victim here and blaming the rest of the society. Not all contractors, grant you. I know several dozen who have mastered the art of finding and keeping great operators and workers.

Some people just refuse to be victims.

In every issue of Equipment World, we have one article on a Contractor of the Year finalist or the winner. All these companies face the same labor shortages and societal challenges you do, but instead of blaming society, they figured out a way to solve the problem for their companies. The editors of Equipment World chose these finalists in part on how well they find, motivate and retain good workers. Read what they do, do it yourself, and you’ll greatly reduce the problem for your own company. Society isn’t going to change. But you can.

Mike Rowe said as much in our interview, which you can watch in its entirety here: https://bit.ly/rowevideo The relevant quote from Rowe: “Contractors have to be more persuasive and do a better job of debunking the stereotypes and miscon-

66 April 2020 | EquipmentWorld.com

ceptions around the skilled trades.” And Rowe said this has to happen as much on the jobsite as it does in the school counselor’s office or around the kitchen table with the family.

Whether you like it or not, the perception the general public has of the construction industry is that it’s a world of low wages, dangerous work and rough characters. It doesn’t matter that these stereotypes are false.

Perception is reality and the only way to make sure the world sees a better example.

Professionalism is everything. You don’t have to wear a coat and tie but in appearance, attitude, business management, equipment quality and safety practices, you need to be as squared away as a drill sergeant. Demand the same from your supervisors. The military has one fundamental rule for leadership, and that is lead by example. Or to quote somebody’s rock ‘n’ roll lyric: Be the change you want to see.

A lot of you are already are there, but construction’s bad reputation has lingered for decades. Still, if you up your game, if you study what our Contractor of the Year finalists do in regard to the labor shortage, you will at least improve your own situation. If enough of you do it, over time, the whole culture will change.

Americans are waking up to the absurd cost of a four-year college degree, and guys like Mike Rowe continue to show the culture at-large a better alternative. I’ve been involved in or writing about construction for the majority of my adult life, and for the first time, I think the momentum is finally moving in our direction. Lead by example and the world will follow.

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