Equipment World September 2018 by Tony Brock

equipmentworld.com | September 2018

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Vol. 30 Number 9 |

Cover Story

table of contents | September 2018

MACHINE MATTERS:

ARTIC SIZE HITS PLATEAU

With articulated dump trucks now topped out at 60 tons, the focus shifts to smaller, more nimble ADTs

Equipment 13

Marketplace

Cat’s new D86 track-type tractor, JCB 220X excavator, Komatsu WA480-8 wheel loader, Ditch Witch HT275 trencher, Bobcat V273 VersaHandler, Honda EB2800i generator

Road Technology

In an industry first, MnDOT switches to full intelligent compaction to build highways.

65 Snow Clearing Attachments It won’t be long before these attachments come in handy for clearing roads, parking lots, sidewalks.

EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018

table of contents | continued

Features 25 Maintenance Management

5S/Lean/Kaizen will make you better whether you’re managing two or 200 employees.

61 Highway Contractor

Powering up with a new era of light towers.

57 Contractor of the Year Finalist

Kurt Unnerstall, K.J. Unnerstall Construction, Washington, Missouri

equipmentworld.com facebook.com/EquipmentWorld twitter.com/Equipment_World Editorial Director: Marcia Gruver Doyle Executive Editor: Tom Jackson Online Editor: Wayne Grayson Senior Editor: Joy Powell Managing Editor: Don McLoud Contributing Writer: Richard Ries editorial@equipmentworld.com Media Sales Geoffrey Love: gdlove@randallreilly.com Pete Austin: paustin@randallreilly.com Drew Ingram: drewingram@randallreilly.com Patsy Adams: padams@randallreilly.com Jordan Arsenault: jordanarsenault@randallreilly.com Art Director: Tony Brock Advertising Production Manager: Leah Boyd production@equipmentworld.com

Departments Record 7 On The Weekend

9 Reporter

Caterpillar, Deere, Komatsu post double-digit gains. Vermeer bounces back from tornado.

39 HDD Product Report

HDD technology responds to increasing desire to go underground.

45 Technology Drone review: Yuneec’s H520 offers impressive blend of autonomy and easy manual flight.

55 Quick Data Wheel loaders

Trucks 60 Heavy Cummins recalls record 500,000 trucks and engines for faulty emissions device.

68 Safety Watch A bump and a fall

74 Final Word

I don’t want to say I told you so…

For subscription information/inquiries, please email equipmentworld@omeda.com. Equipment World (ISSN 1057-7262) is published monthly by Randall-Reilly, LLC, 3200 Rice Mine Road N.E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. Periodicals Postage-Paid at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: SEND ALL UAA TO CFS (SEE DMM 507.1.5.2). Non-postal and military facilities: send address corrections to Equipment World, P.O. Box 2029, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 or email at equipmentworld@ omeda.com. Rates for non-qualified subscriptions (pre-paid US currency only): US & possessions, $48 1–year, $84 2–year; Canada/Mexico, $78 1–year, $147 2–year; Foreign, $86 1–year, $154 2–year. Single copies are available for $6 US, $9 Canada/Mexico and $12 foreign. The advertiser and/or advertising agency will defend, indemnify and hold Randall-Reilly, LLC harmless from and against any loss, expenses or other liability resulting from any claims or suits for libel violations of right of privacy or publicity, plagiarisms, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or suits that arise out of publication of such advertisement. Copyright ©2018 Randall-Reilly, LLC, all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Equipment World is a trademark of Randall-Reilly, LLC. Randall-Reilly, LLC neither endorses nor makes any representation or guarantee regarding the quality of goods and services advertised herein.

September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

3200 Rice Mine Rd NE Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 800-633-5953 randallreilly.com Chairman Emeritus: Mike Reilly President and CEO: Brent Reilly Chief Operations Officer: Shane Elmore Chief Financial Officer: Kim Fieldbinder Senior Vice President, Sales: Scott Miller Senior Vice President, Editorial and Research: Linda Longton Senior Vice President, Audience Data: Prescott Shibles Vice President, Events: Stacy McCants Vice President, Digital Services: Nick Reid Vice President, Marketing: Julie Arsenault Vice President, Business Analyst: Joe Donald Director of Media Sales: Seth Becker Vice President, Strategic Accounts: Michael Newman For change of address and other subscription inquiries, please contact: equipmentworld@halldata.com Editorial Awards: Best Editorial Series, 2018, Construction Media Alliance Eddie award for B-to-B Series of Articles, 2016 Highways 2.0, Folio: magazine Editorial Excellence, Original Research, Silver Award, 2016 American Society of Business Publication Editors Jesse H. Neal Award, Better Roads, 2011 American Business Media Robert F. Boger Award for Special Reports, 2006, 2007, 2008 Construction Writers Association Jesse H. Neal Award, Best Subject-Related Series of Articles, 2006 American Business Media Editorial Excellence Special Section Gold Award, 2006 Midwest-South Region, American Society of Business Publication Editors

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CONGRATULATIONS

to the 2018 Contractor of the Year winner and finalists

Matt Bachtel

Don and Rae Peters

Bachtel Excavating Massillon, Ohio

Solid Earth Civil Constructors Pueblo, Colorado

Jon Claycomb

Clem Cooke

Fritz-Rumer-Cooke Company Claycomb Excavating New Enterprise, Pennsylvania Columbus, Ohio

Stephen Bielecki and Russell Kibler R & S General Contractors Bristol, Pennsylvania

Kurt Unnerstall

K. J. Unnerstall Construction Washington, Missouri

Dan and Marsha Steffey Steffey Excavating Peoria, Arizona

Sponsored by:

Dana Wiehe and Stewart Petrovits Blacktop Maintenance Corporation Poughkeepsie, New York

Bryan Kissner

Kissner General Contractors Austin, Colorado

Tommy Turner Turner Reed Liberty Hill, Texas

Brett Reshetar Reshetar Systems Anoka, Minnesota

Victor Serrambana, Jr. VMS Construction Company Vernon, Connecticut

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

The Weekend S

ure, there’s a big award. A winner is named, and that company gets a lot of attention. But being named one of 12 Contractor of the Year finalists means much more than the possibility of the big win. Past finalists tell us two things stand out about their Contractor of the Year experience: • Discussions with other finalists • Being able to let their guard down and talk about issues that everyone faces regardless of their local market. “The Equipment World Contractor of the Year experience is something we will truly cherish and never forget,” one of our finalists told us this year. Contractors don’t throw around words like “cherish” often. What prompts this comment? “It’s The Weekend,” or the three-day event that surrounds this recognition at the Las Vegas Wynn hotel. To get the full scope, you need to look at all the components: • Friday night roundtable: This is our getting-to-know-you session that starts the weekend rolling. Moderated by Equipment World editors, the object is simple: get finalists talking to each other in a free exchange of ideas. • Saturday morning focus group: The discussion continues the next morning, this time focused on one subject. During these few hours, the talk gets more nittygritty, sometimes detailing how finalists accomplished something, what they’ve

tried and whether or not it worked. • Saturday evening awards banquet: This is not a winner-takes-it-all show. Each finalist’s story is told, detailing why they earned a spot among this year’s 12. Each finalist also is asked to the front of the room to be recognized for their achievements. This simple acknowledgement – for contractors who love what they do but typically get little notice from others – has stirred emotions in seemingly flinty-eyed individuals. • Sunday race day: Time to relax in the Caterpillar VIP tent with the other finalists and guests at the Penzoil 400 NASCAR race on March 3, 2019. Caterpillar has sponsored the Contractor of the Year contest for the past 19 years and brings both subject matter expertise and gracious hospitality to the event. And the recognition doesn’t end when the event is over. Each finalist is featured in a magazine article that serves as a great marketing piece for your firm. (Check out this month’s featured finalist, Kurt Unnerstall with K. J. Unnerstall Construction, on page 57.) Intrigued? To find out more information about the Contractor of the Year, go to EWcontractoroftheyear.com. There you’ll see additional information about the award, including an application form. We’d be delighted to host you as one of the 2019 Contractor of the Year finalists in March!

EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 7

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reporter

| staff report

Caterpillar, Deere, Komatsu post double-digit gains Briefs H&E Equipment Services posted a revenue jump of 24.5 percent for the second quarter. New equipment sales soared by 50 percent, while rental revenue increased 21.5 percent. Herc Rentals saw second-quarter rental revenues grow 12 percent year over year to $392.5 million. The increase represents the company’s fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth over the prior-year period in equipment rental revenue.

John Deere unveiled on August 20 the industry’s first mast-free SmartGrade GPS control for its G-Series motor grader line.

aterpillar, John Deere and Komatsu are posting hefty revenues with, so far, little sign of much impact on earnings from steel and aluminum tariffs. Both Deere and Cat have said higher machines prices will offset the higher costs. Deere reported its global net sales and revenues increased 32 percent, to $10.3 billion, during its third quarter. In both construction and farm equipment sales, Deere said it reaped the benefits of a strong economy and housing demand, farmers continuing to buy equipment despite uncertainty involving tariffs, and the acquisition of Wirtgen. Cat reported a gain in sales and revenues of 24 percent. Second-quarter results included sales and revenues of $14 billion, compared with $11.3 billion for the same period in 2017. The company surpassed

Wall Street estimates with its second-quarter financial report and took a big step toward dispelling concerns over whether the new tariffs would significantly impact operations. Those tariffs and another headwind – rising freight costs just as the company ramps up production – continue to present challenges that Caterpillar insists it can offset. The company also reported a second-quarter record of $2.82 profit per share, up from $1.35 from second-quarter 2017. It boosted its 2018 profit-per-share outlook to a range of $10.50 to $11.50. Meanwhile, net sales for Komatsu’s first quarter, which ended June 30, increased 15.1 percent over the same period in 2017 to $5.8 billion. Profit during the quarter nearly doubled, rising 83.4 percent to $863 million. –Joy Powell

Online equipment rental site BigRentz posted increases of 30 percent in online rentals versus over-the-phone rentals in the second quarter. The company also saw a 13 percent increase in the number of users accessing the site by a mobile device. Terex President and CEO John L. Garrison has been elected the company’s new board chairman. Under his leadership, Terex has sold various underperforming businesses and focused on core businesses of aerial work platforms, cranes and materials processing. British technology company AVID Technology says it has partnered with Caterpillar UK to develop a battery system for heavy machinery. The goal is to create “an advanced battery system capable of meeting the life cycle and load demands of a heavy duty electric or hybrid vehicle,” according to New Power Progress magazine. Manitou Group posted 17 percent growth during the first half of 2018, compared with the same period last year. The company says it expects to grow sales revenues by more than 15 percent in 2018. Terex reports a 19 percent sales increase to $1.4 billion for the second quarter. The company attributed the results to operational improvements, its capital allocation strategy and improvements in global markets.

For more on each of these stories go to equipmentworld.com. EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018

reporter |

continued

Vermeer bounces back from tornado

Tornado damage at Vermeer’s campus in Pella, Idaho.

ermeer reports that all of its employees at its factory in Pella, Iowa, are back to work one month after an EF3 tornado struck on July 19 damaging four of its plants. Plants that sustained moderate damage were operational by July 30 and August 13, respectively. Two buildings incurred severe damage – a grinders plant and a horizontal directional drill plant – leading the company to shift operations to other areas of the complex that were not damaged and to local manufacturing space it rented. As of August 20, the company reported that the campus’ roughly 2,700 employees were back on the job.

Some were in temporary assignments but would be back in permanent roles “as production lines and positions continue to open,” says the company. The tornado struck during the company’s 70th anniversary. CEO Jason Andringa says the company’s unity in bouncing back quickly will make the year even more memorable. “This is the year that the Vermeer team came together, grew in ways we never imagined and rose to the challenge to bring our team back to work to meet our customers’ needs,” Andringa said. “…We are Vermeer strong.”

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marketplace

| by Don McLoud |

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

Cat’s new dozer boasts easy operation Caterpillar says operating its new D8T track-type tractor is “as easy as driving a pickup truck,” thanks to improved differential steering and dedicated steering pumps. The dozer also now has an upgraded transmission, a more durable undercarriage and automatic ripper control, which keeps the ripper bar parallel to the slope of the ground and raises the teeth if it senses the tracks slipping. Cat says the D8T features doubledigit performance and efficiency improvements in most categories over the previous model. Driving that improved efficiency is a new, fully automatic, four-speed torque-converter transmission with a lockup clutch and planetary gears. The dozer’s new Semi-Universal Blade can carry 13.4 cubic yards, 19 percent more than its predecessor. The D8T is also remote-control ready.

EDIT PICOR’S K

More spacious, comfortable cab The 22-ton 220X is the first model in JCB’s new line of XSeries excavators. JCB added 15 percent more space to the cab over previous models, along with a more comfortable seat with machine controls mounted to the armrests. The excavator’s upper frame is 8 inches wider than its predecessor, and the main boom is mounted to the center of the machine rather than at an offset, giving the operator increased accuracy when trenching and allowing the use of larger buckets without impacting the tracks, the company says. EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 13

marketplace

| continued

Loader control by wrist and finger

Komatsu’s new WA480-8 wheel loader allows steering and direction to be controlled with a joystick, even at full travel speed. The Advanced Joystick Steering System leads to less operator fatigue during high-duty cycle, the company says. Komatsu also redesigned the bucket so it’s easier to fill and retains more material. The WA480-8 runs on a 299-horsepower Komatsu Tier 4 Final engine that uses 20 percent less fuel than its Tier 3 predecessor. The cab features a 7-inch monitor; air-suspension, high-back seat; and a separate rearview monitor.

Ditch Witch introduces its largest trencher

Ditch Witch’s new HT275 is the company’s largest trencher, able to handle heavy-duty installations of up to 10 feet deep and 26 inches wide. The HT275 is powered by a 275-horsepower Cummins Tier 4 Final diesel engine – more than twice the horsepower of its second-largest trencher, the wheeled RT125, at 121 horsepower. The company says its tracked trencher can tackle a broad range of jobs, and its hydrostatic chain drive allows the operator to match chain speeds to soil conditions.

Designed for versatility, productivity

Bobcat has expanded its line of telehandlers in the 7,000- to 8,000-pound size class with its V723 VersaHandler, giving the machine a low profile to easily maneuver jobsites yet still handle heavy loads. The V723 can handle loads up to 7,700 pounds at max lift height of 22 feet, 10 inches with a boom pivot made of thick reinforced steel. The V723 runs on a turbocharged, 100-horsepower Tier 4 Final Bobcat diesel engine that doesn’t require a diesel particulate filter. The engine has also been side-mounted to increase visibility and maintenance access. 14 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

Light enough to carry around jobsite

Honda’s newest generator for the worksite, the EB2800i, features a lightweight, compact design that allows one worker to load and unload it from a truck, as well as carry it around the jobsite to operate a variety of tools. Weighing in at 67 pounds dry, the inverter generator delivers 2,800 watts/120 volts to power such devices as small compressors, air circulation fans, large concrete drills and hand tools. The EB2800i features a run time of five hours, and up to 12 hours in Eco Throttle, on one tank of gas. The generator is fueled by a 2.1-gallon tank. These product introductions are just a few of the many featured regularly on equipmentworld.com.

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machine matters

| by Richard Ries

ARTIC SIZE

HITS PLATEAU With articulated dump trucks now topped out at 60 tons, the focus shifts to smaller, more nimble ADTs

The new John Deere 460E boasts 481 horsepower, a purposebuilt ZF transmission with eight forward and four reverse gears and a high-capacity retarder to increase brake life. On-the-fly differential locks and outboard planetaries keep things moving, while internal wet disc brakes provide stopping power.

16 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

hy has the capacity of articulated dump trucks seemed to have plateaued at the 60-ton level? “It’s simple physics compounded by the conditions in which an ADT typically operates,” says Aaron Kleingartner, marketing manager, Doosan Infracore North America. There are limits imposed by how the load is carried, especially weight shifts and balance as the trucks turns, he adds.

Standard on the Bell B20E are 20.5 R25 earthmoving tires. Fitted with low-profile, extrawide 800/45 R30.5 tires, the B20E LGP (shown) provides low ground pressure for improved performance in poor underfoot conditions such as extreme mud or sand. A Mercedes Benz engine provides 228 gross horsepower to the Allison 3000 Series transmission. Tires are another limiting factor, says Rob Palermo, Volvo Construction Equipment. Tire scrub and sidewall damage are multiplied as payload increases. Could tire manufacturers design and build tires for 80-ton ADTs? Maybe. But, says Palermo, “no one’s asking for bigger trucks, so there’s no real pressure to develop tires to accommodate greater payloads.” He says customers who need big trucks are well served by current offerings. At

The new Cat 730, 730EJ and 735 ADTs have a number of improvements. Among the most noticeable are in the operator’s station. The spinal-ROPS design provides more glass area for improved visibility, and the new automatic climate control system has more vents. A shut-assist feature makes it easier to close the door while also improving sealing against dust.

quarries and pits, for example, “customers are just happy they can use the same 60-ton truck for removal of overburden and the subsequent production process.” Not all ADTs spend their entire lives at one location, as do those at quarries and pits. “Larger projects with condensed deadlines require larger trucks or more trucks or both,” says Frank Nyquist, product marketing manager, quarry products, Komatsu America. “There’s just no way around that. But once the job is done, ADTs get loaded onto trailers and shipped to the next jobsite.” Nyquist says the ease of transporting trucks can be just as big a consideration in model

EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 17

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machine matters

| continued

Operating costs for the new Doosan DA30-5 are lower, thanks to fewer service points, fewer oil types in the driveline and increased intervals for transmission oil changes. The articulation pin is positioned behind the turning ring for equal weight distribution to the front axle even during maximum steer articulating.

choice as the tasks those trucks will be required to perform. “It often comes down to mobility and transportation,” says Scott Thomas, senior product application specialist, Caterpillar. “That’s where it gets difficult to increase capacity.” He says it’s not just the truck that must be transported, but also the loading tool, typically a hydraulic excavator. “Moving an excavator big enough to provide a good pass match with a big ADT is not as easy as moving the truck. This can have a big influence on ADT sizing as both machines must be moved from site to site.”

More in the middle The spotlight has moved from the biggest trucks back to those in the middle. “Our experience is that the shift away from smaller trucks, up to 30 tons, to larger trucks of 40 tons or more has stabilized,” says Robin Pett, product manager, Bell Equipment North America. “While larger trucks can have a cost-per-ton advantage, there are practical limitations to them.” He says some worksites won’t accommodate large trucks. If a site has a set tonnage production for a month and that quota is less than a

fleet of 40-ton trucks would provide, it makes sense to have smaller trucks. The single-rear-axle, dual-wheel design of Bell’s B60E has been adopted for use in the B30E 4x4. “This two-axle machine still has an oscillation joint that keeps all wheels on the ground, allowing the 4x4 drivetrain to do its job,” says Pett. “But the shorter design improves maneuverability and minimizes tire scuff while cornering.”

Cat’s newest models are the 730, the 735 and the ejector-body 730EJ. These will feature the new cab design that debuted in 2017 at ConExpo on the 745. Several features will make the trucks easier to operate, including automatic retarding control, stability assist, hill start, wait brake, assisted hoisting and directional shift protection. Doosan’s newest truck is the DA30-5, which has a new front axle

The 324-horsepower Komatsu HM300-5 offers a fully automatic six-speed transmission with advanced electronics to eliminate shift shock and torque cutoff. The low 9-foot, 2-inch load height pairs well with excavators of 30- to 60-ton capacity and wheel loaders with buckets of 5 to 7.5 cubic yards.

EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 19

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machine matters

| continued

The full-suspension design of the Volvo A45G FS allows higher travel speeds in rough conditions. This is true at all times, but especially when empty where travel speed can be increased from 8 to 32 mph with no loss of comfort or control. The 469-horsepower engine is mated with a fully automatic transmission with nine forward and three reverse gears. to enhance payload and handling performance and includes improvements to the cab and telematics. Much of the focus is on making the trucks easier for less-experienced operators to manage. “The ADT is more like the truck they drove to work,” says Kleingartner. “This is not to say you can walk in off the street and operate the truck efficiently. It still takes years to become a master operator.” Maryanne Graves, ADT product marketing manager, John Deere, says interest remains strong for smaller trucks. Deere’s newest are the 260E and 310E, and sales have been solid. Rigid-frame trucks are better for large sites with improved haul roads, but nothing takes the place of an artic at smaller, tighter sites, according to Graves. Deere says hardware improvements yield a 125 percent increase in retardation capacity and an automatic differential lock that provides both crossaxle and interaxle diff lock options. As for advanced features, “machine health and technology are the hottest areas of growth,” Graves says. The Ultimate Uptime package features John Deere’s WorkSight equipment management program to optimize site operation efficiency and five years of JDLink telematics, machine health prognostics, remote diagnostics and programming capabilities. When selecting which of their two

ADTs to update, Terex Trucks chose the smaller, 30-ton TA300. While the update includes a number of refinements, the biggest change is the inclusion of a ZF EP320 transmission as standard. Terex and ZF worked together to develop the transmission and part of the development process included two years of testing in controlled and real-world environments. The EP320 has eight forward and four reverse gears yielding top travel speeds of 34 mph, up from 31 mph in the previous version. The transmission is also credited with providing a 5 percent increase in fuel efficiency.

Age of specialization The ability of an ADT with all-wheel drive and locking differentials to navigate challenging terrain is useful for more than dump operations. There are upfitters and body builders that will create almost anything for the back of an artic chassis. Some OEMs offer the artic equivalent of a chassiscab and some offer specialty bodies. Caterpillar has the 725C2 and 730C2 available as bare chassis and configured as a water truck, service truck or other. Volvo’s Special Applications Solutions can also configure specialty bodies, and there are several styles of trailers available. Bell sells shortand long-frame ADT chassis cabs and has their VersaTruck program to provide specialty bodies.

ARDCO offers customization of their trucks. The four-wheel, 10-ton AMT 400 and six-wheel, 20-ton AMT 600 are intended to be matched with bodies to meet customers’ needs. Yes, there is the standard dump body, “but we’re not a direct competitor to the 25-plus-ton trucks,” says Tim Niedzwiecki, sales engineering manager. “We do have customers tell us they were looking for smaller ADTs when they found us,” but their niche is specialty trucks. (“AMT” stands for “articulating multipurpose truck.”) ARDCO offers more than a dozen specialty bodies plus technical assistance to customers who want to build their own custom bodies or turn to local fab shops for that task. While some customers buy an AMT with a body that stays on all the time, others swap bodies as needed to increase utilization rates. Typical body weight is 4,000 to 6,000 pounds, so equipment with a lift capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 pounds is all that’s needed. Attachment points and bolt patterns are the same for all bodies; hydraulic and electrical lines use quick-connects. And despite a Spartan appearance, both models have LED exterior lighting and ROPS cabs with climate control, digital gauges, Bluetooth audio and a 68-decibel sound level. Manufacturers are also beginning to offer ADTs with lower ground presEquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 21

machine matters

| continued

Besides a new transmission, the updated TA300 from Terex Trucks features a Scania DC9 Tier 4 Final engine and fully enclosed, oil-cooled, multi-disc brakes at all six wheels. Further braking control is provided by an engine brake and transmission retarder. sure and less disruption and compaction of soil. This can seem counterintuitive since photos from OEMs routinely show their ADTs bravely charging through heinous conditions, often up to their belly pans in muck and mud. But that doesn’t mean it’s the preferred method of operation. Residential and golf course developments and large landscaping projects are among the target markets for these trucks. ARDCO offers several tire choices, including sand tires, and the AMT 600 comes standard with 66 x 43.00 terra tires. The “LGP” in the nomenclature for the Bell B20E LGP is for “low ground pressure.” These trucks are designed for oversize tires. The big tires on standard ADTs have to work within the confines of frame rails, dump cylinders and other components, and upsizing stock tires is usually difficult to impossible.

The one thing Because ADT customers are sophisticated in their purchasing and operation strategies, we asked our sources what one thing they’d offer customers to help them get the most from their articulated dump trucks. Tom Leahy, ARDCO vice president and general manager, says to make the most of the versatility offered by its trucks, “customers need to ana22 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

lyze their applications on an annual basis. What will this truck be doing throughout the year?” While saying U.S. customers are savvy, Pett contends they could still get more value from telematics. “This data can help them reduce idle time, increase uptime and spot areas where the need for additional operator training is indicated,” he says. According to Thomas, the “tendency is to put a warm body in the seat and expect superior results,” when

superior results require superior training. Cat offers three levels of operator training that can be performed by the company or its dealers. And customers need to carry the mindset used in production applications to other places their artics are used, says Kleingartner. “The same thought processes and considerations that maximized efficiency in production settings should be applied in other environments to derive peak value.” Nyquist advises contractors to “step back and consider the whole cycle, from loading to travel to dumping to returning to the loading site.” Completing the maximum number of cycles in a day yields the most production, but a full-throttle style may not be needed for this to happen and only increases costs without yielding a proportional increase in production. Finally, make an effort to correct bad operator habits. “Gaining a half-gallon per hour in fuel efficiency through technology and design can cost millions of dollars,” Palermo adds, “but an aware operator can produce 20 to 30 percent gains in fuel efficiency for only the cost of training.”

The smaller of the two ARDCO models, the AMT 400, has a Cummins QSB6.7 engine rated at 200 horsepower, Dana six-speed powershift transmission with twist shifter, selectable two- or four-wheel drive and automatic limited slip differentials front and rear.

A LONG WAY

TOGETHER

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maintenance management

| staff report

AUTOMATING SHOP PROCESSES 5S/Lean/Kaizen: It will make you better whether you’re managing 2 or 200 employees by Tom Jackson

A clean floor, equipment pressure washed, tools at arm’s length – all signs of a shop benefiting from the efficiency of 5S.

f there is one thing that hurts performance and efficiency in shops today, it’s lack of organization and standardization. Every time someone stumbles over a hose or goes looking for tool or a part, every time a mechanic walks 20 steps to grab something that should be at arm’s length, your shop is falling behind. Multiply that times the number of mechanics you employ and you’re looking at some serious deficiencies, not to mention prolonged equipment downtime.

To counteract the chaos, some shops today are employing the 5S methodology. “5S is part of the bigger picture of Lean manufacturing, and Lean is just copying what Toyota has done with Kaizen,” says Dennis Sowards, a 5S and Lean consultant. “Masaaki Imai, an international Lean guru who wrote the book “Kaizen,” said: ‘If you’re not doing 5S you’re not doing Lean.’” These ideas have helped factories cut waste and streamline processes for the last several decades, and 5S

can be profitably applied to smaller enterprises – including heavy equipment repair and maintenance shops. What’s more, 5S also improves safety, delivers better customer service, establishes a foundation for continuous improvement in the future and helps improve employee morale. EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 25

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The structure 5S stands for five core concepts based on Japanese terms and ideas. A loose English translation of these words is: sort, set in order, sweep, standardize and sustain. There are also seven types of waste identified: overproduction, inventory, waiting, motion, transportation, rework and overprocessing. Let’s break these down in a little more detail. Sort. This is the first step and basically means to get rid of unnecessary tools or materials. Evaluate and then clear work areas of anything not used for the job at hand. Part of sorting is to tag items infrequently used. Sowards says you can use yellow Post-It notes just as well. “If we haven’t used it in a year, and we don’t see a need for it coming up, then tag it,” he says. “It doesn’t mean we throw it away. It just means we’re going to question it, and questioning is healthy.” Set in order. Arrange the tools and materials in a way that makes them close at hand and easy to manage. No walking back and forth to the tool cabinet to find the right wrench. “That’s where you decide where everything goes,” says Sowards. “Where do we put the things that we need the most, so we minimize the time we spend walking to get them?” The rule is, more frequent items are closer in, less frequent items are further away. Use shadow boards, color coding or labeling for tools to make it clear to everybody where everything belongs. Sweep. This means to visually 26 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

Photo courtesy The 5S Store

The beauty of 5S, in addition to its formal structure, is that it enables and encourages solutions to grow from the ground up. “You don’t do 5S to people, you do it with them,” Sowards says. And by letting this happen on purpose you get immediate buy-in. “Most mechanics like to do the work with their hands. They don’t like treasure hunts – walking around looking for things,” he says.

For each process in the shop, changing oil, replacing filters, etc., you should identify the specific tools needed and keep them on a job-specific board that can be moved to where the work is performed. scan the work area to see what is out of place or not organized. It includes cleaning and inspecting and returning everything to its place. This can be an end-of-theday process, but also anytime you change processes. Don’t leave the tools and materials for one process on the bench if they’re not used for the second stage of the process. Also make sure everything is in good working order before putting it back in its place. (Some versions of 5S refer to this as “Shine.”) Standardize. It is the manager’s job to standardize the implementation of the first three “S” practices and ensure compliance. Use photos and visual guides such as labels for tools to make the procedures obvious. Use the same colors and pro-

cesses throughout the shop and put it all in a visual chart on the wall in case anyone has questions. Sustain. The Japanese word for this (shitsuke) means “do without being told.” This means instilling selfdiscipline in the ranks of the mechanics and technicians. “A simple sustain method is the 30-second test,” says Sowards. “Can you find what you need in 30 seconds or less excluding travel time? If not, better organization and labeling is needed.” Part of sustaining is auditing, and this can be as simple as a list of things the mechanics and techs agreed to do and three boxes to check for each item on the list: Have not started, Inprocess, or Done, says Sowards. At the end of the audit, you have a meeting with all your team to show

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028

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Seven wastes Part of figuring out how to streamline shop process is to eliminate what the Japanese call “Muda” or wastes. Ferreting these out is integral to the process. They’re not just mechanical defects, but also procedural defects, process defects, and sometimes they are policy defects. Sowards recommends managers go on a Muda walk. “I tell supervisors to get out of the office and walk around and watch,” he says. “You’re not spying, trying to catch somebody doing something wrong. Go out and watch how the work is done. Observe. At Toyota, they expect all plant managers to go out on the plant floor and watch what’s happening and what’s getting in the way.” The seven types of waste: Overproduction. Producing something sooner, faster or in larger quantities than necessary. Inventory. Too many tools, supplies, parts or finished goods on hand. If you’re not adding value

“

Rework. Any work that has to be repeated or corrected. Overprocessing. Work that has been done beyond the quality required by the customer.

Photo courtesy The 5S Store

progress and needs, says Sowards. “Find out what’s slowing you down. Maybe you need a new rack to put things on or a storage shed in the back of the shop. Then when you reach a higher level, bring in pizza and celebrate. But you keep that self-discipline with the audit.” There are a lot of options for maintenance audit software, but Sowards says filling out and updating a simple Excel spread sheet can serve most shops’ needs. The beauty of Excel (aside from being low cost) is it is flexible and adaptable to most situations. You should also put up a 5S board and post the audit results for all to see, says Sowards. Use beforeand after-photographs as you make improvements, to remind people of what it is supposed to look like.

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Shadow boards leave no doubt where tools belong and when a tool is missing.

with them, it’s wasteful. It is not usually possible to go to zero inventory without incurring the waste of waiting. Seek to reduce inventory down to the necessary or strategic levels and avoid excess. Waiting. This can be people waiting on parts or people waiting on people. Motion. With a repair or process, this is any unnecessary movement of people, parts or machines, what Sowards calls treasure hunts. “The one that happens often in the shop is the movement of people,” Sowards says. “People moving all around. All that time that you’re walking, you’re not adding value. What you do with Lean is to have more value-added time and less of that walking, searching, looking, rework and waste.” Transportation. Unnecessary movement of parts between processes.

First steps There are plenty of consultants who can help you set up and monitor your first journey into 5S, although not many have experience in the heavy equipment maintenance industry, says Sowards. But it’s also possible to do it on your own with reading and research. We’ve listed a number of those resources on page 31. Sowards says it’s best to take it in small bites. “If somebody hires me, I do a four- to six-hour workshop. If you can’t afford four hours at one time, do an hour at a time with an hour of training on what and why first. Then set aside an hour to do sorting and tagging and talking about it.” Also note that although the 5S steps and seven wastes are standardized, the way you and your shop organize things is up to you. How you or your crew set up may be different from a shop on the other side of town. “We all individually have ways we organize things, and it’s fine if it works for you,” says Sowards. “The challenge in the work environment is you have to have a shared way of organizing. You have to have consensus.” Management’s responsibilities Those who know the 5S system emphasize the responsibility management has in the success of 5S. Leaders can’t lead from behind a computer screen all day. This is one of the most important tenants of Kaizen, Lean and 5S. You have to get out from behind the desk and spend time with a dif-

The challenge in the work environment is you have to have a shared way of organizing. You have to have consensus.

”

EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 29

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maintenance Resources for further study: Six-sigma for dummies Not that you’re a dummy, but these books are always good for beginners in any field.

Lean Construction Pocket Guide By Dennis Sowards leanconstructionpocketguide.com A handy size booklet containing a condensed version of 5S and Lean principles that will work in a shop or on a construction site.

5S Made Easy:

A step-by-step guide to implementing and sustaining your 5S program By David Visco the5sstore.com/5s-madeeasy-guide.html

For a deeper dive into the philosophy of Kaizen and all its techniques we recommend the following books and online resources.

Toyota Kata: Managing people for improvement, adaptiveness and superior results by Mike Rother The Toyota Way: 14 management principles from the world’s greatest manufacturer by Jeffrey Liker The 5S store the5sstore.com This online store is a treasure trove of training materials (videos, books, posters) plus many of the things you need to set up a 5S-compliant shop, such as aisle and floor marking tape, tags, labels, shadow boards, kits, bins and containers. The Lean Construction Institute leanconstruction.org The focus here is on field operations, but there’s still plenty of good ideas on managing people and processes that can be applied to a variety of environments.

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ferent employee in their space, on their level, and have a conversation. The context of that conversation doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you’re in the moment. Managers also have to guard against complacency. Over time people start to see things through a narrow lens. They think at a certain point a problem is fixed and does not need further attention. That leads to complacent behaviors and taking things for granted. 5S is the opportunity to continually improve.

Last planner system Sowards also teaches the Last Planner System, a term trademarked by the Lean Construction Institute (see Resources at left). “Contractors who use that system have realized a 30 to 40 percent reduction in budget and schedule,” he says. The Last Planner System focuses on the last person in the planning process, before the work gets done – usually the foreman. “In most construction, the last planner is left out of a lot of the planning and coordinating and just told to get it done, and they get jerked around a lot,” says Sowards. “The idea is to teach the last planner to plan their job better and then give them the opportunity to say no. Otherwise, the foreman’s answer is, ‘Well, I’ll try.’ But he should be empowered to say no or say he can’t do it unless he has confidence he can keep his commitment. We need each work crew to meet the committed schedule, or like dominos, when one fails, it impacts the next work crew. Saying no is more empowering than saying ‘I’ll try.’ That’s not a commitment. Saying no allows for meaningful discussion on why it cannot be done, identifying barriers.” Then there is a measurement process. “The foreman or last planner should say, ‘By the end of the week, I’m going have these five things done.’ And at the end of the week, you score it.” Scoring gives you a percent of planned completed (PPC). You want to be in the 70-80 percent range. “Scoring doesn’t measure productivity, it measures your planning system,” says Sowards. “If you’re not getting the desired percentage, you have to ask yourself why and then you study those reasons why and make sure it doesn’t happen the next time. And what you find often is if you’re not getting stuff done, it’s because you didn’t get it ready. You didn’t anticipate. Hoping the crane shows up rather than guaranteeing the crane shows up.” Dennis Sowards, president Quality Support Services, is an industry consultant and author of the research book “Thinking Lean – Tools for Decreasing Costs and Increasing Profits.” He has more than 30 years of senior level experience in continuous improvement, total quality management, industrial engineering, and management consulting. EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 31

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Excessive humidity can cause “container sweat” and drip condensation on boxes and materials.

SHIPPING CONTAINERS PART 2

Beware: Uncontrolled heat, humidity can damage stored materials

by Preston Ingalls

ou should be aware of two distinct downsides to repurposing shipping containers: heat and humidity. During the Vietnam conflict, shipping containers were repurposed by military units as storage for motor pool parts, aviation components and ammo – the forerunner to their use in construction. In Vietnam, they were commonly known as “sweat boxes” because the heat from the tropical sun would produce dripping condensation inside where the average temperature was 15 degrees hotter than the exterior. While most shipping containers in the United States won’t endure tropi-

cal conditions, the ceilings of many shipping containers will easily reach well over 100 degrees in the summer. The hot metal ceiling causes humidity in the air to begin to condense about 6 inches near the ceiling, which is referred to as the “sweat zone.” Droplets form on the ceiling and upper vertical band of the walls, producing what is commonly called “container rain” or “container sweat.” This level of heat and humidity is too much for a wide range of products and materials (see sidebar). Even without any condensation, elevated humidity over time can cause damage. Many metals will corrode or discolor at a humidity level of 60 per-

Too hot for the box Don’t store the following in a shipping container without climate control: • Bonding agents • Solder • Epoxy and adhesives catalysts • Lubricants (grease and oil) • Hydraulic fluids • Glycols • Paints (aerosol and cans) • Alcohol • Soaps • Water in plastic bottles • Solvents • Gaskets • O-rings • Seals • Belts • Circuit boards • Filters • Semiconductor devices and electronics • Wood and leather items EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 33

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Powered climate control, such as window AC units or the ductless mini-split system shown here, are your best defense against hostile climate conditions.

cent. At higher levels, say above 80 percent, molds can grow, labels peel, and corrugated boxes soften and delaminate. Most of these items should be kept at a temperature of less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 50 to 60 percent. The humidity of the air changes only as a result of the change in temperature. When air cools, it becomes more humid even though the moisture content in the air remains the same. Warm moist air from the outside can also enter into a container through “container breathing.” This is where the container “exhales” as air expands during daytime heating and then “inhales” moist air through leaks and the seals when it cools at night. The temperature does not have to change for this to happen. A good suggestion is to mount a

$10 digital humidity and temperature monitor in the unit. Also, by putting several items in your storage container and examining what happens to them over time, you can determine if you need climate control. For example, oil-filter media may dry and form cracks from heat or excessive cold, or they can become saturated with moisture from humidity. Cork, rubber or silicone seals can become brittle from high temperature and humidity ranges. Some estimate that long-term storage of filters in shipping containers will cut their normal five-year life expectancy in half. Humidity can also cause solder joints on printed circuit boards to become brittle and crack. Chemicals and lubricants begin to separate, like paints and inks. The glue

on furniture joints loses its bond and cracks. Moisture saturation from condensation or constant thermal expansion and contraction from heat has a wearing impact on many components.

Climate control comes in many forms These problems have solutions. A common way to manage condensation is to control the air flow to keep the inside and outside of the container the same, or close to the same, temperature. Remember, temperature differential causes the dewpoint problem. Since the main keys to condensation control are ventilation and/ or dehumidification, let’s look at eight solutions to the problem: 1. Storage container vents Adding two vents at each end of the container provides ample EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 35

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3. Exhaust fans airflow to keep contents dry. Vent Exhaust fans are available in types include fixed, louvered sizes of 10 to 36 inches. They and rooftop turbines. While fixed come standard with fan guards and vents are simple and effective, gravity shutters. Variable speed they can’t alter airflow. Louvered control is an option. vents are more expensive, but 4. Dehumidifier they allow some flexibility over With electricity, dehumidificaairflow. Both can be purchased tion is an option. The addition of online. Nonpowered rooftop tura discharge line makes for efficient bine vents that can be mounted elimination of condensed water anywhere on the roof are the and reduces maintenance and most popular, effective and exinspection. pensive nonpowered ventilation 5. Kitty litter option. An open bag placed at each end 2. Air conditioning units of the container will absorb moisIf you’re using the container ture. It’s inexpensive (a 40-pound for an office or workshop and bag costs around $25) but requires have a power source, consider HVAC, such as a basic window air monthly monitoring and regular replacement based on humidity conditioner. Commercial throughlevel. wall HVAC systems from 1.5 to 5 6. Commercial desiccants tons are primarily used in harsher Products like Container Dri or climates or for specific applicaDampRid can be placed inside the tions when climate control is of VMAC EquipWorld_Sept18_DTM70H.pdf 1 8/15/2018 2:57:35 PM storage container to collect moisture. the utmost importance.

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36 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

As with kitty litter, they require periodic monitoring and replacement. 7. Pole container desiccant Pole desiccants come in different configurations, can absorb up to three times their weight in moisture and trap it as a thick gel that will not spill or drip. Pole variations use calcium-chloride salts to absorb moisture in a gel form that is permanently deposited into a built-in “tank” for evacuation. It requires replacement once the salts are exhausted. 8. Painting the container white Painting the outside of the container white reduces the breathing of the container during a 24-hour heating/cooling cycle by reflecting the sun. As an extra precaution, consider using a zinc paint coating to slow rusting of the underlying steel. Quality zinc paint should contain at least 90 percent dry zinc powder.

8/16/18 8:49 AM

Additional pointers to reduce the temperature and humidity Ways to further reduce the temperature and humidity within the shipping container include: • Place your shipping container in the shade, but not under trees. • Build a roof over the container to reflect the light. • Insulate the internal walls with traditional insulation or spray foam. • Install cross ventilating windows. • Install extractor fans to purge hot air. • Arrange items for better air flow inside the container, such as stacking them off the floor on shelves or clean pallets, and avoid cramming the items tightly together. • Mount a container on ConFoot legs for elevation that inhibits soil reactions and easier moving.

• Regularly monitor humidity with a moisture meter or, better yet, a temp gun (for ceiling temperature measurement). • Set the container on gravel or 6-inch pressure-treated blocks for better air circulation. • Park on high ground to avoid flooding and standing water. • Keep the roof clear of leaves and moss since they trap moisture. • Separate containers by 6 feet for better air flow. • Avoid trees since windy locations allow storage containers to dry out. • Add a roof-mounted, peaked tarp with a 2-foot overhang that avoids roof contact, to slow quick temperature changes. • Keep air vents unblocked.

• Avoid storing anything inside with a high moisture content. • Above all, use common sense and check on your container just like you would check on anything you own. Remember the “doggy rule” when considering storing items in the storage container. If you wouldn’t put your dog in the container with food and water for a prolonged time, don’t store items that would react to the heat and humidity over a prolonged time.

Preston Ingalls consults with construction industry fleets on equipment uptime and cost improvements. He can be reached at www.tbr-strategies.com.

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2:152018 PM 37 EquipmentWorld.com | 4/19/18 September

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HDD product report

| by Don McLoud |

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

HDD technology responds to increasing desire to go underground

With the touch of a button, operators of Toro’s DD2226 can automatically advance through the pipe handling process.

s the ground below us fills with a multitude of cables and pipes and the demand for such infrastructure increases, manufacturers of horizontal directional drills and guidance systems have responded with ever increasing technology to boost job safety, efficiency and profits. Often, advancements in the drills and accompanying apparatus mean advancements in the overall lengths and depths contractors can go in installing some of the world’s most crucial infrastructure. “We’re breaking records in the industry in terms of what we’re able to do,” says Samuel Ariaratnam, construction engineering program chair at Arizona State University. “Up until just a few months ago, the world record for installing a pipe with directional drilling was around 3.3 kilometers. And just recently, this past spring, the Chinese completed twin crossings of 5.2 kilometers. I believe that we are going to continue to break these records.” Ariaratnam expects to soon see projects reach over 6 kilometers (3.8 miles) of pipe installation. “Really, how we’re able to do that is better planning and

better equipment in the directional drilling world,” he says. That technology has also made significant improvements in the rigs for everyday utility installation. Though the drills might not be breaking world records, they’re saving contractors time and money and making the jobsite safer, say experts in the horizontal directional drilling industry. They cite recent advancements in most every aspect of HDD, including guidance systems, automation and fluid recycling. And they see such advancements continuing, especially those that focus on helping contractors meet the challenges of an increasingly crowded underground, a labor shortage, and the always present desire to increase contractors’ efficiency and profits. Some also see promise in recent experiments with “see ahead” technology for obstacle detection, as a way to prevent disasters when drilling underground. “If that can get marketed and available, it would be a huge game changer,” says Ariaratnam. “When you look at the strikes and utility hits, if you can prevent those, it’s major.” EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 39

HDD product report

| continued

Ground penetrating radar Ground penetrating radar has been studied by major drill manufacturers for about 15 years as a way to detect obstacles ahead of the drill. So far, it is not commercially viable in the HDD industry, but some see promise in a recent European study. The study of ORFEUS, which stands for Optimized Radar to Find Every Utility in the Street, tested a prototype system that places radar in the directional drill head and warns the operator of obstacles ahead. The study’s tests occurred in Europe, but the nonprofit Operations Technology Development and the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) conducted a test in California in 2017 and concluded that the ORFEUS system “could be used with all drilling machines with only a few modifications required.” The GTI case study, included in the 2018 Common Ground Alliance technology report, said funding for developments in real-time visualization and an operator warning alarm was being sought. “ORFEUS technology could be commercialized and used by utilities within 2.5 years,” the study said. “Obstacle detection is sort of the Holy Grail,” says Siggi Finnsson, product manager for Digital Control Incorporated. (DCI). “That would be a significant advancement to the industry.” Finnsson says his company, which makes HDD guidance systems, is monitoring ORFEUS’s progress. He says some practical issues still need to be solved, such as getting readouts in a format that a layman can easily understand. “Ground penetrating radar systems as they exist today are not exactly the most user-friendly from a display standpoint,” he says. Finnsson says the cost of the technology would likely need to be reduced to be accepted. Tod Michael, Vermeer product manager of trenchless core products, says Vermeer has been involved in the development of ground penetrating radar.

Subsite has integrated its most advanced guidance display, the Commander 7, to the JT40 drill manufactured by sister company Ditch Witch. 40 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

American Augers uses the latest science in separation shakers on its cleaning systems, like the M-200D shown above, to remove solids from drilling fluid. “Ultimately, we want to be able to recognize utilities are there and stop before you do damage,” he says. “It appears that the technology is improving, but I think we’ve got a ways to go.”

More accurate data Meanwhile, other underground detection devices, such as walkover electronic tracking and guidance systems, have been improving and will continue to do so, HDD industry experts say. Finnsson says the utilities industry wants more accurate data on where utilities are being installed. In response, DCI’s handheld Falcon 5 automatically logs data on where the drill head is located and provides the operator with an above-ground Google Earth-type view as well as the underground path of the bore. The device eliminates the need to keep handwritten log books, a cumbersome process that has the potential for error. The Falcon 5 also tackles the problem of ever-increasing interference from the myriad nearby utilities and electronic devices. The system incorporates close to 1,000 frequencies and helps the operator find the best two frequencies to use on a project. “The innovation is probably going to be more advanced ways of dealing with interference,” Finnsson says. “This is kind of the first new step in dealing with that.” Levi Valdois, Subsite Electronics product manager for HDD guidance, says the new multi-frequency beacons and trackers on HDD guidance systems have allowed for more effective and efficient drilling in tougher work conditions. Subsite has integrated its most advanced guidance display,

HDD product report

| continued

Vermeer’s Series 3 drills, like the D60x90 shown above, have common commands to make it easier for operators to switch from model-to-model. the Commander 7, to the JT40 and AT40 drills manufactured by sister company Ditch Witch. “The Commander 7 guidance display also offers enhanced capabilities to our TK Recon guidance system and is compatible with most mobile devices to deliver vital tracking data to both the drill operator and tracker operator to improve jobsite safety and productivity,” Valdois says.

Responding to the labor shortage HDD technology has also undergone a variety of advance-

ments to deal with the aboveground challenges of a shortage of trained workers. “The guys out there in the field, they’re just looking for a way to get new operators up and running quicker,” says Kevin Conry, Toro senior marketing manager. Toro has integrated its SmartTouch technology to its drills, including the DD2226 model, the first HDD Toro built from the ground-up. With the touch of a button, the operator can advance through the pipe handling process. “The operator doesn’t have to remember all the sequences, steps or switches he would have had to do in the past,” Conry says. Tod Michael, at Vermeer, cites the company’s Series 3 drills’ common control systems as also helping new, as well as veteran, operators. “It is easier to train operators to move from model to model,” he says. “But it also allows for service folk to address issues more common from one model to the next.” Vermeer also reduced noise levels on its drills, making it easier to communicate on the jobsite, reducing opera-

42 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com Untitled-31 1

12/14/17 9:13 AM

tor fatigue and creating less disturbance for those who live and work near the project, he says. Virtual-reality training will also play a bigger role in the future, says Cory Maker, Ditch Witch product manager for drill pipe and fluid management. “Utilizing new technology like VR offers an innovative format to engage with the new tech-savvy generation of drill operators entering the market,” Maker says. “It also offers a new way to help accelerate training of experienced operators – getting them up to speed on new drill advancements and features while keeping them in a safe and risk-free environment.”

“The fluid is a conveyor belt, and you’re using that fluid to export the cuttings from the bore hole to the surface so you can make room for the product you want to install,” he explains. Solids remaining in the fluid can lead to more friction in the drilling process and possibly clogging the hole. That leads to added cost and time for contractors, Levings says. “These cleaning systems have allowed them to be on budget and on time more often than not,” he says.

Liquid efficiency Though not outwardly as exciting as radar and automation, fluid cleaning technology could be considered the unsung hero of the drilling world. “Solids in drilling fluid are evil,” declares Richard Levings, American Augers director of product management. American Augers uses the latest science in separation shakers and the other components of its cleaning systems to remove solids from the fluid so it can re-enter the hole clean.

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WE ARE DEDICATED TO YOUR SUCCESS IN EVERYTHING WE DO. IT’S WHO WE ARE. We know that getting the job done safely, correctly, and profitably is a priority. That is why we offer unrivaled service, technology, and knowledge to drive your success. It is why Roadtec provides you with a level of expertise and training not found anywhere else because that is what you need.

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technology

| by Wayne Grayson |

WayneGrayson@randallreilly.com

A Yuneec Bird

The Yuneec H520 combines intuitive flight controls and easy-to-use automated flight planning for contractors interested in investing in a UAV should consider.

Yuneec’s H520 drone offers impressive blend of autonomy and easy manual flight

t doesn’t take long to figure out that Yuneec’s H520 is more than your average hobbyist drone. Even a quick glance at the aircraft reveals signs of the H520’s intent for serious work: a six-rotor design, retractable landing gear and high-vis orange paint job. Look closer and you’ll spot a 4K camera that packs the largest image sensor available on drones of this size class. The H520 marks the first entry into the commercial drone market for Yuneec, a Chinese company that manufactures all sorts of electric vehicles and aircraft. Founded in 1999 as a model aircraft com-

pany, Yuneec Electric Aviation quickly moved into producing small electric-powered aircraft that are basically one- and two-person powered hang gliders, according to the company’s Wikipedia page. After the company received a $60 million infusion from Intel in 2015, it began making drones. Since then, it has enjoyed some success, with positive reviews of its consumer drones as it attempts to eat away at the market share of fellow Chinese company DJI, which is the dominant player in drones and has a well-established portfolio of aircraft on the industrial side. DJI also recently announced its single

largest order of commercial drones after construction equipment maker Komatsu ordered 1,000 drones running a machine-vision software produced by U.S. startup Skycatch. Though drones have quickly become as ubiquitous a consumer gadget as camcorders once were, the real future of this technology is on the commercial side. One market analysis forecasts the commercial drone market to grow to $17 billion by 2024, and though the prominent commercial application in pop culture is Amazon or UPS package delivery, more jobsites are adopting the technology as well. After spending several months flyEquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 45

technology

| continued ing an H520 Mega bundle Yuneec sent Equipment World to review, we think the H520 should be on your shortlist of aircraft to consider.

The Yuneec H520 “Mega Bundle” sent along to Equipment World for review included two cameras, the ST16 remote control, two batteries, a rugged Pelican case and the H520 itself.

The aircraft Yuneec’s Ryan Kephart says that due to its industrial chops, the H520 is a bit larger than most Yuneec models, but it’s also 40 percent quieter. “You can actually fly this drone on a jobsite and not annoy everybody,” Kephart said, referring to the distinctive, loud whirring many drones produce. Thanks to the drone’s heft and new flight control system, it can withstand winds up to 30 mph. We took the H520 out on several windy days and was impressed by how gusts never seemed to budge the aircraft more than a few inches and was nearly undetectable on the flight’s video footage. The flight motors on the H520 are also more efficient than past Yuneec models, allowing about 30

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minutes of flight time per battery. Speaking of batteries, the H520’s are hot swappable, allowing the drone to return to its launch point once the battery has nearly run down, and then resume its flight after a battery swap without any loss of memory or data. Kephart says the H520 can handle survey missions with up to 500 waypoints. If you’re on waypoint 200 when a battery runs out, the drone will return home, allow you to swap a battery and resume on waypoint 201 as if there were no interruption. The same goes for the cameras. “If you’re doing an inspection and you need to find a possible heat loss, you can equip the thermal camera and identify that key area. But if then you find out that the thermal camera isn’t bringing in enough detail in low light, you can swap in the E90 camera and get a full resolution picture of the area,” Kephart says. The size of a desktop keyboard

and with considerable heft, the ST16 remote control gives you control of the H520 in about every sense of the word. Kephart says the controller is more powerful than those offered on Yuneec’s consumer-focused aircraft and features more powerful radio and Wi-Fi signals, along with a super-bright touch display and a USB port for connecting third-party devices and even charging your smartphone. If you’re more interested in autonomy, the ST16’s 7-inch touch display comes into play. This 7-inch embedded tablet runs on Android and is powered by an Intel processor to provide more power for the heavier processing tasks of flight planning. The tablet runs Yuneec’s DataPilot mission planning software. Most other drones require you to purchase such software separately. With it, you can map out and launch autonomous drone flights all from the tablet.

The E90 is a wide-angle 4K camera capable of capturing cinematic footage. Battery life on the ST16 is only two hours, but Yuneec offers secondary batteries to swap in for longer jobs.

Flight impressions When it comes to piloting the H520, the drone’s large size, premium capabilities and imposing remote

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technology

| continued

good reasons to lean on the flight control even if you’re a seasoned operator. For starters, launching this bird is as easy as pressing up on the left control stick. But once you launch manually, the drone is placed into manual flight mode and you’re essenThe ST16 remote control features an integrated Android tablet tially fending powered by an Intel chip. for yourself in many ways. You’ll have to pay attention to wind control would give any new drone operator pause. However, once you gusts and direction and be careful not to get too close to structures and get your hands on the controller, impediments like trees. piloting the H520 is easy. But if you launch it in auto mode, While you can do everything with the tap of a button on the manually with the H520, you don’t controller’s built-in tablet, the drone have to. In fact, Yuneec gives you

takes off, hovers at about 30 feet and awaits your instruction. All the while it takes care of monitoring gusts and obstacles while essentially letting you tell it where to go. The auto positioning mode lets the operator focus more on the task rather than keeping the drone in the air. For example, for the photos we took of the drone for this article, we initiated an auto takeoff, and the drone hovered completely still exactly where we placed it while taking the shots. Despite a few gentle gusts, the drone never left the spot. This is especially useful for inspections. We ran a few test missions sending the drone to areas around a house that a contractor or home inspector might want a closer look at without climbing a ladder. The combination of the close zoom of the E50 camera and the drone’s ability to hover in one spot made the task easy. The H520 and Yuneec’s DataPilot

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software also make planning surveying and waypoint missions simple. For survey missions, you simply stretch a green outline over the area you want surveyed inside DataPilot. The software, either running on your computer or on the drone’s controller, then figures out how to fly the route while you enter in how high you want the mission flown, among other details. With the tap of a button, the mission plan is uploaded into the drone, and you’re able to start with a swipe. The H520 takes off, flies the mission and lands.

Conclusion Though you can find a good drone for as little as $500, you won’t find any at that price point with the performance, durability and intuitive design Yuneec has given the H520. Prices start at $2,000 for the H520 only and go up to $4,700 for a wellequipped bundle that includes a thermal imaging camera.

The H520 in flight.

It’s worth noting, however, that many commercial drones have much higher price tags and don’t offer nearly the level of approachability as the H520.

There’s a level of polish to this drone that makes it a joy to operate, and a level of design that will give you confidence in just about any condition.

EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 49

road technology

| by Joy Powell |

JoyPowell@randallreilly.com

In an industry first, MnDOT switches to full intelligent compaction to build highways

uring this construction season, the Minnesota Department of Transportation began requiring intelligent compaction (IC) and paver-mounted thermal profiling (PMTP) on all highway projects that are four linear lane miles or more. Minnesota began phasing in the technologies in 2014, and this year, it became the first and only state to fully implement IC and PMTP. With full deployment just getting off the ground this spring, it’s too soon to do a true cost-benefit analysis, says Rebecca Embacher, advanced materials and technology engineer for MnDOT.

50 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

But the technology is no doubt proving successful, she says. “Increased uniformity in surface mat temperatures and compaction efforts should translate into improved performance and increased longevity of our roads,” she says. Embacher says this technology is one way to combat the workmanship issues that result in future pavement performance issues. Many studies identify workmanship issues as one of the causes of pavement performance issues, according to Embacher. For instance, the Vermont Agency of Transportation reported that, on average, 80 percent of pavement stress performance issues are related to workmanship issues. “Both IC and PMTP provide 100-percent coverage and

real-time feedback in the field,” she continues. “Additionally, the information collected by these systems can also be reviewed, near real-time, from other locations, such as on a computer back at the office.” IC enables more consistent and efficient compaction for soil subgrade, granular sub-base and asphalt pavements by using rollers equipped with measuring devices. There’s also better night vision, as Equipment World reported in its July issue. Typically, IC uses an accelerometer-based measurement system (for steel drum rollers), high-precision global positioning system, thermal sensors (or cameras) and an onboard data acquisition system that displays a real-time color-coded map of roller passes, asphalt surface temperatures and intelligent compaction measurement values (ICMV). The ICMV values are related to the stiffness of the compacted materials, which are influenced by underlying layers, material types, gradations and more. Many IC applications now incorporate cloud computing and mapping, which enhance data management. DOTs around the country are watching Minnesota’s IC program with interest, and a handful of states – including Texas, California, Oregon and Ohio – are implementing IC on a limited basis. In California, for example, Caltrans has pilot projects under way. “Caltrans began conducting pilot projects in 2014 to

determine the feasibility of using intelligent compaction,” says Mark Dinger, a Caltrans spokesman. “We chose to evaluate projects with at least 10,000 tons of hot mix asphalt and selected ‘cold in place’ recycling projects. Since then, we have started or completed 114 projects.” The goals of Caltrans’ pilot projects also include evaluating the functionality of equipment and software, as well as investigating potential cost savings and future applications, Dinger says. In Missouri, the state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) executed a yearlong project throughout 2017 to demonstrate the use of intelligent compaction, paver mounted thermal profiling and MnDOT’s Veta software to improve pavement construction operations. (More on Veta software later.) Because of the success of the projects, MoDOT says it has committed to fully implementing IC by 2021. “Using IC in the field gave us a better level of confidence that the mat was being rolled properly,” says Bill Stone, research administrator at MoDOT. “This way, we get a much better view of how the pavement is being placed and compacted compared to the old way of testing cores here and there.” As of early 2018, at least 33 states had committed to advancing IC technologies. The Federal Highway

Rebecca Embacher, MnDOT

Brent Carron, Valley Paving

Intelligent compaction is used on multiple brands of rollers on I-94 in Minneapolis. EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 51

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road technology

| continued Four IC breakdown rollers compact a new lift of bituminous on I-94 in Minneapolis.

Administration has partnered with the Associated General Contractors of America, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association and the Asphalt Institute to advance IC technology.

Minnesota contractors embracing IC “I think it’s only going to grow,” says Brent Carron, vice president of Valley Paving in Shakopee, Minnesota, located 25 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Carron is a member of the Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association, which works closely with MnDOT as a partner on IC. “MnDOT is just the first step,” Carron says. “There are a lot of counties that are looking at getting into intelligent compaction and thermal scanners. There are also a few cities that are looking at it where it might make sense on a job.” As a contractor, Carron helped pioneer the use of IC in Minnesota. In 2011, his company headed a project using intelligent compaction on a stretch of Interstate 35 between the cities of North Branch and Wyoming on the Twin Cities’ northern fringe. “MnDOT was looking at getting into this,” Carron recounts, “and they wanted to test it out, so they put out a supplemental agreement for us to purchase the IC equipment for rollers and to build a model and use it on that job.” Back then, this meant his crew

faced a few extra chores, including some that seemed more nuisance than help, such as uploading data at day’s end in an era before hotspots were readily available. So Carron rallied his workers, telling them: “Either we get on the train now and we get ahead of the game, or we sit back and wait for everyone else to do it and then we’re behind. We took the initiative to jump on these projects right away, to get in to learn IC, to understand it and to actually use it as a tool rather than as a requirement.” At first, even emailing the data was a challenge due to the file size limitations. Another problem: trying to connect the IC systems to local ground base stations for coordinate corrections. “It’s evolved so much. Now we just tap into the cloud and the GPS and satellites,” Carron says. “It’s come a long way.” Buying the equipment is expensive, he notes, adding that MnDOT takes those costs into account in the bidding process by including a line item for “quality management” and “quality management special.” Contractors have an opportunity to include these costs in their bids. But is MnDOT recouping its money by paying for this bid item? “It’s about $35,000 for a roller,” Carron says, “and if you’ve got eight rollers, that adds up pretty quickly.” Beyond the $35,000 per unit, the data subscriptions, much like those

on a cellphone, cost around $1,000 to $1,500 per year per unit, according to Carron. Then once you gather the data, you have to review it. “You have to employ personnel who can actually go in, grab that data and put it into MnDOT’s Veta intelligent construction data management software. I think they spent over a million dollars putting this software together so that they can collect this data, and they can overlay this data on top of roads and they can keep track of this.” Using Veta software is a requirement in the AASHTO PP80 “Standard Practice for Continuous Thermal Profile of Asphalt Mixture Construction” and AASHTO PP81 “Standard Practice for Intelligent Compaction Technology for Embankment and Asphalt Pavement Applications IC Specifications.” Increasingly, it’s being adopted by state transportation departments. Veta is a map-based tool for viewing and analyzing geospatial data. Developed by the Transtec Group, it is funded by MnDOT and other agencies through a pooled FHWA fund initiative for data management, viewing, analysis and reporting of geospatial data sets such as IC and PMTP. It allows users to import and analyze IC and PMTP data from various manufacturers and serves as an important element in IC and PMTP standardization, as well as pavermounted thermal profiles. “We didn’t want to move forward EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 53

road technology

| continued

IC rollers compact 98,000 tons of bituminous placed on I-94 in Minneapolis. with full deployment right away with the intelligent compaction and thermal profiling technology because there is a learning curve for everybody both on the state side and the contractor side,” says Embacher. Instead, MnDOT has gradually increased the number of projects that require the technology.

More makers in the wings At least 10 compaction equipment manufacturers offer intelligent compaction. Vendors include Ammann/Case, BOMAG, Caterpillar, Dynapac, Sakai, Volvo Construction Equipment and Wirtgen-Hamm. Trimble, Topcon and MOBA are among the companies that provide IC systems. In August 2018, Germany-based machine automation company MOBA visited Carron’s company for two weeks and put some of its IC testing units on Valley Paving’s rollers. The objective: to see how MOBA’s data collection works with the company’s rollers compared to the system that Valley Paving is currently running, says Carron. Carron expects more manufacturers to get on board. “What that means is that the MnDOT software has got to be able to talk to all of these other manufacturers, not just one or two,” he says. 54 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

Wirtgen will soon release a new thermal camera technology called RoadScan in the U.S. market. It has a temperature sensor that sits on the back of the paver and keeps track of the temperature of asphalt as it’s coming out of the paver. The system was introduced at the Intermat trade show in April this year. This sensor can be hooked up to a system that records the temperature of the asphalt, and it allows roller operators to get on the asphalt at its optimum temperature.

States slowly mandating thermal cameras Thermal cameras on asphalt pavers are now mandated in job specifications in at least 14 states, including Minnesota. Various paver manufacturers are coming out with thermal cameras, with the cost averaging $35,000 to $45,000. Expect to see more of this thermal imaging coming on the market, says Jim Holland, vice president of Vögele, a Wirtgen brand. Holland says DOTs are starting to ask for thermal imaging and contractors want to make sure that their machines can use it. “We’ve been asked how difficult is it to add RoadScan. It’s not difficult at all, really. It’s a plug-and-play option right now,”

he says. “The ultimate goal is that it will be a dealer-add option.”

Incentives/disincentives In Minnesota’s IC program, incentives and disincentives are monetary. IC helps Valley Paving avoid disincentives, says Carron. “That right there is a bigger dollar figure than the incentive.” Carron also hopes he can use IC to recruit young people who might be attracted by the computer aspect, as well as train new employees. “I’ve got to give a shout-out to Rebecca that MnDOT has taken this on. They’ve spent the money. They’ve developed Veta,” says Carron. “States are looking for MnDOT to share the Veta program,” he continues. “Rebecca’s done a lot to get this 100 percent implemented on top of making sure that contractors will buy into it.” Embacher has indeed been one of the leaders in the whole IC industry, agrees Tim Kowalski, application support manager for Wirtgen America. “A lot of people look to her to answer a lot of questions that people have with IC,” Kowalksi says. “With IC, what’s good in Minnesota is good everywhere else,” Kowalski adds.

quick data

| by Marcia Gruver Doyle |

Wheel Loaders

MGruver@randallreilly.com

A snapshot of new and used sales trends from RandallReillyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EDA equipment financing data and TopBid auction price service.

Year-over-year change* NEW: UP 2%

Auctions

USED: DOWN 6%

Wheel loader auction prices, July 2017-July 2018

*Comparison of number of wheel loaders financed Jul. 1, 2017 to Jun. 31, 2018, and Jul. 1, 2016 to Jun. 30, 2017. Source: EDA, edadata.com

$83,000 $82,000

High: $80,055, Jan. 2018

$81,000 $80,000

1-year average: $

$79,000

Top three states for wheel loader buyers*

74,454

$78,000 $77,000

New

$76,000 $75,000 $74,000 $73,000

Low: $67,706, Aug. 2017

In July, the average price for the top 10 models of wheel loaders sold at auction was 3 percent above the average price for these machines sold in July 2017, and 2 percent below the one-year average of $74,454.

$72,000 $71,000 $70,000 $69,000 $68,000 $67,000 $66,000

Jul.

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Current: $72,926,

May

Jun.

Jul.

PRICE

2017 2018 Trend prices for the top 10 models of wheel loaders sold at auction, not seasonally adjusted.

300,000

OTHER TOP BID:

255,000

619

Texas

500

California

378

State

# of buyers

Texas

629

Florida

358

New York

337

Top financed new wheel loader*

Top auction price paid for two 2017 Cat 966Ms with 398 and 397 hours at an Alex Lyon & Son Auctioneers sale on Feb. 8, 2018, in Kissimmee, Florida.

# of buyers

Florida

Used

July 2018

Apr.

State

2014 Cat 980M, 7,451 hours, Ritchie Bros., Apr. 25, 2018, in Minneapolis.

,96 $ 104

HIGH

0 0 0 , $ 25

AVERAGE

Aug. 1, 2017 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jul. 30, 2018; prices for above-100-horsepower wheel loaders 5 years old and newer, U.S. sales only. Only includes bids $5,000 and above. Source: TopBid, topbid.com

LOW

Final bids unit count: 465

,00 $300

Cat 938M, 345 units

Near tie with New

Wheel loader new, used financed sales trends, 2008-2017* 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

Used low: 2009, 5,600 units

Used

New high: 2015, 8,740 units

New low: 2009, 2,449 units

UNITS 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 *Financed equipment, 2008-2017, number of units sold by sale or lease. Source: EDA, edadata.com

Komatsu WA270-8, 344 units

Top financed used machine* Deere 544K, 316 units

Used high: 2016, 7,779 units

2015

2016

2017

*In terms of number of new and used financed units sold Jul. 1, 2017 to Jun. 31, 2018. Source: EDA, edadata.com (Note: EDA reports are continually updated.) EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 55

Solid Earth Civil Constructors, our 2018 Contractor of the Year, has a great story. So do you. One way to make sure it gets told is to become one of our 2019 Contractor of the Year finalists. equipmentworld.com | May 2018

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2018 CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR

Solid Earth Civil Constructors

Don and Rae Peters are leveraging technology and the next generation to propel their company into the future

Our Contractor of the Year program honors the forward thinkers, high achievers and just plain good people in construction. These are the construction companies that get the job done right, on time and within budget. Their clients sing their praises, their vendors wish all clients were like them, and their workforce is dedicated and loyal. Sound like your company? Then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect candidate to become one of our 12 Contractor of the Year finalist firms in 2019. Our finalist will be invited to an expenses-paid Contractor of the Year celebration at the Encore/ Wynn Resort Las Vegas in March.

Interested? To get started, visit EWcontractoroftheyear.com.

Sponsored by:

contractor of the year

| by Joy Powell |

JoyPowell@randallreilly.com

Kurt Unnerstall donated equipment and time to regrade fields, build a football practice field and build a new regulation-sized football field at St. Francis Borgia Regional Catholic High School.

Kurt Unnerstall, K.J. Unnerstall Construction City, State: Washington, Missouri Year Started: 2001 Number of 30 employees: Annual revenue: $8 million $10 million Markets served: Roads/bridges, utility piping, demolition, site work, earthwork, concrete

Contractor Kurt Unnerstall relies on hard work – and good works – for his success

ontractor Kurt Unnerstall hails from Washington, Missouri, a historic river town about 50 miles west of St. Louis with rolling hills, steamy summers and bountiful clay deposits. That clay spurred many of the town’s German settlers, who began arriving in the 1830s, to build kilns

for firing bricks. Their red bricks would later play a role in Unnerstall’s start in the work world. His ancestors were among the 12 Catholic families who pioneered Washington. “There were actually three brick yards back in the 1800s that made brick here in town. And Washington used to have the name of

‘Little Brick Town’ because every building was made out of brick,” says Unnerstall. He holds a civil engineering degree and is a developer, as well as a contractor. Unnerstall valueengineers projects to cut costs for property owners. That includes saving a developer $250,000 on a subdivision and the state of MisEquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 57

contractor of the year |

continued

Kurt Unnerstall’s many projects include subdivisions, utility and street projects. souri a half-million dollars on a highway project. Unnerstall was the youngest of eight kids born to Julia and Elmer Unnerstall, an oil jobber. They had grown up during the Great Depression and impressed upon him the value of working hard. “I always say that was the greatest gift from my parents because I’m not scared to work, I’m not afraid to put in the time,” he says. When he was 12, Unnerstall and two buddies spent a summer cleaning 25,000 bricks – for 2 cents apiece. They used a hatchet to tap off mortar from the soft, centuryold bricks. Kurt’s older brother wrapped and palletized the recycled bricks for 20 cents. That began decades of work by Unnerstall, 54, to help build his community and its tax base. K.J. Unnerstall Construction (KJU) has developed subdivisions for all incomes and ages. The company has built roads, bridges, buildings, lakes and performed site development, utility work and demolition. In addition, KJU’s concrete division 58 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

installs curbs and gutters, sidewalks and slabs. “We’re a full-service site contractor, so we can take a project from the ground up – the earth work, roll right into the utility work – and if they need any lane widening, street tie-in construction work, we can do that,” Unnerstall says. Sal Maniaci, community and economic development director for the city of Washington, says that with estimated construction costs and secondary developments that branched off, Unnerstall’s projects have generated at least $100 million for the regional economy, with much of that benefiting the city. “There really are five subdivisions in the community of Washington that wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for Kurt Unnerstall,” says his wife, Michelle. “That’s really a legacy. Even after he’s gone, those will still be here.” Unnerstall’s first job out of University of Missouri-Rolla (currently named Missouri University of Science and Technology) at 22 was consulting and designing roadways and wastewater

treatment plants for O’Brien & Gere. At 25, he joined Sverdrup & Parcel, working in 25 states in seven years. His epiphany came at age 32 when a snowstorm delayed him at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, making him miss his kids’ Christmas play. “I decided that was a turning point, that I need to shift gears and find an avenue that keeps me close to home.” So, he went to work for an area contractor who mentored him on the local construction market over the next four years before Unnerstall struck out on his own. “I started my own company with two men and one excavator,” Unnerstall says. He rented a Caterpillar wheel loader for their first job, demolishing a milk tank company on an 8-acre site, then doing site work for a new doctors’ building. One of his first subdivisions was Stone Crest, a high-end residential subdivision started in 1999 on 140 acres of farmland the couple bought. It’s nearly built out now with 240 homes. “We grade the land and do the wa-

ter, sewer, storm drainage and streets, and then we sell the lots and let the custom builders build,” explains Unnerstall. Because he’s a civil engineer, he does road layout and design of the lots. The roads curve past a centerpiece lake with a fountain. Houses are set in rolling hills, many with walkout basements. “We try to work with the land instead of knocking it flat,” he says. Being diversified and keeping up a current, sizable fleet and quality equipment, including the latest technology, has kept KJU competitive with less downtime. “We invested early in GPS technology when it first came out, and we try to stay current,” he says. “We do all computer modeling for the site work. That’s helped keep us productive.” Unnerstall says his dedicated employees “are worth their weight in gold” and, equipped with advanced equipment, kept his company working through the recession.

Making a difference When making business decisions for his construction firm, Unnerstall keeps in mind it’s not only for his family but for all the employees’ families who also count on him. “One of the things I am proud about is I am feeding 64 kids, not just my six kids,” he says. At St. Francis Borgia Regional Catholic High School in Washington – where kids used to hold football practice in a swampy area – KJU donated equipment and time to regrade fields and build a regulationsized football field as part of a new sports complex. “Kurt donated all his services to them for a new football field and track,” notes subcontractor Dwayne Hellebusch. “He did the construction management all for free.” Unnerstall’s first mentor, his dad, Elmer, had always told him, “Whatever you give to others, you get

services that have made otherwise back tenfold.” So, Unnerstall does impossible projects become posgood works quietly, such as when he turned a big, rough ravine into a sible for our small organization.” Unnerstall says considering he parking lot for Elks Lodge No. 1559 has plenty of work in his little pond and donated the clean fill. of Washington and neighboring Or when for a major church projUnion, and also in the bigger pond ect, KJU was paid for labor and costs, of St. Louis an hour away, he sees but donated back its profit, roughly no need to travel further for work. $50,000, collecting only 1 cent. “Our motto is we try to stay as Mark S. Vincent, president of close to home as possible,” he says. Missouri Pathfinders, tells of KJU’s “We don’t need to go any further. A contributions to Veterans Memorial Park in Union, a multi-use park that lot of construction companies will go wherever and chase big projects. recognizes the sacrifices made by That’s just not what we do. We stay disabled military veterans. KJU did site grading, concrete work, parking close to home and try to swim in both ponds.” lots and underground drainage and irrigation. Vincent says that when KJU was hired, Unnerstall promised “that he would not profit on the sacrifices of disabled veterans. He promised to donate back to the organization the difference between the amount of his bid and his actual cost. Kurt Unnerstall confers with his daughter, Andrea Mr. Unnerstall Straatmann, a civil engineer and project manager, at came through as their business. promised, donating $24,000 to the project.” And Bill Schuck, president of a nonprofit that provides therapeutic horseback riding to people with special needs, says, “Kurt and his company have provided us with free Kurt Unnerstall calls John Hellman (left) “my number one employee. He’s been with me from the start.” and discounted EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 59

heavy trucks

| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

Cummins recalls record 500K trucks, engines for faulty emissions device

alling it the largest voluntary recall of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in history, the EPA has announced that nearly 500,000 Cummins diesel engines and trucks powered by those engines with model years of 2010 to 2015 have a defective part that causes excessive emissions of nitrogen oxides. The EPA noted: “The problem Cummins is acting to correct is the result of a defective part and does not involve a defeat device,” referring to the type of device Volkswagen used to cheat on emissions tests in a highly publicized 2015 scandal. The problem was discovered through government oversight programs that test vehicles for emissions compliance throughout their lives. In its quarterly earnings conference call July 31, Cummins Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger said the issue is isolated to 2010-2015

60 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

model-year engines and that the company has set aside $181 million for repairs of those engines’ exhaust aftertreatment systems. “We’ve reached agreements with the appropriate regulatory agencies regarding our proposed actions, and we will launch that campaign in phases starting in the third quarter this year and expect to substantially complete the campaign by the end of 2020,” he said. “This issue does not affect any of our current products.” Cummins will contact owners with instructions about how and when to get their trucks repaired, and owners should contact Cummins for details about the affected products and recall schedule, the EPA said. The recalled engines are equipped with selective catalytic reduction systems (SCR), which reduce to near zero exhaust emissions of NOx, one of the main

components of smog. EPA regulations required heavy-duty trucks to cut NOx emissions starting in 2010, prompting most manufacturers to switch to SCR systems for their diesel engines. The EPA said the SCR catalysts replaced through the recall were found to be less durable than required, degrading within a few years instead of controlling NOx pollution for the full useful life of the vehicle – which is 185,000 miles or 10 years for medium duty, and 435,000 miles or 10 years for heavy duty. According to Cummins spokesman Jon Mills, the first phase of the recall will be of certain families of 2010-2013 ISX12 and ISX15 heavyduty engines. The second phase, with customer notification beginning in March 2019, will include certain families of 2010-2014 ISL9, ISC8.3 and ISB6.7 medium-duty engines, Mills said. Cummins agreed to conduct the voluntary recall and replace the catalysts after the company’s own testing validated the results. An earlier recall involving about 232,000 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks will bring the total number of vehicles affected to about 770,000. That recall cost Ram parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles $200 million and led FCA to sue Cummins for $60 million. Cummins countersued, and later, both companies faced a class-action lawsuit in federal court over the recall. The class-action suit was thrown out in April and amended in May. –Wayne Grayson, James Jaillet and Tom Quimby contributed to this report.

highway contractor

| by Joy Powell |

JoyPowell@randallreilly.com

Powering up with a new era of light towers

ontractors are choosing LED bulbs – and moving away from metal halide lights – more quickly than anticipated, say manufacturers of light towers. The result is brighter nighttime jobsites with more even light coverage. And now, manufacturers are developing more efficient floodlights, by combining them with new energy systems such as lithium batteries. Atlas Copco, for example, is developing an energyefficient, lithium-battery-powered light tower. LED lights continue to grow in popularity because they offer about 50,000 hours of service life. Engineered with instant-on/off capability, the lights come on at full brightness almost instantly and can be turned off quickly, cooling immediately. For example, Doosan Portable Power’s new compact LCV light towers use LED lights, says Todd

Howe, product manager for lights and generators. The newest models – the LCV6 and LCV8 – have a 52-gallon diesel fuel tank with the longest runtime in the industry for greater overall productivity. The LCV6 is six kilowatts; the LCV8 is 8 kilowatts. “The LED lighting is extremely fuel efficient, which extends the runtime of the unit in between fueling up to four days of continuous operation,” Howe says. “The lighting is glare-free, which makes it perfect for use at roadsides where the protection of drivers going by is important.” This heavy-duty unit, which offers good on- and off-road towability, is frequently used in road construction, other infrastructure projects and rental applications, Howe says. At World of Concrete, Atlas Copco launched three new electric plugand-light LED light towers to the U.S. market.

Generac MLT4060MVD

Geared for construction and roadwork, the HiLight V2+ and HiLight V3+ are on a four-wheel trailer for ease of transportation. Both compact models come with a heavyduty steel frame, stainless-steel mast and polyethylene bumpers. “Our new HiLight towers are designed to help workers experience a brighter, safer environment that will enhance their productivity,” says Angel Nieto, Atlas Copco product manager of power and light. The HiLight P2+, V2+ and V3+ light towers can be powered from an auxiliary power source, a portable generator or the grid. The HiLight V2+ offers a 320watt LED light source that covers 21,528 square feet. The HiLight V3+ is equipped with four 160-watt LED bulbs with specially designed directional glass optics capable of illuminating an area of up to 32,292 square feet. Both the V2+ and V3+ have manually operated vertical masts EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 61

highway contractor

| continued that extend up to 18 feet. The towers are designed to withstand wind speeds up to 51 mph, the company says. Suitable for almost any application, the HiLight P2+ features the same special lighting optic as the HiLight V2+. The floodlight provides 360-degree coverage across a 21,528-square-foot illumination area, which is a much greater area compared to traditional balloon style light towers, according to Atlas Copco. The light source is housed within a weatherproof cylindrical polyethylene housing with built-in cooling for no burnout and a longer operating lifetime. The housing does not require air pressure or complicated mechanisms to operate. The entire HiLight P2+ assembly weighs just 99 pounds, yet is strong enough to withstand wind speeds up to 32 mph. The manually elevated vertical mast provides a maximum operating height of 11 feet. The LED lamps on all three new models are expected to last more than 30,000 hours.

LED lighting: high rental return on invested capital. This year, Genie, a Terex brand, unveiled its RL-4 LED gas-powered light tower as a fully featured, towable, self-powered model with clean, quiet operation. It delivers precision lighting performance rivaling the diesel, metal halide units, the company says. A 3,500-watt generator powers the four LED lights, and it also leaves about 2,000 watts of â&#x20AC;&#x153;convenience powerâ&#x20AC;? for tools, accessories, peripherals, or even two more LED light towers, according to Adam Hailey of Genie. The light tower is compact enough for 17 of them to fit on a truck, a key selling point to rental operations, Hailey says. It runs for 80 hours on a single tank of fuel and has an efficient, low-maintenance gas invertor generator, he adds. Another option for maximum worksite lighting is the gas-powered Genie Terex AL-5 HT, which features a hydraulic articulating tower with the option for up to 8,000 watts of light. Josh Taylor, Genie product manager, Terex AWP, says that Atlas Copco HiLight V3+ Light Tower durable, reli62 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

able and cost-effective LED lighting is now available in North American rental markets. “Thanks to the LED light modules’ extended lifespans, lower energy consumption and lower maintenance requirements, this type of light tower is in high demand to use on construction sites, as well as in nontraditional rental applications,” Taylor says. “And it is competitively priced against traditional units, so our customers will get all the benefits of this innovative technology while also realizing a high rental return on invested capital.” At the American Rental Association Show in New Orleans this past February, Chicago Pneumatic Power Technique (CP) featured an LED light tower designed to last and be easily transported in urban construction, road construction and other work areas. The CPLT E3 LED electric light tower joins a growing LED light tower lineup, including the CPLT P2, CPLT V2 and CPLT V3. It has exceptional plug-and-light capabilities, the company says, by connecting to any external power supply; up to three CPLT E3 LEDs can be daisychained together. The four 160-watt LED bulbs have an expected lifespan of 30,000 hours and cover more than 32,000 square feet. Its heavy-duty mast can be raised to 23 feet.

Delivering energy efficiency Generac Mobile Products officials say engineering the next generation of light

Wacker Neuson LBA 110M light balloon

towers is all about delivering energy efficiency while ensuring durability in extreme conditions. The Generac Magnum MLT6 series compact mobile light towers provide low maintenance and reliable lighting, the company says. Large fuel capacity and the 750-hour service interval mean more uptime and lower labor costs. The new, improved MLT6SMD LED light tower now provides more than twice the luminosity than metal halide bulbs. Designed to deliver bright and even light coverage, the new LED fixtures outperform metal halide bulbs in durability, longevity and efficiency, allowing for an extended runtime of up to 205 hours. The company’s MLT4060MVD light tower, designed for extreme or remote jobsites, is engineered to deliver longlasting lighting with minimum power consumption. The MLT4060MVD comes with four Generac 240 W LED light fixtures and an extended-run ECOSpeed engine. The variable-speed engine can be easily controlled on multiple speed settings, creating better fuel efficiency, and provides up to 580 hours of runtime, company officials say. A temperature management system is built into the ECOSpeed engine design to keep the engine running smoothly while managing loads in temperatures ranging from 40 below zero to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Generac says it wanted to build a light tower that was easy to operate

Atlas Copco HiLight P2+ LED Light Tower EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 63

highway contractor and refuel and would function well in extreme conditions. Longer service intervals, another key for customers, will benefit rental businesses especially. The Generac Magnum Power Zone Autolight Controller features automatic start/stop and dusk-todawn photo sensor operation. The four 240 W LED light fixtures featured on the MLT4060MVD are waterproof, durable and create energy efficient light that consumes minimal power. Atop a mast with a maximum height of 23 feet, the light fixtures have a combined total output of 88,000 lumens. The tower also offers a rust-resistant, powder-coated aluminum enclosure, 359-degree mast rotation and an extended 750-hour service interval. Larson Electronics has just released a 60-watt adjustable pole LED lighting solution for use in rugged and outdoor operations, and it’s waterproof as well as vapor proof. The two-lamp LED fixture emits 10,800 lumens of high

| continued output illumination. A telescoping pole mount can be adjusted between 3 to 8 1/2 feet on this light, the TPM-2XWP60E-25C. The adjustable pole features a pneumatic braking system preventing unexpected or sudden collapsing, so if an operator chooses to mount heavier fixtures, the pole will slide down slowly and gently once the locking tabs are released, the company says. “It provides the elevated illumination benefits of having a light mast but without the actual mast, making setup and takedown simple and fast,” says Larson CEO Rob Bresnahan in a press release.

Light balloons useful for night highway work Wacker Neuson’s offerings include not only a selection of light towers and mobile generators, but also the LBA 110M light balloon, which diffuses light and is particularly useful for night highway construction. It can be quickly and easily attached to a paver, for example. The light balloon has a simple construction, with a light point height

Doosan Portable Power’s LCV6 and LCV8 light towers feature a smallbody design and vertical mast that extends up to 23 feet. A new clamshellstyle canopy, made of highly durable composite material, is lightweight for easy access to internal components during regular maintenance.

Genie Terex promotes its RL-4 LED gas-powered light as remote-starting with 50,000 hours of life. It has four 230-watt lights. 64 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

of 16.4 feet. The elliptical-shaped map shade, with the 1000-watt metal halide lamp, emits maximum brightness with no glare. And that, Wacker Neuson says, makes it ideal for road work, special events, concrete pours and general jobsite illumination. The LBA 110M is a fully functional light balloon constructed from a special foldable, durable material. It doesn’t need to be blown up, and it’s held open by metal supports. In addition, the Wacker Neuson LBS 110M model is a single-step mechanical balloon setup that increases uptime and eliminates noisy fans for inflation. A single 1,000watt metal halide lamp is securely fastened in the socket to prevent damage during transport.

snow attachments

| by DonMcLoud |

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

Reversible rubber edge

Catâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Straight Push Plow features a rubber edge, and no trip, for moving snow without damaging the surface. The bolt-on rubber edge is also reversible. The specially profiled moldboard rolls and folds snow for consistently full loads, the company says. The bolt-on skid shoes adjust the height of the edge and maintain a constant depth. The plow mounts to Cat skid steers, compact track loaders, multi-terrain loaders and compact wheel loaders and is available in widths of 8, 10 and 12 feet.

Throw snow high and wide

The HDV heavy-duty V-plow from SnowEx is designed to throw snow at a high, wide angle. It has tall, flared wings and an integrated snow catcher that keeps snow from spilling over the top of the blades. Double-acting angle cylinders push and pull the wings forward and back when plowing and hold them firmly in place when back dragging. The HDV is also designed with flared moldboards that are reinforced by two angled power ribs. The plow comes in blade widths of 8.5 or 9.5 feet and in either powder-coated mild steel or stainless steel.

Protect landscaping from de-icing material

Boss Snowplowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Exact Path drop spreader protects grass and landscaping when de-icing sidewalks by precisely applying material. The spreader fits UTVs, compact/sidewalk vehicles and tractors and comes in three mounting options. It features a stainless-steel hopper and frame and a polyethylene cover to keep materials dry and flowing. An eight-position adjustable feed-gate lever allows the operator to adjust material flow without tools. The top screen has a bag splitter that makes it easy to open bags, and it filters the de-icing material. EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 65

snow attachments

| continued

Scrape and squeegee snow

The Fusion Edge Sno Pusher by Pro-Tech Manufacturing and Distribution allows operators to both squeegee wet heavy snow and scrape hard-packed snow, thanks to its combination steel and rubber cutting edge. Steel is infused into both sides of the edge, so when one side is worn, the edge can be flipped to continue plowing. The Fusion Edge can run for 350 to 500 hours of heavy use before it needs to be replaced, the company says. Its Pro-Float Coupler floats vertically, horizontally and oscillates, which allows the edge to contour to surface changes.

All hydraulic blower for wheel loaders

HitchDoc now has a fully hydraulic snow blower for small wheel loaders with hydrostatic drive. The HDS9200 blower operates off the loaders’ hydraulics and has no external engine, gearboxes or shear pins. The operator monitors machine flow capacity and rate of travel with an in-cab digital display. The blower has a cutting width of 9 feet. Its extendable truck-loading spout rotates 270 degrees. The fan housing also rotates left or right for side discharge. It comes in models with 40 or 50 gallons per minute of flow and with various quick coupler designs.

Remove snow or light dirt

John Deere Snow Utility V-Blades offer four hydraulic angles for a variety of snow clearing tasks and light dirt work on roads, trails and jobsites. Designed for Deere’s and competitors’ skid steers, compact track loaders and compact wheel loaders, the BV6, BV8 and BV9 models can be configured straight for making larger cuts; in a “V” for pushing through hard-pack; as a scoop (both sides inward) for snow stacking; and 30-degree right or left positioning for precise snow or dirt moving. Their electrohydraulic valve for independent blade function can be controlled from the cab. 66 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

Push, drag and plow with one device

The Fox VersaPlow allows operators to push, back drag and plow with a single unit. The attachment for skid steers and compact loaders combines the functions of a box-style containment pusher, a back-drag containment box and a conventional snowplow. Operators can change the plowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s configuration via hydraulic controls. It is available in 8- and 10-foot-wide blades and with a steel trip edge or urethane resilient-edge. It is designed for retail parking lots, apartments, municipal campuses and industrial areas.

Efficiently move lots of snow

The I Series SnowLogix line of snow blowers from Loftness are designed to efficiently move large amounts of snow. They are available in widths of 9 and 10 feet and with two or three augers. They are made for large tractors with tall tires and feature 16-inch-diameter augers and extra-large, 36-inch-diameter fans. Other features include chain drive, oversized gearbox, large bearings and thick steel construction. The standard hydraulically adjustable spout has a 14-inch diameter and can rotate 270 degrees.

Clear 22 tractor-trailer roofs per hour

The SnowEdge mounts on a telehandler or wheel loader and gently glides over the roof of a tractor trailer to remove snow and ice, helping haulers comply with state safety laws. It was invented by Canadian business owner Mark Irwin and is being manufactured and distributed by Rockland Manufacturing. The SnowEdge has three preset working positions that allow operators to clean, on average, 22 trailers per hour, Rockland says. A visible gauge ensures the proper amount of down pressure is being applied to the trailer roof. No hydraulics are involved.

EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 67

safety watch

| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

Illustration by Don Lomax

A bump and a fall

he victim was 73 years old, semiretired and had worked part time for the contractor for 17 years. On the day of the accident, he and a coworker were filling in and compacting soil on a housing development site. The coworker brought in loads of dirt in a dump truck, and the victim spread the dirt with a dozer and then switched to a roller to compact it. Late in the afternoon, the coworker left the site for another load of dirt. When he returned, he found the victim lying motionless on the ground and the roller several hundred yards away stalled out against a tree at the edge of the site. The coworker contacted his supervisor and then called 911. Emergency personnel responded, but the medical examiner determined the victim had been run over by the roller and died of blunt force injuries to the Date of safety talk: Attending:

68 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

head and torso. Accident investigators believe the victim fell from the open cab while the roller was in reverse. The seat belt was functional but unfastened and retracted. The contractor required all operators to wear seat belts and the victim was known to do so. Investigators think he may have undone his seat belt, stood up and leaned out of the cab to get a better view behind the machine. Evidence suggests the roller hit the side of a berm causing the victim to fall.

How this accident could have been prevented: • Require all operators and drivers to wear seat belts anytime a key is in the ignition of a machine or truck. • Consider purchasing equipment with a safety interlock system that disables the machine anytime the operator is not seated

Leader:

at the controls or the seat belt is not fastened. • Consider purchasing or retrofitting equipment with rearview cameras, so operators can see behind them without having to get out of their seat. Many of today’s Tier 4 Final machines have large exhaust emissions components that raise the height of the engine, obscuring rear visibility. • Avoid having operators working alone on a site. A second person should be used as a spotter when visibility is limited or difficult. • Be cognizant of the limitations of older operators who may become forgetful or take things – like safety – for granted because they’ve been doing the job for so long. For more information on this accident see: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Face/Files/HeavyEquipmentOperatorRunOver.pdf

_____________________

| por Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

El impacto y la caída

a víctima era un hombre casi jubilado de 73 años de edad que venía trabajando para el contratista por tiempo parcial durante los últimos 17 años. El día del accidente, él y un compañero de cuadrilla se encontraban llenando y compactando tierra en un área destinada a desarrollo residencial. El compañero traía las cargas de tierra en un camión de vuelco y la víctima esparcía la tierra con una motoniveladora antes de pasar a un tractor de rodillo para compactarla. Ya avanzada la tarde, el compañero dejó el área para traer otra carga de tierra. Al volver encontró a la víctima acostada e inmóvil sobre la tierra, mientras el tractor de rodillo estaba a varios cientos de yardas obstruido en su ruta por un árbol al borde del área de trabajo. El colega contactó a su supervisor y luego llamó al 911. El personal de emergencia se hizo presente, pero el examinador médico determinó que la víctima había sido aplastada por el tractor de rodillo y que había muerto debido a heridas causadas en la cabeza y el torso por la fuerza del impacto. Los investigadores de accidentes creen que la víctima cayó de la cabina abierta de la máquina mientras iba en reversa. El cinturón de la compactadora de rodillo estaba operativo pero recogido y desabrochado. La firma contratista requería que todos los operadores usaran sus cinturones de seguridad y la víctima era conocida por usarlos. Los investigadores piensan que el hombre pudo haberse soltado el cinturón de seguridad, ponerse de pie y haberse inclinado hacia fuera de la cabina para tener una mejor vista de lo que estaba detrás de la máquina. La evidencia en el lugar sugiere que la máquina golpeó el lado de una berma haciendo que la víctima se cayera.

Cómo pudo haberse prevenido este accidente: • Requiera que todos los operadores y conductores Fecha de la charla de seguridad: Asistentes:

Illustration por Don Lomax

alerta de seguridad

utilicen los cinturones de seguridad siempre que la llave esté insertada en el arranque de maquinarias o camiones. • Considere la compra de equipos con un sistema de seguridad interconectado que apague la máquina cada vez que el operador no está sentado en los controles o el cinturón de seguridad no está abrochado. • Considere la compra o la instalación en la maquinaria de cámaras para reversa, para que los operadores puedan ver detrás de ellos sin tener que abandonar sus asientos. Muchas de las maquinarias modernas del llamado Tier 4 Final tienen enormes componentes para el control de emisiones en el escape que elevan la altura de la máquina, obstaculizando la visibilidad hacia la parte trasera. • Evite tener operadores trabajando solos en un área de trabajo. Una segunda persona debería usarse como vigilante cuando la visibilidad es limitada o difícil. • Tenga claras las limitaciones de los operadores de edad más avanzada, que podrían ser olvidadizos o tomar las cosas por sentado – como la seguridad – porque vienen haciendo el trabajo por tanto tiempo. Para más información (solo disponible en inglés) sobre este accidente, visite: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Face/Files/ HeavyEquipmentOperatorRunOver.pdf

Líder: EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 69

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EquipmentWorld.com | September 2018 73

final word | by Tom Jackson

TJackson@randallreilly.com

I don’t want to say I told you so… …but I told you so. Last month the EPA released a study that found that ethanol in our gasoline is an environmental disaster. I used to bang this drum loudly, especially after ethanol helped rot out the fuel pump on my motorcycle. Nobody seemed to care. The report noted: • The acreage devoted to growing corn for ethanol had a negative impact on wildlife. • Air quality deteriorated because burning ethanol blends creates more NOx and smog than nonblended gasoline. • The runoff of fertilizer used to grow the corn contributes to substantial algal blooms downstream. • The much promised, highly touted source of ethanol from switchgrass and other less chemical- and land-intensive plants has failed to materialize. And while this wasn’t in the report, the price of food, particularly beef, has skyrocketed, since the introduction of the Renewable Fuels Act in 2005. A T-bone steak costs $15 in the grocery store now. They used to go for $7. In all fairness, there was one good reason for blending ethanol in gasoline. It replaced methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as an “oxygenate” to aid in combustion after MTBE was found to be a source of groundwater pollution. Oxygenates are supposed to result in cleaner combustion, but the new EPA report throws even that excuse into question. There are literally thousands of reasons against using ethanol – whole books could be written about this. So where do we go from here? Is this the

74 September 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com

model for all public policy into perpetuity? Can one take some sketchy science, promote it with corporate money, fly a few false flags for the environmental groups and create laws that harm the environment and line the pockets of entrenched special interest groups with taxpayer money forever? President Trump, whom one might hope would come out in support of legislation favoring the average working American, said in July his administration was close to granting a waiver to allow the sale of E15 blends, gasoline with 15 percent ethanol. Right now, E10 is the legal limit. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute has warned that E15 could cause substantial power loss and overheating problems for chainsaws, weed wackers, concrete saws and other hand-held, gas-powered equipment. I can hardly wait. “Government is simply the name we give to the things we choose to do together,” said several famous Democrats a few years ago. So…since E10 is a government mandate, does anybody want to come to my house this weekend and together we can watch as I spill gasoline on the driveway from one of my broken, nonfunctioning EPA-compliant gas cans? How about we blast off on my Harley, knowing in the back of our minds as we scream down an insanely crowded interstate that the fuel pump could seize up at any minute? Or how about we ride to the coast and dip our toes in those algal blooms caused by the fertilizer runoff from all those Midwest cornfields? I thought not. But don’t say I didn’t tell you so.

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Liebherr Wheel Loaders L 526 - L 546 for industrial applications Waste applications demand a machine that is custom-engineered for the job, with wastespecific guarding to protect key components from debris. Our range of wheel loaders are powerful, offer smooth operation and can be configured with optional parallel linkage for industrial operations. And like the rest of our loaders, the Liebherr-Power-Efficiency (LPE) System adjusts the power to the job for fuel savings of up to 25 percent - so you handle more, faster. Find your dealer at liebherr.us/dealers-emt. Liebherr USA Co. Construction Equipment Division 4100 Chestnut Avenue Newport News, VA 23607 Phone: +1 757 245 5251 E-mail: Construction.USA@liebherr.com www.facebook.com/LiebherrConstruction www.liebherr.us