November 2008

A New Breed of Equipment

Building a Workforce

Equipment Online

Doosan Throws Down Fuel Consumption Gauntlet

Saving Shoring

In The News

A New Breed of Equipment
Wacker Neuson’s Compact Equipment Lineup Inhabits the U.S.

While skid steer loaders and dump trucks are the traditional species of equipment on jobsites, different productivity breeds — the compact wheel loader and dumper — are inhabiting more jobsites. Along with the compact excavator, there’s a new trio of dig, load and carry machines that make up the new Wacker Neuson lineup of compact equipment.

“It’s a good time to invest in our future,” said Jay Baudhuin, Wacker Neuson Compact Equipment Product Manager. “Wacker Neuson has a history of using slow economic times to help the business grow for the future. The company’s business model has built-in parameters to weather an economic storm. During this slow economic time, it is a good opportunity for Wacker Neuson to start a slow methodical introduction of our products and capabilities to the dealers and contractors. We are using this time to ensure that our distribution and support functions are properly set up.”

The most interesting of the lineup are the three dumpers that range in payload capacities from 2,205 to 13,228 lbs. Wacker Neuson’s model 1001 is the mini-dumper of the line that delivers big machine performance. With a payload of 2,205 lbs, it has great jobsite maneuverability and mobility. Its hydrostatic permanent four-wheel drive is excellent for rough terrain applications.

The Wacker Neuson model 3001 is a mid-range dumper for bigger jobs that will haul a payload of 6,614 lbs. It features hydrostatic permanent four-wheel drive, which makes it operator friendly with no gears to shift or clutches to operate. The model 6001 is the biggest and most powerful unit to be offered — hauling a massive 13,227 lbs. It is powered by an 86.6-hp Deutz diesel engine and features massive box sections that are extremely well balanced, even when operating at full capacity.

“The dumper lends itself to many typical jobsites and tasks,” said Baudhuin. “A few of these are moving and placing concrete, backfilling trenches, and moving sand around a golf course to place in bunkers.”

The new line of wheel loaders includes four articulated units and two all-wheel-steer machines with standard bucket capacities of 0.26 to 1.1 cu yd.

A broad lineup of five new compact excavators rounds out the compact equipment offering. The new excavators range in size from 1.4 to 8 metric tons and feature models that include everything from a mini-sized unit to units with powerful, high-output engines, as well as zero tail-swing models for great performance in the tightest confines. Independent boom swing, increased flow hydraulic systems, rubber tracks, dozer blades and a control pattern selection are standard on all models.
The Wacker Neuson 1404 is a 1.4-ton machine with a maximum digging depth of 7 ft, 4 in. Powered by an economical Yanmar four-cylinder, 32-hp diesel engine, the 3503 is a 3.5-ton unit with a maximum digging depth of 10 ft, 7 in. The Wacker Neuson 38Z3 is a 3.5-ton unit that features true zero tail swing with a tail that stays within the tracks.

Also a zero tail swing machine, the 5-ton 50Z3 offers a 48-hp diesel engine and a maximum digging depth of 11 ft, 6 in. The Wacker Neuson 8003 short tail swing compact excavator is the largest and most powerful in the new lineup. Its an 8-ton machine powered by an economical Yanmar four-cylinder, 69.5-hp diesel engine and is available with a full cab work platform with air conditioning. The 8003 has a maximum digging depth of 14 ft, 1 in.

To support its new line of equipment, Wacker Neuson has its crews on the road.

“We have a Regional Product Specialist and Metro Jobsite Specialist that will go out to contractors and dealers to demo our equipment,” said Baudhuin.

“As contractors see and use this equipment they go to their dealers and request our products. Wacker Neuson was one of the first companies to take this campaign of building awareness and demand directly to the contractor and pull the sale through the dealer channel.”

Building a Workforce
The Construction Industry Fights the Future Worker Shortage

Skilled backhoe loader operators will be in high demand come 2012. With Case as a sponsor, Build Your Future aims to increase awareness of the rewarding construction industry careers.

The time for baby boomers to graduate to retirement is quickly approaching and there aren’t enough Generation Y’ers to take their places in the construction industry. Within 10 years, the construction industry is looking at massive worker shortages, especially skilled workers. To combat this, the 2008 Build Your Future campaign has enlisted the help of its sponsors — Case Construction Equipment, Caterpillar and Industry Specialty Contractors (ISC), to name a few.

This national education and recruitment program increases awareness of the rewarding careers available in the construction industry. The campaign is a project of the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), a not-for-profit education foundation committed to developing industry-driven craft training programs and helping address workforce shortage issues in the construction industry.

“Through our sponsorship of the Build Your Future campaign and our involvement in similar causes, Case supports the next generation of construction industry professionals who will build America’s roads, bridges, schools, homes and infrastructure,” said Jim Hasler, Vice President of Case Construction Equipment.

Case also supports the Chicago Children’s Museum’s “Skyline Exhibit,” which illustrates the use of technology in the construction industry and engages future engineers, architects and equipment operators in hands-on construction project work.

The Build Your Future campaign included Careers in Construction Week, which took place Oct. 13-17. Careers in Construction Week was designed to increase public awareness of the contributions of America’s construction professionals and increase student interest in pursuing careers in construction. Schools, contractors and local organizations partnered to host construction career events and programs during the week. These events allowed students and contractors to speak directly to each other about employment opportunities.

The Build Your Future campaign also includes a comprehensive career Web site (www.careers.nccer.org) where students can post resumes and search online for jobs in the construction industry.

This site receives approximately three million hits each year.

Equipment Online
Ditchin’ the Classifieds for Used Equipment

From trailers to excavators, Ditch-WitchUsed.com’s inventory of used equipment is constantly being updated by dealers.

It reaches to the furthest outskirts of equipment users and the darkest jobsite corners. The Internet connects anyone, anywhere, and Ditch Witch has now harnessed the power of the World Wide Web and bestowed it on its users through the launch of DitchWitchUsed.com. The site allows Ditch Witch dealers to upload their used inventory into the database and have the listings automatically display — making it a one-stop shop for quality, used Ditch Witch equipment.

Internet customers can easily search on DitchWitchUsed.com for used equipment by manufacturer, model, category, year of manufacture, price and location.

“The evolution of our partnership with Ditch Witch is representative of our continued commitment to providing equipment dealers cutting-edge Internet solutions designed to increase exposure and ultimately, sales,” said Jennie Davis, OEM Relationship Manager at Equipment Web Services (EWS). “I am confident that all Ditch Witch customers will benefit from using this tool.”

This new venture between EWS and the Ditch Witch organization will be an interactive online solution for customers to find used Ditch Witch equipment at the click of a button.

“We’re excited to offer this new service to our customers,” added Shan Kirtley, Ditch Witch Director of Sales and Marketing. “Since all equipment is offered only through Ditch Witch dealers, customers can be sure their used equipment purchase is backed by local service and support.”

Doosan Throws Down Fuel Consumption Gauntlet
Utility Contractors Need Fuel Savings Badly

Got a new Doosan? Put it through its paces, record the fuel usage, send it to Doosan and make a cool $2,000. Easy money.

Between rising fuel costs and fewer jobs, contractors are teetering on the edge of unprofitability. Any advantage over the competing bid is welcomed. While many manufacturers are claiming machine efficiency, Doosan is making its point in cold, hard cash. Doosan Infracore America is so confident that it can help customers cut fuel consumption costs that the company has issued a first-in-the-industry challenge: Put Doosan equipment up against any comparable machine under similar operating conditions and track the data. Send that information to Doosan and receive $2,000. It’s the Doosan Fuel Duel (www.doosanfuelduel.com)

The goal: Make it clear that Doosan is the smart choice for equipment that gets the job done — and a smart choice for customers worried about operating cost effectively. Doosan’s fuel challenge is slated to run from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 for new Doosan loaders and excavators purchased during that time period. According to the program rules, to qualify for the $2,000 award:

• These new machines can be compared to any comparable equipment already owned by the customer (including older Doosan models and all DX and DL models).
• The customer must currently own the comparable machine (rental or loaned equipment is not eligible).
• It must be comparable in size to the Doosan machine and be Tier III compliant.
• The configuration (boom and bucket, shear, hammer, etc.) and application of use must be similar.
• All customer fuel data must be recorded via the Doosan Data Worksheet available for download at www.doosanfuelduel.com. Data for fuel consumption must be gathered over 30 full operating shifts.
• The customer must submit all fuel data via the Doosan Fuel Consumption Guarantee Web site (www.doosanfuelduel.com) or to Doosan via fax directly to 770-831-0905.
• The customer’s fuel consumption data will be validated and the $2,000 gift card will be sent in six to eight weeks.

“Lots of manufacturers boast about their machines’ fuel efficiency. They take out ads and produce all kinds of impressive sounding numbers. But we’re skipping the fluff and backing up our claims with cash,” said Chris Neville, General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Doosan Infracore America.

Among the many costs of owning and operating equipment, fuel costs have become the most immediate and largest daily out-of-pocket expense. While the total cost of ownership should be considered, in many cases that can be nebulous and savings can be difficult to quantify. Doosan believes that providing products that are fuel efficient and immediately cutting the amount of fuel used on the job are benefits that its equipment can deliver for an instant positive impact on the bottom line.
The data from hands-on operators will add another dimension to Doosan’s ability to evaluate and address what customers are facing on jobsites under varied conditions. That understanding could lead to new products and support services or refinements to standard practices such as maintenance schedules.

Saving Shoring
Efficency Production Inc. Launches Trench Shield Repair Program

With steel prices rising, the repair and reuse of trench shields is a welcome costsaving to busy utility contractors thanks to Effi ciency Production Inc.’s Trench Shield Repair and Recertifi cation Service.

While trench shields and shores protect your workers, what protects your shoring? Knowing the rough-and-tumble jobsites trench shields frequent, Efficiency Production Inc. has introduced its Trench Shield Repair and Recertification Service. The program aims to repair and recertify used or damaged trench shields by repairing the shield’s damaged components and then recertifying the trench shield with new OSHA compliant, P.E. certified manufacturer’s tabulated data, including new depth ratings.

“With steel prices soaring and no relief in sight, Efficiency wants to provide the underground utility industry with a cost-effective alternative to purchasing new equipment,” explains Ken Forsberg, President of Efficiency Production. “Even though some used trench shields are beyond repair, many can be repaired and recertified at an affordable cost.”

Efficiency Production is the first manufacturer of trench shielding and shoring to launch a trench shield repair and recertification service and will include other manufacturer’s trench shields, shoring or support equipment like bedding boxes.
Here is how the Trench Shield Repair and Recertification Service works:

Step 1: Contractor contacts Efficiency or local distributor for a trench shield repair information form.

Step 2: Contractor completes form and attaches detailed photos of the used or damaged trench shield(s) and sends it to Efficiency.

Step 3: Efficiency contacts the contractor for a consultation about the shield(s), including their opinion on whether the shield(s) is repairable.

Step 4: The contractor ships the trench shield(s) to Efficiency Production.

Step 5: Efficiency’s engineers inspect the shield(s) and conduct a structural analysis.

Step 6: Efficiency provides a quote to the contractor.

Step 7: Efficiency repairs the trench shield’s broken or damaged components, including top tubes (stringers), end tubes, spreader pipe collars, knife-edges and punctured skin plate.

Step 8: If desired, Efficiency will retrofit older shields to current Efficiency specs, including adding triple vertical tube collar posts (4 in. sidewall or larger), thru-wall welded reinforced collars, double tube top rail and reinforcing ½-in. bar stock to top rail.

Step 9: Trench shield(s) are repainted and then stamped with new OSHA compliant, P.E. certified manufacturer’s tabulated data.

Step 10: Efficiency provides final invoice and arranges for shipping trench shield back to contractor.
Steel trench shields are not the only trench safety and support equipment included in the new repair and recertification service. Efficiency Production will refurbish all types of trench shielding, shoring and support equipment, including:

• Slide rail system components such as steel posts and panels.
  
• Aluminum trench shields such as XLAP, aluminum modular Build-A-Box components such as panels, corner posts and Corru-Lite (corrugated aluminum panel) shields.
  
• Hydraulic vertical shores, hydraulic walers and hydraulic aluminum trench shields.
  
• Stone Mizer bedding material container.

DPL Teams with OneBeacon Insurance To thwart plots of equipment theft, DPL America has developed an initiative with OneBeacon Insurance that will allow OneBeacon policyholders to purchase DPL America’s Titan Equipment Monitoring System at a discount. This collaboration with OneBeacon offers the insurer’s customers powerful theft protection and security for their equipment, which in turn significantly reduces the risk and likelihood of loss. A unique GPS-based asset tracking technology built specifically for the demanding environment of the construction industry, the TITAN equipment monitoring system enables equipment owners or insurers to instantly locate and remotely shut down stolen equipment online. Additionally, the system immobilizes equipment at a predefined curfew window and emits a silent, real-time alarm if a start attempt occurs or the asset is moved. The silent alarms contact an unlimited number of people via mobile phone and e-mail. “Over 50 percent of equipment losses in the construction industry are due to theft,” said Tony Nicoletti, Director of North American Sales for DPL America. “So, by reducing that factor via the TITAN system, we can help reduce the loss exposure significantly for both the equipment owner and the insurer.” Don Keahon, OneBeacon’s National Inland Marine Manager, said, “A critical element in managing our policyholders’ risks is helping them avoid losses in the first place. By teaming up with companies like DPL America, we can offer our contracting customers the added comfort of a proven, reliable solution for protecting their equipment.” Cat Engine Bio Caterpillar approved the use of B20 biodiesel — 20 percent dilution of biodiesel with standard diesel — across its range of compact and mid-range engines including the C0.5 through C2.2 Tier 4 Interim (11 to 66 hp), the C4.4, C4.4 ACERT and C6.6 ACERT (72 to 275 hp) Tier 3/Stage IIIA compliant engines. Addition of these engines to the B20 approved product line follows successful testing of higher percentage blended fuels in a number of installations. Results of those tests indicate trouble-free operation. Biodiesel used in B20 blends must meet the current version of ASTM D6751 or EN14214. The final B20 blend should meet the minimum requirements of the upcoming ASTM specification for B5-B20 blends. “These engines join the previously B30 approved C7 ACERT through C32 ACERT and our 3400 and 3500 Series,” said Caterpillar Industrial Engine Marketing Manager Mike Reinhart. “Biodiesel that meets industry quality standards can be good for the environment and for our customers.”