Bauma Overcomes Adversity of Icelandic Volcanoes

Erupting days before the opening of the construction industry’s (if not the world’s) largest trade show — Bauma, held every three years in Munich, German — the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano left thousands of travelers stranded in airports, unable to attend the show or man booths. But the volcanic fury didn’t stop Utility Contractor’s Managing Editor Keith Gribbins from braving travel through the volcanic ash cloud to be the only American publication represented at the international show.

Gribbins sent back invaluable updates straight from the trade show floor and we’ve compiled them over the next couple of pages. So sit back UC reader and revel in the exclusive industry news.

Caterpillar Meets Tier 4 Interim Standards with the 336E Excavator

Engine emissions were all the rage at Bauma, and the new Caterpillar 336E excavator stood out amongst the Tier buzz. It’s the first Caterpillar machine to meet Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 Interim emissions standards.
In addition to meeting Tier 4 Interim emissions requirements, the 336E also meets all applicable sound-level and safety regulations, including the International Standards Organization (ISO) requirements for visibility.

Caterpillar’s Tier 4 Interim engine technology includes state-of-the-art integrated system design built upon the success of the company’s ACERT technology. Additional technologies, including powertrain innovation and after-treatment devices, will be specifically tailored and applied to products to provide maximum value to customers while meeting the stringent emission requirements mandated by law.

“While the details have not yet been finalized, price actions associated with recovering the costs of Tier 4 Interim for our machines in the 130-560 kilowatt power range may increase prices by as much as 12 percent over our Tier 4 Interim introduction time frame,” Caterpillar Group President Stu Levenick stated in a recent press release. “We anticipate the first increase, starting January 1, 2011, to be about one-third of the 12 percent increase. Pricing for commercial engine applications such as electric power, industrial and petroleum will vary depending on product and power range. We plan to initiate broad-based emissions related price actions also starting January 1, 2011, for all products, including those utilizing transitional provisions.”

JCB Unveils 11 New Machines

JCB unleashed 11 new machines during its press conference at Bauma, including its most efficient backhoe loader to date and the industry’s smallest telehandler.

The 515-40 telehandler can fit through doorways or low building heights that often prove to be obstacles for other machines. The 515-40 gives shovel performance comparable to a skid steer or wheeled loading shovel. Plus, individual hydraulic wheel motors and four-wheel steer equals superb movement in the face of tight corners, pillars and narrow doorways.

Where ground conditions may vary, four-wheel drive and good ground clearance help operators cope with challenging terrain. Add a hydrostatic transmission for easy operation, infinite speed variations and better fuel efficiency, and you have the winning formula for versatile performance and productivity.

The other feature that sets the 515-40 apart from its competitors is comfort. Thanks to the chassis design, there is no compromise on cab size to achieve the 1.8 m height. So the interior is spacious with superb visibility.

The stable-type door allows you to shut out unpleasant conditions, or open up the top half for a little fresh air while still protecting the operator from mud and debris. Optional air conditioning or face level fan further enhance operator comfort. And the cab itself, with side, low-level entry, also means the 515-40 is a safer machine.

The backhoe loader offers customers average fuel savings ranging from 6 to 16 percent at typical daily work rates. This new feat is largely achieved through the introduction of a new EcoDig system incorporating three hydraulic pumps.

Users will be hit immediately by the striking new design of the machine, which exudes ruggedness and strength, thanks to a re-styled counterweight and new vertical grille pressings. The sharper lines on the excavator and loader profiles contribute to the robust look, while the sloping bonnet retains excellent forward visibility.

LiuGong Showcases 12 Machines, New Skid Steer

Not just content with being one of the world’s largest wheel loader manufacturer, LiuGong has smooshed the productivity of its large material mover into the small frame of its new skid steer — one of 12 new machines launched at Bauma.

The 365A skid steer is a line expansion of LiuGong’s popular model 375 skid steer that has been in the market for almost three years. Easy to own and operate, the 365A skid steer is a highly-durable machine capable of withstanding the rigors of tough operating environments.

LiuGong, winner of China’s top quality award in 2008, fully supports its customers with a worldwide dealer network with locations in nearly every country and eight parts depots with continual service expansion.

“At LiuGong, we design reliability and durability into the features our customers need most, and we avoid add-on features such as extensive digital circuitry that have challenges surviving in the rugged environments our customers face,” said Li Haibo, LiuGong Product Specialist of Compact Machinery. “As a result, LiuGong’s equipment is recognized as easy to maintain and easy to repair.”

A simple, well-designed instrument panel gives critical information at a glance, and the machine’s servo-assist control system is straightforward, proven technology. It is easy to use, giving very precise control along with excellent reliability.
The Yanmar 4TNV98 engine is quiet, reliable, has low fuel consumption, excellent torque and a long service life. The 365A engine is EPA Tier III/Euro Stage III compliant. To support LiuGong’s commitment to customers to provide simple, productive machines, LiuGong also offers a Tier 2 version.

Three New Hitachi Compact Wheel Loaders

The UC media crew was treated to a look at three new Hitachi Construction Equipment compact wheel loaders and a personal tour by Peter Stuijt, HCME Product Manager Construction and Utility Equipment. While the event was officially held at Hitachi’s outdoor booth, the actual press conference was held inside on the second floor of its gigantic and swanky outdoor booth. But the most impressive sight was the new compact ZW wheel loaders.

The ZW65, ZW75 and ZW95 are comfortable, reliable and suitable for a wide range of applications, including road and general construction, material handling, waste management, agriculture and short-term rental fleets. The dynamic design is a result of in-depth research into a full range of key functions and the increasing demands on the versatility of compact machinery. Like all Hitachi ZW wheel loaders, the ZW65, ZW75 and ZW95 offer benefits of better performance, ultimate comfort and safety and reduced running costs.

The limited slip differential enhances grip on uneven and difficult terrain. Extensive research by Hitachi engineers into the ZW wheel loaders’ center of gravity has helped to secure the overall balance, so that excellent stability is maintained during operation. The rear axle oscillation angle has also been designed to improve the machines’ stability when travelling on uneven ground.

Although compact, the ZW65, ZW75 and ZW95 have relatively large loading capacities. This minimizes the repetition of loading and lifting, which enhances productivity and efficiency. In addition, the two-cylinder steering system contributes to smooth and precise operation. A cylinder is installed on both sides of the machine, ensuring balanced steering.

The quick coupler — compatible with a wide range of attachments — also contributes to the versatility of the ZW models. The new Z-bar loader linkage has significantly improved the operator’s view of the attachment during operation, which enhances safety and efficiency on the jobsite. This also improves the smooth, parallel lifting movement of the fork, and allows the bucket to be tilted at a 90-degree angle so the machines can perform ground-finishing work.

Terex Gives Corporate Updates, Preview of New Skid Steer

Ron DeFeo, chairman and CEO of Terex, was unable to make the show due to the aforementioned volcano eruption, so he spoke to the group via speaker phone along with a group of Terex specialists.

The big news was that Terex plans to launch a new product line in Q4 2010, four new skid steers (with four more slated for early next year). George Ellis, Terex President of Construction, noted these new skid steers would be born of both ASV track loader and other Terex wheeled machine DNA to the make the ultimate skid steer mongrel.

The company discussed many other things — especially its company strategy over the last year and into the future. First off, Terex is a company that had revenues of $8 billion in 2008 and in 2009 that revenue had dropped to $4 billion, half of its peak growth achievements of two years ago.

While Terex has grown with acquisitions over the years, (40 since 2002, including the ASV compact track loader line in 2008), it recently cut down its subsidiaries, selling off its mid range Atlas excavators, power buggies lines and profitable mining business (and hey folks, mining is one of the few segments doing well in this economy).

But it is all strategy, said DeFeo via speaker phone. The company is securing cash liquidity with these divestments, structuring the company to be a global niche player in various product segments and restructuring debt. The company has cut costs internally, improving its Terex business system to grow, and in 2010, the company is manufacturing to retail demand, as opposed to manufacturing to unload inventory. The company hopes to double its business by 2013 without acquisitions, said DeFeo.

Godwin Pumps Celebrates 40 Years in the Dri-Prime Pump Industry

Cocktails and beers flowed to press and attendees alike, as Godwin Marketing Manager Bryan Gassler rattled off the impressive list of Godwin Pumps milestones over the past 40 years. Even more impressive was his accurate memory, especially after he just rolled onto the show floor after a crazy planes, trains and automobiles journey through Chicago, Rome and over the Alps — let it be known that this year’s trip to Bauma was treacherous at best.

What began as a simplistic venturi air priming system — popular because it had no moving parts and required very little maintenance — has remained at the forefront of the pumping industry through engineering expertise and market-leading performance.

Since its inception, the Dri-Prime pump has advanced through many stages. The first generation rolled off the production line in 1970 and included the DPC and MC models. In 1980, the original designs were reengineered and a second generation was produced that carried the model names CD for “contractors dewatering” and HL for “high lift.”

The second generation was touted as an “up-market” machine featuring better materials of construction and a new close-coupled design. The close coupling allowed the pump shaft to directly mount to the engine flywheel. This new design eliminated shaft misalignment previously associated with rental units being abused in the field and provided more reliability for portable pumps.

The third and current generation was released in 1985 as the CD-M and HL-M models. The M, which stands for “oil bath mechanical seal,” was yet another advancement in pump technology. These pumps feature an oil bath mechanical seal mounted behind the impeller. This design limits abrasion by protecting the seal’s working parts from coming into contact with the liquid being pumped and allows for dry-running without overheating or failure. Since 1985, the CD-M and HL-M design improvements have stood the test of time.

Perkins Engines’ Tier 4 Readiness

It should come as no surprise that the Peterborough, England-based engine-manufacturing giant has its sights set on Tier 4 Interim readiness. Perkins exhibited its full range of Tier 4 Interim compliant engines at this year’s Bauma. The range is designed to not only offer specific power outputs but also a choice of engine configurations and options that provide OEMs with the ability to design-in the engine into the application with the minimum of re-engineering.

Bauma is the first showing for Perkins’ new 850 Series compact, four-cylinder 3.4 liter engine. The 850 Series builds on Perkins’ strength and ability to tailor power solutions for individual customer needs. The new model will allow Perkins to offer customers greater power density and compactness to suit their precise requirements, whatever the application.
Offering more power and torque from a smaller package, customers will now be able to move seamlessly through the power bands as the 850 Series produces 60 up to 115 hp.

The 850 Series benefits from a common rail fuel injection system, smart waste-gated turbocharger and aftercooler, all regulated by full authority electronic controls to ensure world-class performance and fuel consumption.

In keeping with all Perkins’ Tier 4 Interim product range, the 850 Series has been developed using extensive “voice of the customer” research. To meet these requirements, the range features a strong emphasis on power density, fuel consumption and performance, giving OEMs choice and support if downsizing is desired.

Kobelco, New Holland do a Makeover
CNH Brands Make an Appearance on ABC Show

Companies like Kobelco and New Holland are always trying to redefine their roles as good corporate citizens. Just recently, Kobelco Construction Machinery America and New Holland (both CNH brands) joined the crew of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” for a project in eastern Texas. The company provided a Kobelco SK210 excavator and a New Holland D95B crawler dozer to demolish a home so that a new one could be constructed for a very deserving family.

Most Americans are familiar with the ABC television series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Each week on the show, a deserving family is selected to undergo a dramatic home “makeover,” which may involve a large addition, remodel or demolition of the existing house and complete construction of an entirely new home. A team of designers, contractors and several hundred workers have just seven days to completely rebuild an entire property, including landscaping — a project that normally takes up to nine months to complete.

For this project, the Carr family of Mineola, Texas — a small town about 80 miles east of Dallas — was selected for a home transformation. The Carr’s four adopted children have had to overcome severe physical and mental disabilities while living in a cramped and dangerous home. Compounding the family’s struggles, the father has undergone pancreas and kidney transplants in recent years.

The family’s small, three-bedroom home was at high risk for fire due to a faulty electrical system. The home was not handicap accessible for the children, plus plumbing leaks throughout the house created mold issues.

When word reached the local community that the show had selected the Carr home, businesses, corporations and individuals from all over eastern Texas offered to contribute. One of the early volunteers was Eugene Toole, a local demolition contractor. Toole is a customer of Bane Machinery, a New Holland and Kobelco dealer with four locations in Texas, including the nearby town of Tyler. The staff at Bane Machinery quickly coordinated with the production crew to deliver the much-needed construction equipment to the site.

On a rainy Friday, the show’s production crew and an army of more than 3,000 volunteers and donors descended on the Carr home. Once the power lines and water lines were moved, demolition on the home began. With Toole at the controls, the Kobelco SK210 excavator tore through the shingles, plywood, trusses and studs, reducing everything to a pile of rubble within minutes. Toole then switched to a crawler dozer to help clear the rubble and build the pad for the family’s new 4,800 sq ft home.