A somber but resilient mood permeated this year’s World of Concrete expo, held on Jan. 18-21 in Las Vegas, where thin crowds circulated amid a kiosk-filled convention floor. Contractors looked for innovative ways to prepare for an economic recovery, while budget-conscious construction solutions dominated exhibitor offerings. “We’re focusing on our ability to reuse equipment in different applications, rather than buying anew from job to job,” said Andrew Mair, chief executive officer of Doka USA Ltd., a Little Ferry, N.J.-based concrete formwork provider. “We’re also showcasing our Frami Xlife product, which is light enough to be [handled] without a crane, saving
Products 01/19/2011 Tier 4-Compliant Off-Road Truck: Meets Emissions Regs As new EPA emissions regulations take effect in 2011, Tier 4-compliant machines are gaining ground. Set to debut in North America at CONEXPO-CON/AGG later this year, the G Series 775 Off-Highway Truck will be the first Cat machine to go into production with a Tier 4 final emissions solution. Caterpillar Inc.; 309-675-8995; www.cat.com Demo Hammer: Lightweight Design At the World of Concrete 2011 trade exposition, Makita featured some of its latest demolition hammers, including the corded 11-lb HM0870C. The hammer has a variable speed control, managing 1,100 to 2,650 blows per
A large, defunct crane company is gearing up for a second act. Pompano Beach, Fla.-based General Crane USA’s liquidation plan received final court approval on Dec. 17. Newly formed Allegiance Crane & Equipment LLC, Pompano Beach, Fla., paid $40 million for properties and equipment. The firm secured financial backing from Southlake, Texas-based Prophet Equity. General Crane managing partner James A. Robertson is now president of Allegiance Crane & Equipment. The company expanded aggressively during the building boom, spending $65 million for new equipment between 2006 and 2007 while expanding into new markets. As the economy tanked and credit lines evaporated,
Products 01/12/2011 Lithium-Ion Driver-Drill: Shorter Charge Time The LXFD01CW 18V Cordless 1/2-in. Driver-Drill is the latest entry in Makita’s lithium-ion-powered compact-tool line. The LXFD01CW is an update of Makita’s original lithium-ion drill driver, the BDF452HW, and features a 15-minute charge time. It can deliver 40 ft-lb of max torque and weighs only 3.3 lb. It has 16 clutch positions and an all-metal two-speed transmission for a wide range of uses. Makita; 800-462-5482; www.makitatools.com Total Station: Long Distance The Topcon GPT-3200 Series of Total Stations features several improvements over earlier models. The GPT-3200NW is able to measure distances of up to
JLG Industries Inc. will display a new 150-ft-tall boom lift at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011, the biggest construction event of the year, held on March 22-26 in Las Vegas. The lift replaces an older model that was cumbersome to deploy on jobs needing high-reach access. Photo: Courtesy of JLG Despite its 150-ft height, JLG’s newest lift can retract to a compact size for highway transport. Only a weight permit is needed. Photo: Courtesy of JLG Model 1500SJ is the tallest self-propelled aerial work platform that can be trailered without several permits, says JLG, which is taking orders for delivery around the time
Products 01/05/2011 Tunnel Construction: Custom Multi-Armed Rig Drills Deep In a brief follow-up to the Atlas Copco Boomer XL3 D featured in ENR’s Nov. 3, 2010, issue, a custom-built Atlas Copco Boomer XE4 C drill rig currently is being used to dig a rail tunnel near Gothenburg, Sweden. Tunneling contractor Veidekke, Oslo, Norway, is employing the fully computerized unit to drill all the pre-grout holes as well as blast holes in the tunnel. The machine’s four booms were equipped with COP 3038 rock drills and feature the new Auto RHS E rod-handling system for drilling up to 30-meter-deep grout holes
Products 12/29/2010 Half-Lane Cold Mill: Dual Diesel Engines The W 210 Asphalt Cold Milling Machine can be equipped with milling-drum assemblies with 59-in., 79-in., or 87-in. working widths. The cold mill is powered by two diesel engines for a total of 671 hp, when both are engaged. It has an adjustable milling depth of up to 13 in. and is suitable for a wide range of applications, including large-scale course rehabilitation, complete pavement removal at full depth and fine milling. The W 210 features parallel-to-surface technology, which keeps the cutting housing level as it begins a cut. Wirtgen America Inc.;
Navistar International Corp. will be rolling into 2011 offering heavy trucks equipped only with Navistar power—a move that dealers, truckers and investors will be watching closely in a market that is expected to see 50% to 60% gains in sales next year. Photo: Tudor Van Hampton for ENR Jim Hebe, Navistar senior vice president, discusses the MaxxForce engine at the 2009 World of Concrete. The Warrenville, Ill.-based manufacturer will also be the only truck maker not using selective-catalytic reduction (SCR), a clean-air technology that requires drivers to fill up a tank of urea periodically to neutralize nitrogen-oxides (NOx) in the
Products 12/22/2010 Inspection Camera: Well-Lit Views The QuickView inspection camera features an integrated lamp and refractor for clear views of targets up to 32 ft away. Designed for pipeline and sewer inspection, the camera sports a pole-mounted, 3.6-in. video display with 16 GB of video and image storage on a micro SD card. An optional auxiliary wide-angle camera is available for manhole inspection. Envirosight; 866-936-8476;www.envirosight.com Tile Cutter: Cuts Wet and Dry The DWC860W 43/8-in. Wet and Dry Hand Tile Cutter can cut into many types of stone. The portable cutter has a 45� bevel capacity for a variety of different
Products 12/15/2010 Vertical Mast Lift: Jib System Avoids Obstacles The JLG “Toucan” T26E Mast Boom Lift is an update of the E26MJ model. It has a vertical telescopic mast with a jib to get around obstacles and a platform capacity of 500 lb, an overall width of 39 in. and a max platform height of 26 ft. The T26E is electrically powered, and a direct electric drive provides a longer battery life. The lift is intended for HVAC and electrical contractors.JLG Industries; 877-554-5438; www.jlg.com Diagnostic Tools: Compact and Handheld The RIDGID micro LM-100 laser distance meter provides readings of up
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