New product announcements: 02/03/2010 Concrete Grinding Shroud: Limits Silica Dust Exposure Metabo Grinding Shrouds work in conjunction with vacuum systems to reduce silica dust exposure during concrete surface grinding. The shrouds help protect users from excessive silica dust exposure in accordance with OSHA regulations. Made of polyurethane, the device is designed to retain its shape regardless of temperature and will not warp. The 5-in. grinding shroud will fit 4-in., 41⁄2-in. and 5-in. diamond-cup wheels, while the 7-in. grinding shroud will fit most large-angle grinders. Mebabo; 800-638-2264; www.metabo.us Track Loader: Load-Sensing Hydraulics Save Fuel The Cat 973D track loader features load-sensing hydraulics
Chicago may have lost the 2016 Olympic Games, but the global competitive spirit on the jobsite is still alive. A Windy City contractor is test-driving the world’s largest Chinese concrete pump—and the first of its size to appear on a U.S. construction project. Photo: Tudor Van Hampton Concrete mixers feed the hopper. Photo: Tudor Van Hampton Tom Rutkowski at the controls. The pump, manufactured by Changsha-based Sany Heavy Industry Co. Ltd., is wrapping up its U.S. debut at the site of the roughly $1-billion Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, under construction in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood and
A new book coming this spring from the U.S. Green Concrete Council, a for-profit unit of American Concrete Institute, calculates the "green-ness" of the world's most consumed building material. Photo: American Concrete Institute Produced at a rate of about 25 billion tons per year and growing, concrete requires a tremendous amount of energy to produce, transport, build and maintain, and it contributes to the world's carbon-dioxide emissions. But it also provides benefits. The book weighs and balances the issues to help designers make more efficient use of the material. "Wise use of this material can make a significant contribution to
New product announcements: 01/27/2010 Miter Saw: Can Handle Wide Boards The Makita LS1216L is a 12-in. miter saw with a laser attachment that features six linear ball bearings and four steel rails for adjustment-free cuts. It can crosscut boards up to 15-in. wide at 90° and crown molding up to 8 in. The saw is also available in model LS1216LX, which includes a jobsite miter-saw stand. Makita; 800-462-5482; www.makita.com tintable Silicone Sealant: Now Available in Textured Mixes 890FTS-TXTR Field Tintable Silicone from Pecora is a waterproofing silicone sealant with a textured, mortar-like appearance. The non-staining sealant is used in masonry joints
People who are watching the industry barometers of new and used equipment sales expect the market to make slight comebacks this year after a tough 2009. But few are predicting the market to post sizable gains until 2011 or 2012. Source: Machinery Trader. Monthly Average, All Categories, Without High/Low. Auction Prices Overall new-equipment categories are expected to grow 5% in the U.S. this year, followed by 15% gains in 2011 and 14% growth in 2012, says the Milwaukee-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Previously, machinery sales slumped 43% last year and 8.6% in 2008, the trade group says. “Even with a
New product announcements: 01/20/2010 Worm-Drive Circular Saw: Extreme Bevel Capacity The DeWalt DWS535 Worm-Drive Circular Saw features a 53° bevel capacity, which allows the user to set common-cut angles quickly and accurately. The saw boasts improved durability over previous models, including a Toughcord cord-retention system and a sturdy magnesium shoe. An extra-wide saw hook allows for engineered lumber up to 2 ½ in. thick, and a top-access spindle lock engages immediately, preventing oil leaks. Dual ports in the shoe allow it to work with a DeWalt rip guide for accurate rip cuts up to 14 ½ in. DeWalt; 800-433-9258; www.dewalt.com
Tension over crane inspection and safety has been playing out in downtown Chicago, where city building officials for nearly a year tried to force a supertall building developer to remove an idle tower crane from a mothballed project. Photo: Tudor Van Hampton / ENR Crane atop stalled project in Chicago came down after safety concerns. Related Links: Crane Owners Step Up Inspections to Meet Tighter Quality Controls Rebuild Shop Offers Safe Alternative to Replacement The 1,047-ft-tall Waterview Tower was set to become the luxurious Shangri-La hotel, but work halted in 2008 at the 25th floor due to a lending freeze.
In 2007, a contractor worked itself into a pickle while building a Midwestern wind farm. There, a Demag CC2600 was being walked from one turbine pad to another. As the 500-ton crawler crane moved down a slight hill, it suddenly tipped forward. The counterweight overcame the upperworks, causing the boom to jackknife and crash to the ground. Photo: WHECO Corp. A crawler crane that tipped over on a wind farm in 2007 was repaired in about five months. It is shown from the scene of the accident Photo: WHECO Corp. Its arrival in the shop Related Links: Crane Owners Step
Hanging more than 200 ft over a jobsite in down- town Kansas City, Mo., James Hague doesn’t seem to notice the amount of air separating him from the people below. The senior technician fiddles with a dial gauge that measures the amount of play in the crane turntable, the giant gear that rotates the jib. “A bearing could go bad,” he says, suspended from a full-body harness. “And that’s something we want to know before the top falls off.” Slide Show Photo: Tudor Van Hampton / ENR Hague inspects bolts and pins on a J.E. Dunn tower crane working in
New product announcements: 01/13/2010 Hard-Hat Lanyard: Keep It Close The Gear Keeper Hard Hat Lanyard is a tether designed specifically to secure a hard hat when working at height. The lanyard features 2.5-oz retraction force to take up any unused slack and prevent entanglements. It can support hart hats up to 18 oz and has a spectra-nylon line that extends up to 14 in. A snap-clip mount allows for easy attachment to any standard hard hat, and the Quick Connect System allows the hard hat to be detached without removing the lanyard’s base. Hammerhead Industries; 805-658-9922; www.gearkeeper.com Wheel Wash System:
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