If Hurricane Katrina�s devastation was ever underestimated, so was the slippery fuel mess that the storm created for construction truckers. The Internal Revenue Service is allowing truck owners all over the U.S. to use red-dyed diesel fuel without tax penalties through Sept. 15. The IRS announcement, made on Sept. 2, is "in response to shortages of clear diesel fuel caused by Hurricane Katrina," the agency says. In a joint effort days before, the Environmental Protection Agency lifted its ban on dyed diesel in highway trucks. Refiners can put dyed diesel into the fuel chain only after clear, low-sulfur diesel stocks
Suppliers are loading up trucks and heading to the Gulf states. (Photo: Courtesy of Godwin Pumps of America Inc.) Cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina could clean out construction suppliers over the next year. Builders working far away from the Gulf Coast are likely to experience shortages, lagging deliveries and higher prices, experts say. "Inventories are low and there isn�t a lot of used equipment sitting around doing nothing," says Charles R. Yengst, a Wilton, Conn.-based analyst who tracks the heavy machinery market. Suppliers already are feeling the pressure. "We are seeing brisk business as far away as Texas and Arkansas
Rock Crushers Flexible Installations Aggregate equipment manufacturers new Nordberg GP550 cone crusher and C3054 wide-jaw crusher are the newest to join its product lineup. The GP550 crusher allows an installation height of 9.2 ft and has a top power output of 471 hp. New lube systems, pumps and bearings boost reliability, says the producer. The new C3054 fits both stationary and mobile plants. It has a 30-in. by 54-in. nominal feed opening and crusher speed of 260 RPM. Metso Minerals; 262/717-2500; www.metsominerals.com Concrete Sealer For Decorative Concrete Chemical maker offers a new, 100% acrylic sealer designed specifically for decorative concrete.
Oil prices are skyrocketing with more force than the U.S. space shuttle program, prompting a truck supplier to offer a new giveaway. But observers think todays hot summer deals will do little to keep purchases from cooling off tomorrow. Just after General Motors Corp. had a successful run of its employee discount campaign, Navistar International, the parent company of International Truck and Engine Corp., thinks giving away free fuel is the ticket to selling more commercial trucks. Dealers hope to convince construction fleet owners to pick up a new 4000-Series International truck by offering with it a pre-paid debit card
ODLAND Some used construction equipment runs great, but can end up in a bone yard if it looks more like an old dog than a performer. A farmer in Mitchell, S.D., is bringing old dogs back to life with a patented paint finish he makes from vegetable oil. "We found a way to change oxidized equipment and reactivate its present surface," says Lynn Odland, president of Dakota AG Innovations. The alternative to a $3,000 paint job has become the secret weapon of many equipment rental firms, dealers and auctioneers. Companies say they use it to get a 20% gain in
International's 4000 Series comes with a free fill-up. (Photo by International Truck and Engine Corp.) Oil prices are skyrocketing with more force than the U.S. space shuttle program, prompting truck suppliers to fuel around with a new giveaway. Meanwhile, off-road producers are trying keep up with a still-robust demand for construction machines. Soon after the success of General Motors' "employee discount" campaign, Navistar International, the parent company of International Truck and Engine Corp., thinks that giving away free fuel is the ticket to selling more commercial vehicles. Its dealers hope to convince construction fleet owners to pick up a new
Versatile Breaker Active Vibration Reduction System The TE 706-AVR breaker offers high-chiseling performance when working on wall and floor applications. It is the first in its class to feature a state-of-the art brushless SR-motor and an active vibration reduction system, which reduces the hammering mechanisms vibration by up to 50%. The new model also has a three-level hammering power regulation for a wide variety of applications. Available in pointed, flat and wide-flat versions, the self-sharpening polygon chisels assure maximum productivity and efficiency by eliminating the need to resharpen, reforge or reharden the chisel. Hilti Inc.; 800/950-6654; www.us.hilti.com Traffic Control Display
Vibratory Roller Improved Fuel Efficiency Manufacturer "rolls" out a new 84-in.-wide compaction machine with tandem vibratory drums. The BW284s power plant is a 185-hp Cummins diesel that makes the machine quieter and more fuel-efficient than earlier models. An operating weight of 28,425 lb is 7% heavier than the makers previous versions. The roller delivers up to 4,000 vibrations per minute at a top speed of 4.5 mph. An articulating center joint allows �12 degrees of side oscillation. BOMAG Americas Inc.; 309-853-3571; www.bomag-americas.com Excavators 'Memory' Controls Earthmoving equipment producer has two new hydraulic excavators at the low-capacity end of its diverse,
Miter Saw New to Maker's Product Line Manufacturer has added the KGS 305 dual-bevel sliding compound 12-in. miter saw to its woodworking tool product line. The model can crosscut material up to 12 1/2 in. wide and 4 3/4 in. high and features the makers unique dust-collection system. The KGS 305 features such safety features as wide footprints and a lock-out feature in its switches, as well as a powerful 15-amp, 200-Watt motor that can reach a no-load speed of 3,800 rpm. Metabo Corp.; 800-638-2264; www.metabousa. com Telescopic Crane Hexagonal Tube The Model 6628 crane has 28 ft of hydraulic
Data Driven. GPS isnt making the grade. (Photo top by Tudor Hampton for ENR, Photo bottom courtesy of Komatsu America Corp.) The expense of hiring surveyors to stake out the cut and fill of earthwork or re-stake a site damaged by a clumsy operator used to be a big money-drainer for contractors. But as more earthmoving machines roll out of factories with global positioning systems built in, whats left in the place of those wooden stakes is the laborious process of making site plans into machine-compatible, 3D files. Equipment suppliers are itching to sell contractors expensive hardware, but their lack