Up There. Equipment manufacturers enjoyed a record turnout at this year’s Kentucky utility show. (Photo by Tudor Hampton for ENR) Inventories for many types of construction materials and off-road machines are dwindling as emergency crews along a battered Gulf Coast continue to suck up items needed to repair downed power lines and other infrastructure. Suppliers are upping production, but thick backlogs are delaying the arrival of items elsewhere in the U.S. The shortfall could slip well into early next year. "All of our inventory for distribution materials is gone," says Tim Hughes, vice president of Hughes Bros. Inc., Seward, Neb.
Wireless Onboard Scale With Handheld Receiver Smart Scale, the next generation of the company’s wireless onboard weigh scale, is designed for trucks, tractors and trailers with air suspensions. It uses sensors to measure temperature and pressure changes in a vehicle’s air suspension and wirelessly relays the data to a handheld receiver using a low-powered radio transmitter. Smart Scale provides a reading from the cab, the loader or within 100 ft of the vehicle. Truck Weight Inc.; 877/757-7888; www.truckweight.com Wheel Loaders Easy Service Access The WA65-5 and the WA70-5 are the latest additions to the manufacturer’s Dash-5 line of wheel
Barrier System Improves Plant Safety The GuardRite EX3 Barrier System, which provides clear separation for pedestrian walkways, work areas and storage areas, is the subject of this new full-color brochure. It illustrates the safety hazards created when a physical barrier is not installed in a facility. The two-page brochure also shows the features and benefits of the EX3 system with easy-to-read bullet points that highlight the features of the product. The final page provides specifications and drawings that can be used for application and installation purposes. Rite-Hite Corp.; 800/465-0600; www.ritehite.com Cone Crushers High-Performance A 16-page brochure highlights the improved SBS
Tight Fit. Scaffold firms are consolidating. (Photo courtesy of Brand Services Inc.) The barriers for firms that erect scaffolding are getting higher in a business often weighed down with inventory, debt and liability. But private investors are attracted to the high cash flow and local brand recognition. "The scaffold industry is doing very well," says Howard Schapira, president of Action Scaffold Manufacturing Co., Phoenix. Operators are prospering from a strong demand for access equipment while confronting growing restraints, such as transportation, labor, engineering and material costs. Firms looking to economize are getting acquisitive. Managers at Waco Scaffolding & Equipment Co.
Ford Motor Co.’s recall of millions of late-model trucks and SUVs calls into question the quality of its popular line of work vehicles. The Sept. 7 announcement also reveals how sensitive components, poorly designed and maintained, can cascade into serious problems. Top Five Automotive Recalls Manufacturer Year No. Affected Problem Ford Motor Co. 1996 7.9 million Ignition switch General Motors 1971 6.7 million Engine mount General Motors 1981 5.8 million Rear axle control arm Ford Motor Co. 2005 4.5 million Cruise control switch Ford Motor Co. 1972 4.1 million Shoulder belt Source: NHTSA. number affected reflects total production. The 4.5
Sewer Buddy One Tool Cuts and Bevels PVC Pipe Manufacturer introduces a new product to help contractors complete their work more effectively. Called the Sewer Buddy, the tool is designed to cut and bevel SDR35 pipe in a trench or prepare laterals above ground. This battery-operated, right-angle grinder features an electroplated 4 1�2-in. diamond blade with a 16-flute beveler mounted on it. The Sewer Buddy comes complete with a storage case, two batteries and a 110-Volt charger. It is also available with an optional cigarette lighter charger. U.S. Saws; 866-987-7297; www.ussaws.net Truck Bed Light Weight and Low Deck The Retriever
4-Inch Trash Pump Four Easy Lifting Handles The QP-4TH, a new 4-in. trash pump, is designed for removing water with high solid content from quarries, mines and other construction sites. Sand, sticks, stones and other debris up to 2 in. in diameter can easily pass through the pump. The QP-4TH offers a maximum pumping capacity of 555 gallons per minute. It has an 11-hp Honda gasoline engine and boasts a maximum head of 92 ft. The pump is housed in a strong aluminum die-cast pump casing and will be available with a diesel engine option in October. The Multiquip Inc.;
SLI Battery Provides More Engine Cranking Power Manufacturer introduces a new starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) battery that provides up to 70% more starting power at low temperatures than traditional wet cell batteries. The ODYSSEY PC2150 is designed for heavy-duty deep-cycle applications ranging from over-the-road trucks and construction equipment to fire trucks and more. It weighs 75 lb and has a service life of six to eight years and can be stored for up to two years at 77� when fully charged. EnerSys; 610/208-1991; www.odysseyfactory.com Telehandler Power Shuttle Transmission The new MLT 627 telehandler is an update to model MLT
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
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