New product announcements: 08/12/2009 Wireless Chill Detection: Scale Checks HVAC Systems The SRS2 Wireless Refrigerant Scale allows HVAC technicians to make a quick assessment of cooling systems without wires. The wireless remote features a backlit display and a flip-up magnetic clip that allows the technicans to hang the remote at eye level during use. The platform has a solid aluminum design, with rubber bumpers to prevent damage. The unit has a 33-ft range, and the remote is able to store the last zero point when entering standby or shut-off mode, so that it is not necessary to constantly recalibrate. Fieldpiece Instruments
New product announcements: 08/05/2009 Grading Attachments: New Option for Skid-Steer Loaders New grader attachments from Bobcat are designed to allow skid-steer loaders to perform grading work. Graders are available in 96-in. and 108-in. widths and can be incorporated with the Bobcat laser-control system to grade materials within 1⁄4-in. The heavy-duty graders’ blades are able to move in six different ways and feature a hydraulic side-shift function, which allows the blades to move up to 13-in. horizontally, allowing for grading close to buildings and other obstacles. A proportional hydraulic valve allows for the moldboard to move at three different speeds for finer
Navistar, Warrenville, Ill., announced on July 28 that it will be raising prices on its International trucks by $6,000 to $8,000 in order to comply with new Environmental Protection Agency emission requirements for diesel engines. Prices for vehicles with midrange diesel engines will increase by $6,000, while prices for heavy-duty diesel engines will jump $8,000. Increases will come as a non-discountable surcharge applied to the vehicle’s base price.
New product announcements: 07/22/2009 Selective Demolition: Crawler-Excavator Gets In Close The Liebherr R974C VH-HD crawler-excavator is designed for selective demolition applications. The 131-tonne crawler-excavator has a maximum reach height of 41 meters with a special attachment. It is powered by a Tier 3 eight-cylinder diesel engine, and the boom has a standard piston-rod guard to protect attachments during use. The crawler-excavator has a full 360° of operation and its cab can be tilted upward by up to 30° for a better view when working at height. An assortment of attachments is available depending on the job. Liebherr SAS; +33 389 21
New product announcements: 07/15/2009 Upgraded Tractor-Scraper: More Power The G Series of the 613 Wheel Tractor-Scraper features several upgrades to its design, including increases in powertrain efficiency, rim pull, elevator speed and travel speed. The 613G has a 11-cu-yd capacity and is able to cut and fill, finish grade, stockpile and condition material. A new safety valve prevents accidental articulation when the operator is entering or exiting the cab while holding the steering wheel. Caterpillar; 309-675-1000; www.cat.com Compact Press Tool: Small Size and Better Battery Life The Model RP 210-B press tool is the smallest tool in the RIDGID line. The
As reports grow of health problems and metal corrosion suspected of coming from U.S. imports of Chinese-made drywall, federal agencies are moving ahead on a multipronged investigation of the material. Initial results of laboratory and in-home tests are due in August and September. Photo: AP/Wideworld Chinese drywall suspected in health problems, metal corrosion in 21 states. The Consumer Product Safety Commission told Senate Appropriations Committee leaders on July 6 it has received 608 reports of Chinese drywall problems from 21 states and the District of Columbia. That is a sharp increase since May 21, when CPSC testified at a Senate
New product announcements: 07/08/2009 Monitoring Fuel Usage: Wireless System Logs Data The OEM Data Delivery Secure Fuel System wirelessly logs usage of fuel on multiple vehicles and is able to generate analytic reports with GPS coordinates. Multiple trackers can be integrated into a single system. The reports can be accessed by email or through a password-protected Website. OEM Data Delivery; 203-929-8431; www.oemdd.com Small Inspector: Checking Concrete Part of the GSSI Structure Scan line, the 2000-MHz Palm Antenna uses ground-penetrating radar for concrete inspection. The Palm Antenna is only 31⁄2 in. square, allowing for concrete inspection in tight corners and within 2
Makers of portable navigation devices continue to add features to attract buyers. Now, there may be appeal within the construction industry for a wireless backup camera that is becoming almost standard equipment on many commercial vehicles. Photo: Andrew G. Wright / ENR Video appears when reverse gear is engaged. Related Links: Latest Product Snapshot Nextar, La Verne, Calif., considered the construction market as one potential target when it developed and recently began selling the I4-BC GPS. Manufactured in China, the device is attracting interest with its camera fixed on the rear license-plate frame. The camera’s view automatically displaces the GPS
The world’s first hybrid dozer will cost about $100,000 more, or 20%, than a comparable non-hybrid of the same size but will do more work and pay for itself in about two and a half years, say Caterpillar Inc. managers. Performance is tracking well in field trials, said the managers on June 23, as Cat rolled out the machine for press evaluation at the firm’s training facility in Edwards, Ill. The D7E starts production in October and carries a list price of $600,000, says David E. Nicoll, product execution manager. That is 20% more than the conventional D7R but 12%
Nationwide research is firming up the case for “intelligent” compaction (IC), a construction method three decades in the making that could save billions of dollars a year in potholed roads, cracked bridges, broken dams and blown-out tires. But as it represents a huge cultural shift in project delivery, the industry is struggling to find a standard way to roll it out. Slide Show Photo: Iowa State University Researchers test a ‘smart roller.’ With today’s busted public budgets, IC is a promising tool with global implications. “I’ve studied where we spend money in the U.S. to fix our infrastructure, and a
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