STEEL CUTTER Handheld Torch Spectrum 625 is the company's first portable air plasma arc cutter with a rated cut of 1/ 2 in. on mild steel. The unit weighs 57 lb and can cut at a rate of 16 in. per minute on 1/ 2 -in. steel using a handheld torch. With a rated output of 40 amps/140VDC at 50% duty cycle, this model can sever steel up to 7/ 8 in. thick and also cut 5/ 8 -in. steel at a rate of up to 10 ipm. Its Wind Tunnel Technology, Fan-On-Demand feature helps prevent abrasive dust and metal
DUMP TRUCK Fully Hydraulic Brake System The newly designed HD465-7 dump truck replaces model HD465-5. It is fitted with a Tier II compliant Komatsu engine that provides the 217,820-lb haul truck with 715 fwhp, allowing up to a 61-ton capacity payload. The HD475-7 also has a new airtight, fully hydraulic front brake system, a new two-door, walk-through cab as well as a large automatic retarder that enables the operator to select the maximum safe operating speed on downhill travel while fully loaded. Komatsu America Corp.; 847/970-4100; www. komatsuamerica.com WALK-BEHIND LASER SCREED Internal Laser Control Box The S-9210 CopperHead is a
CORNING SYSTEM Quick-Switch Option The new DD 130 diamond coring system features a quick-switch option and convenient side-handle water flow. The tool is suitable for jobs ranging from wet coring holes in reinforced concrete from 15/32 in. to 6 in. dia. to precise coring of anchoring holes 15/32 in. to 1 5/8 in. dia. The tool includes a high-performance 1800-watt motor with sizeable reserve power. It also has a multi-faceted design that allows one operator to easily change from hand-held to stand-mounted use with a simple click-action, says the maker. Built-in features to increase operator safety are included as well.
FALL ARREST VACCUM ANCHOR Plug-In System This safety anchor system provides maximum worker mobility on site for temporary or quick turnaround projects where permanent or temporary lifeline systems would be impractical. It also may be used for jobs where overhead safety cabling might impede worker access or progress. The system has an advanced technology vacuum pump that is powered from a single-phase 115-volt circuit. The plug-in system features two levers, one to activate the unit and another to initiate the pad. DBI/SALA; 800/328-6146; www.dbisala.com TRUCK/WHEEL CLEANING SYSTEM Horizontal Centrifugal Pump Wheelwash Rhino System is a truck and heavy equipment washing
CUTTING WHEEL More Accurate Cuts New Slicer Plus cutting wheel for right angle grinders features two layers of heavy fiberglass that stiffen the wheel, increasing its accuracy throughout the cut. The wheel's 0.045-in. thickness creates a kerf nearly as narrow as the thin-cut 0.040 wheels while maintaining the strong characteristics of thicker wheels. It is suitable for use on stainless steel, high carbon steel and more. Metabo Corp.; 800/638-2264; www.metabousa.com LADDER LOCK Meets OSHA's Requirements Ladder Lock is designed to aid contractors in solving the problem of fall-related accidents. It prevents the ladder from kicking out, falling sideways or backwards.
An unexpected and extremely large price increase for power cranes and excavators shattered over five years of price stability in the construction equipment market, according to the latest producer price indexes released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In June, the BLS index for power cranes and excavators jumped 8.4%, pushing the annual escalation rate for the index from 0.9 to 9.4%. This follows a 1.2% decline in the index during the previous year. The huge price hike for power cranes and excavators appears to be an isolated event. BLS indexes for paving equipment, crawler tractors and air compressors all
LASER Beam Catcher PR 16 rotating laser is a versatile tool built to meet the varied needs of contractors. It features a visible red laser beam and can be used for leveling, vertical alignment, single and double slope and even 90° and parallel layout. Fully automatic and self-leveling, the tool lets the operator catch the laser with a beam catcher and keep it right where you want it as long as you need it there. It can be set on a tripod or another solid surface. With the press of the on/off button, the tool will automatically find the horizontal/vertical
TOOL STORAGE CABINET Extra Depth and Hand-Free Opening New deeper door design, expanded from 1 to 3 in. , is one of the key improvements to the JobMaster tool storage cabinet series. The doors each include two shelves, welded in place. A foot latch allows hands-free opening of the cabinet doors. The Watchman IV single-lock, which is a high-strength, dead-bolt-style, three-point latching system helps keep tools secure. Units are constructed of precision-formed heavy-gauge steel and come in six different models. KNAACK MANUFACTURING CO.; 800/456-7865; www.knaack.com SLAB CRAB ATTACHMENT Razor-Sharp Tiger Teeth The Severe Slab Crab is an attachment for excavators
A new German-made 1,378-ton crawler crane the manufacturer says can support a 715-ft boom and luffing jib will be used for the first time in the U.S. to install a large-scale selective catalytic reduction system at the coal-fired 1,300-Mw Zimmer power station in Moscow, Ohio. The modular Demag CC-8800 has been assembled from 85 trucks and will shortly begin lifting equipment, some weighing in at 170 tons, from 36 barges over a 230-ft radius using a shortened 295-ft lattice boom. "We're working on five different powerplants in the Ohio River valley," says William W. Glowacki, office manager for Marino Crane,
Caterpillar Inc. reports second quarter earnings well below expectations and forecasts 2002 profits about 15% below year-earlier levels. In a July 16 report, the Peoria, Ill.-based heavy equipment maker says customers' investment delays are slowing sales in the general construction, mining and electric power generation markets. Caterpillar's overall second-quarter profit of $200 million, or 58¢ a share, is down from $271 million, or 78¢ a share, for the same period 2001. Revenue fell to $5.29 billion from $5.49 billion. "While overall economic indicators have been positive, the anticipated recovery in capital spending has yet to materialize," says Chairman and CEO