The ultimate pickup

International Truck has created the ultimate pickup truck, placing a prototype pickup truck body on a four-wheel-drive International 7300 chassis. The body is actually crafted from two conventional pickup truck bodies, and the Class 7 chassis can carry 27,000 pounds on two axles and up to 70,000 pounds with a trailer. The standard engine is a 215-horsepower diesel; the drive train includes a five-speed automatic transmission and full-time, four-wheel-drive. The crew cab measures 96-inches deep and can accommodate six large workers in conference-room-like comfort. International is making the pickup commercially available.

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Fast on/off backhoe milling head

BackhoeMill from Maddock Industries uses the same pin size and spacing as the bucket on all popular makes and models of backhoes, including quick-hitch designs, so it mounts on a boom in minutes. It can be driven by the host machine’s hydraulic system — it requires line pressures of 3,500 psi and a flow rate of 40 gallons per minute — or by an auxiliary engine mounted in the front bucket or on a small trailer. Designed for pavement cuts for utility access or culvert replacement, the BackhoeMill can cut 12-inches deep and leaves the material pulverized in the trench. The unit cuts a 24-inch-wide swath and works in concrete as well as asphalt. With a different style bit, the unit can also grind tree stumps.

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Two new cold-milling machines

Wirtgen has rolled out two new cold-milling machines, the compact W 50 and the deep-cutting W 50 DC.

  The 80-horsepower W 50 weighs 13,162 pounds and cuts up to 6-inches deep and 20-inches wide. Its fully adjustable loading conveyor can be dismounted and mounted by the operator without assistance in a matter of minutes, enhancing its versatility for making horizontal cuts on roadways.

  The 123-horsepower W 50 DC is a more productive version of the W 50 and is housed in a larger platform. It uses a 29.5-inch-diameter cutting drum and has a maximum cutting depth of 8.3 inches.

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Integrated electric screed heat

Caterpillar has introduced a new integrated electric heating system to its line of paving screeds. The system is available in four extendable screed models, the 8-foot AS-2251 and 8-18B, and the 10-foot AS-2301 and 10-20B. Cat says its electronic heating system features quick warm up, independent heating controls for each section of the screed, and heating elements mounted on the screed plates in a multi-zone configuration to provide even heat distribution.

  The screed is powered by a tractor-mounted, low-speed generator that operates at 1,800 rpm for optimum fuel efficiency, low noise, and long working life. The unit can be ordered with an optional auxiliary power panel for simultaneous use with the heating system; it can supply up to 8 kW to four 120-volt and two 240-volt receptacles.

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Compact curb and gutter machine

LeeBoy designed the LBC-24W concrete paver to give contractors an economical, maneuverable machine to slipform curb and gutter, alley ribbons, and sidewalks up to 4-feet wide, and to handle below-grade pours for street rehabilitation work. Powered by a 37.5-horsepower diesel, the LBC-24W features fingertip controls on its front and rear control panels and all-wheel hydrostatic drive. The 7,000-pound, low-profile machine is guided by an electronic grade and steering control system for accurate curb placement. Its hopper uses gravity flow and vibration to deliver concrete to the mold without augers, reducing clean-up time. The quick-change mold system includes a patent-pending articulation mold option for smoother curbs in tight radius work.

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Compact TLBs get more breakout

Bobcat has increased the breakout forces for its compact backhoe loader models. The 31.5-horsepower B100 gets a 45% increase in bucket breakout force and a 27% increase in dipper breakout. The 46-horsepower B300 gets a 21% increase in bucket breakout and a 44% increase in dipper breakout forces.

Grader gets cruise control

Electronic Throttle Control, an automotive-style cruise control, leads a list of improvements announced for Caterpillar’s all-wheel-drive 143H and 163H motor graders. Other improvements include electronic engines that improve efficiency and reduce emissions, quieter operator stations, and a number of service and maintenance enhancements.

  The 33,670-pound 143H has a base power rating of 165 horsepower that automatically increases to 185 horsepower in higher gears when all-wheel drive is engaged. This is thanks to Cat’s Variable Horsepower feature. The 35,890-pound 163H has a base power rating of 180 horsepower which increases to 200 horsepower with VHP. The new engines improve fuel efficiency by about 10% and enhance performance by producing high torque output at low rpm and high torque rise.

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More power and reliability

John Deere has announced major upgrades to its 670CH and 672CH C-Series II motor grades. A 185-horsepower, 6.8-liter engine tops the list; the Tier 2 model adds 25 to 30 horsepower to the drive train, including more low-end torque. The engine also features an electronically controlled, high-pressure, fuel-delivery system that is said to provide a more consistent and precise way to deliver fuel over the entire spectrum of engine speeds and machine applications. Deere says the result is a significant productivity boost, especially at the low end with the operator in the dirt.

  Glow plugs have been added at each cylinder to enhance cold-starting ability, and the company reports that they achieved easy starts at -40 degrees F in laboratory tests.

  Other enhancements include switching from plastic to steel tanks for fuel and hydraulic oil, and enlarging the capacity for both. Service access has been improved and sheet metal changes have increased airflow over the radiator, hydraulics, and transmission coolers.

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Skid steers get performance boost

Caterpillar has upgraded its entire skid-steer loader line to a B-series, increasing power and performance for each model, and improving comfort and reliability. Included in the announcement are four vertical lift models, and five radial lift designs. In addition, the company has added the 2,700-pound-rated 268B to its vertical lift lineup; the 76-horsepower unit features Cat’s new XPS high-flow hydraulic system for running high-performance work tools.

  Across-the-line improvements include heavy-duty drive components, hydraulic design enhancements, and an upgraded electrical system, including higher alternator ratings and a simplified wiring harness. Eight of the 10 models now have a turbocharged engine for cleaner emissions and better high-altitude performance.

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Recycler reaches 1,000

Peterson Pacific produced 1,000th machine, a 4700 horizontal recycler, last December. The company started by introducing a portable multiple log delimber/debarker for the pulpwood market more than 20 years ago, then moved into full tree processors, then to a full line of horizontal recyclers which convert low-grade resources into high-value end products. In 2001, Peterson Pacific added a line of blower trucks to address the needs of erosion control and landscaping users.

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High-tech paver for precision work

Ingersoll-Rand says the ABG Titan 326 EPM paver can place roller-compacted concrete, cement-treated base, and untreated base as well as asphalt, especially in deep lifts and wide paving widths. The 218-horsepower Euro-style paver weighs 32,193 pounds and paves at a laydown rate of up to 771 tons per hour at a maximum paving speed of 65 feet per minute. It has a 14.8-ton hopper capacity and a maximum paving width of more than 32 feet. It can lay a mat of nearly 12 inches in one pass, according to IR.

The new paver is available with seven different screed options, including single- or dual-tamping designs. The paver features IR’s Electronic Paver Management system, which gives the operator an intuitive interface with the paver’s functions, according to the company, as well as vital operating-conditions information and diagnostic checks.

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Heavy-duty sweeper attachments

Midland Machinery is now offering a line of heavy-duty sweeper attachments in widths ranging from 46 to 98 inches. The four Multi-Sweep models attach to a variety of prime movers with forks, including lift trucks, skid steers, wheel loaders, and backhoe loaders.

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Futuristic excavator concept

Volvo has created its concept of the excavator of the year 2020 and is showing renderings of the machine at public events. Codenamed the SfinX Project, the concept machine is based on radically altered components. The engine is a small fuel cell that produces electricity and emits only heat and water vapor. This frees up space in the superstructure and allows the engine to function as an active counterweight, moving in and out to compensate for the forces on the boom.

  Hydraulics in the SfinX excavator are largely replaced by electricity, too, reducing the need for hydraulic lines and pumps. Instead, electric motors drive the four tracks and the boom. The boom uses a lattice design to reduce weight and allow the operator to see through it, reducing blind spots.  The use of four tracks allows the machine to keep a much higher contact area with the ground than today’s two-track systems.

  In the SfinX concept, the main swing bearing that unites today’s undercarriage with the superstructure would be replaced with an electro-magnetic field. Volvo says this would eliminate friction, make braking very smooth, and allow high-speed turning of the superstructure.

  The SfinX cab can be moved up and/or outwards to give the operator a good view of the work area.

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Improved rumble-strip cutter

Wirtgen has introduced the Rumbler III, an improved version of its rumble-strip cutting attachment that mounts on the W 600 DC milling machine. The cutter creates rumble strips on existing pavement at speeds up to 180 feet per minute, depending upon materials and requirements. Its standard cutter width is 16 inches and its depth is adjustable to 1 inch. In the new version, the Rumbler drum housing is the width of the tractor, allowing the drum and wheel to be mounted on either the left or right side of the machine.

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New-generation of backhoe loaders

Komatsu has upgraded its entire five-model line of backhoe loaders to a dash-2N series following continuous improvements over the past two years.  New features include increased hydraulic speed, strong components, and Tier 2 engine. The cabs have also been reengineered to improve visibility, comfort, and access to controls. Operating weights range from 16,600 to 19,730 pounds.

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Mobile high-specification plant

The new Terex Pegson 1000 SR Maxtrak features the company’s Automax “all-in feed” cone crusher with a two-deck, 5- by 11-foot product sizing screen, input conveyor/hopper, product conveyors, and oversize return conveyors on a single chassis. Terex says the plant is engineered for high specification, flexibility, and tonnage up to 240 tph, with great mobility and low operating costs. Standard features include dust suppression sprays, a Miltronics level probe sensor to achieve choke feeding, and a metal detector.

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Two new hydrostatic loaders

Komatsu has introduced the 96-horsepower WA150-5 and the 120-horsepower WA200-5 wheel loaders, and the WA200PT-5 tool carrier. The WA150-5 weighs 17,295 pounds and generates 16,300 pounds of breakout force. The WA200-5 weighs about 22,000 pounds and operates buckets from 2.2 to 3.1 cubic yards. The new model is 15% more fuel efficient than the model it replaces. Both loaders and the tool carrier feature Komatsu’s hydrostatic transmission.

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Clean engine technology

Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks announced that they will use engine technology based on exhaust gas recirculation and diesel particulate filters to meet federal diesel emissions standards for trucks scheduled to take effect in 2007. Both expect to place a limited number of 2007-compliant engines with selected customers in 2005 for field testing.

  Volvo Construction Equipment, facing a different set of emission standards for off-highway engines, announced that its new V-ACT engine technology will not use EGR to achieve Tier 3 standards that go into effect in 2005. Without revealing the details of the new engines, the company stipulated that they will exceed the standard using simple technology with improved response and low engine speeds with optimal fuel efficiency.

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New name, features for mid-size paver

Bomag has re-introduced the 80-horsepower ProPaver 813RT. The unit has a 7.5-ton hopper and can pave at 150 feet per minute. It has standard paving widths of 4 to 14 feet. Optional bolt-on screed extensions increase the overall paving width up to 16 feet; the extensions are hydraulically controlled, allowing the operator to change paving widths on the go between 8 and 14 feet. The paver is also available with ditch plates that allow for paving widths as narrow as 16 inches, ideal for utility trench and cart path applications.

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New engines and controls

Case Construction Equipment has rolled out five M Series 2 backhoe loader models, the 580M, 580M Turbo, 580 Super M, 590 Super M, and 580 Super M+. The new series machines are equipped with new engines and offer a new low-effort pilot control option.

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 Revolutionizes sand classifying

GrayStone’s patent-pending, twin-tank, sand-classifying control system allows plant operators to run two classifying tanks from a single computerized control system. The twin-tank controls use GrayStone’s patented Aggre-Spec III software package to continuously monitor the feed and adjust the classifier discharge valves based on percentages, rather than on a batch basis, providing for greater spec product control.

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Jumbo skid steer upgraded

Mustang has upgraded its largest skid-steer models with new engines, and higher rated operating capacities. The 86-horsepower 2099 replaces the 2095; it has a rated capacity of 3,150 pounds. The 115-horsepower 2109 has the highest operating load capacity in the industry, at 3,675 pounds. Both units have unusually spacious operator compartments and use vertical lift loader-arm geometry.

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Optional track pads bolt on

Roadtec is offering the new BLS Poly Bolt-On Tufpads as an option on the RX-900 milling machine announced in Better Roads last month. The pads are the first that bolt to the steel triple grouser for easy installation and dismantling. Roadtec has offered traditional Tufpads for years.

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 Large dry screening plant

The new Chieftain 2400 is Powerscreen’s largest dry screening plant. It features 20- by 6-foot, direct-feed, three-deck and two-deck screen versions, and numerous options for volume treatment of sand/gravel, aggregate, or crushed concrete or asphalt rubble. Depending on mesh sizes and types, the machine can process up to 750 tons per hour.

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 Reengineered rubber-track loaders

Caterpillar has upgraded its entire line of multi-terrain loaders with new turbocharged engines and improved reliability and service features.

  The 1,950-pound rated 247B and 2,310-pound rated 257B now have a 57-horsepower engine and their hydraulic systems have been upgraded to a 15.6-gpm flow rate and 3,355-psi pressure. A high-flow option on the 257B increases hydraulic horsepower by 40%. The 247B features radial lift linkage and the 257B has vertical lift linkage.

  Cat’s three larger models, the 2,900-pound rated 267B, 2,950-pound rated 277B, and 3,600-pound rated 287B sport higher breakout forces and new operator station designs to go with their new engines. The 267B gets a 70-horsepower engine, up 18% from the previous model. The 277B and 287B get 78-horsepower engines, up 5% compared to their predecessors.

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Reprinted from Better Roads Magazine
June2004

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