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Unique tractor works both ways
 New Holland
says its TV145 Bidirectional tractor is unlike anything else on the market.
It is designed to be operated engine-end first or cab-end first via its
exclusive Turnabout console, which rotates the seat and primary controls 180
degrees.
When the operator works facing the engine, the TV145 functions like a
traditional tractor for mowing or pulling implements. When the operator
faces the rear, the machine functions as a wheel loader or forklift. The
unit can also function as a tool carrier for a stump grinder, chipper, snow
blower, trencher, backhoe or other attachment.
The turbocharged, 105-horsepower TV145 features a PTO and three-point
hitch at both ends, allowing it to push and pull implements simultaneously.
Maximum hydraulic flow is 65 gallons per minute, best in its horsepower
class, according to New Holland. The tractor has a clutchless three-speed
hydrostatic drive and a top speed of 18 miles per hour.
Click 32 on ROADFAX card
Horizontal recycler meets tough specs
 Peterson
designed its new HC 4700 horizontal recycler for high-volume producers with
demanding end-product specifications. The 630-horsepower, mid-range unit
uses Peterson’s three-stage grinding process with up-turning rotor to
produce materials to exact specifications. The system results in high
production for a wide variety of end products and minimizes the need for
regrinding. A patented Impact Release System minimizes damage from
contaminants in the grinding chamber, enhancing machine uptime.
Click 35 on ROADFAX card
Joint maker improves density
TransTech has introduced a device that mounts on the end of any paver
screed to shape the edge of the mat for a durable wedge-shaped joint with
the second lane. TransTech says the Notched Wedge Joint Maker produces a
clearly defined beveled edge that easily interlocks with the adjacent lane
to provide a dense, highly permeable closure that lasts far beyond the life
of the traditional butt joint. Both the notch and the wedge can be easily
adjusted on site and on the fly, according to the company.
Click 33 on ROADFAX card
Retrofit solutions for old engines
Caterpillar
has formed the Emissions Retrofit Solutions Group to help customers working
with engines built prior to the implementation of the EPA Tier 2 emissions
regulations. The team helps engine owners meet special air quality
requirements in various localities, including EPA non-attainment areas. The
group is developing retrofit products to reduce emissions, including repower
services, particulate matter filters, oxidation catalysts, and selective
catalytic reduction systems.
Click 34 on ROADFAX card
Storm-proof building protects salt and sand
 When Volker
Stevin Contracting of Calgary, Alberta won the Alberta Transportation
contract for highway maintenance of provincial roads in the Calgary area, it
extended the firm’s responsibility to 25% of the provincial highways in
Alberta.
As part of the contract, Volker Stevin is responsible for erecting and
maintaining storage buildings to house the salt and sand for winter
maintenance.
Selection of a pre-engineered building structure was an important
decision for the firm because of its responsibility to meet the province’s
strict standards for the environmental control of these materials.
David Toth, manager of the firm’s design/build section, said many
factors were considered in their research, pointing out, “We needed a
building structure that was not only functional but also able to withstand
severe wind and snow loads.”
In the end, the firm selected Cover-All Building Systems, manufacturers
of steel-framed, fabric-covered buildings. Structural highlights include the
use of galvanized steel tubing with a triple-coated corrosion barrier, and a
polyethylene fabric that is impervious to salt and sand and provides daytime
illumination from natural sun light.
According to Toth, Volker Stevin was convinced that Cover-All Alberta,
the firm’s Alberta distributor, met their quality standards and
functionality needs. “Cover-All Alberta’s proposed foundation options,
installation process, quality of the product, timeliness for delivery and
installation, as well as the ability to relocate the building were all
contributing factors to the awarding of the tender,” said Toth.
Cover-All Alberta successfully installed multiple buildings at the same
time, using 2,700-pound lock blocks positioned on asphalt pads for the
foundations. The buildings range in size from 32- to 90-feet wide.
Click 37 on ROADFAX card
Lift and load concrete removal
 FFC Attachments has
introduced its new Concrete Claw attachment for skid steer loaders. The tool’s
teeth are designed to slide underneath a concrete sidewalk or slab so that
the machine can simply lift the material and load it on a truck or into a
recycling bin. The tool is crafted from high-strength T-1 steel and has a
wear-resistant Pacal steel cutting edge.
Click 31 on ROADFAX card
New recycler walks softly
 Crushtek calls its new Streettrack recycler an ultra-lightweight machine,
at 42,000 pounds. The track-mounted unit can produce up to 130 tons per hour
of recycled materials, aggregates, or even construction debris. Rubber track
pads let the machine move and swivel on roadways, parking lots, and even
indoors. The unit drives onto a low-boy trailer and is ready to move in
minutes, according to Crushtek.
Click 47 on ROADFAX card
Production reclaimer sets up fast
Powerscreen’s new Warrior 1400 Reclaimer works in sand and gravel,
topsoil, coals, crushed stone, recycling, and compost. It sets up on site in
about 20 minutes and screens up to 550 tons per hour, according to the
company. It weighs 56,438 pounds and measures a road-ready 9-feet wide,
10.5-feet high, and just over 43-feet long.
Click 46 on ROADFAX card
Improved aggregate bins
Cemen Tech is
offering galvanized aggregate bins as an option for its volumetric mixers.
The new bins are completely immersed into a molten zinc bath, creating zinc
iron alloy layers. The process is said to seal the bin against water,
oxygen, and pollutants. Galvanized bins not only last longer, says Cemen
Tech, they also aid the flow of aggregates by reducing resistance.
Click 43 on ROADFAX card
4,000-pound service crane debuts
Stellar’s new 4420 telescopic service crane was developed for
municipalities, contractors, and public utilities. With a lift capacity of
4,000 pounds, the unit uses a planetary winch system with a
hydraulic/mechanical brake system. It has a maximum reach of 20 feet from
the centerline of the crane.
Click 50 on ROADFAX card
Redesigned crane/work platform
Elliott
Equipment has redesigned its ECH-4-90, a 90-foot aerial work platform
and crane. The unit now features continuous rotation for easier operation,
turret-mounted lower controls for better line of sight in crane operations,
40% fewer, fittings and the use of O-ring face seals for lower maintenance.
The unit’s self-leveling platform has been improved; it offers 95 feet of
working height and a 14,000-pound crane capacity.
Click 48 on ROADFAX card
Rental business expands
Volvo Construction
Equipment has announced new Volvo Rents franchises in Alabama, Florida,
and New Jersey. Cooks Coastal Rentals will operate Volvo Rents centers in
Spanish Fort and Montrose, Alabama. Access Rentals of Harrison, NJ will
operate the New Jersey franchise. In Florida, Miami-based World Rental Sales
will operate Volvo Rents centers in Dade and Broward Counties, while
Contractor Equipment Rentals, operators of Volvo rental stores in Orlando
and Melbourne, has opened a facility in Lakeland.
Click 38 on ROADFAX card
New 40,000-pound excavator
 Komatsu has issued a Series 7 version of the 39,500-pound PC150LC-6
hydraulic excavator. Designed for the construction, public works, and
aggregates markets, the PC150LC-7 is more productive and more stable than
its predecessor, but lighter to enhance its transportability, according to
Komatsu. The company has also reduced maintenance costs by extending
oil-change intervals from 100 hours to 500 hours, and the fuel tank is now
74 U.S. gallons, up from 66. An Equipment Management Monitoring System
monitors critical fluid levels and components.
Click 52 on ROADFAX card
Walk-behind roller levels too
Multiquip
touts its new Rammax P33-HHMR-BD roller as the only walk-behind model in the
industry with a leveling blade. It has dual compaction settings that allow
the operator to change amplitude, frequency, and compaction force, making
the roller more effective in granular soil applications. The unit has two
drum widths, 33 and 24 inches, for flexibility and performance in shored
trenches and against trench walls and sides. The new machine was developed
for use in the road construction and municipality markets.
Click 49 on ROADFAX card
Moves organic matter safely
Peterson’s
new BT 60 blower truck gives transporters of low-density organic materials a
60-cubic-yard capacity for cost-efficient hauling over longer distances. The
Peterson feeder and high-capacity blower can handle a wide range of organic
materials. The live floor unloads material rapidly without bridging and it
allows for redistributing the weight of the load to achieve optimum truck
handling characteristics. The company’s Power Sweep Assist cleans out the
truck’s live floor at the pull of a lever, making it possible to haul
different kinds of material on the same day.
Click 36 on ROADFAX card
Brute power, high-tech precision
Trencor’s new 3000SM Surface Miner brings brute power and high-tech
precision to road excavation, site excavation, or mining. Powered by a
1,550-horsepower engine, the 300,000-pound, four-track rock trencher can
trench a swath 10 feet wide and up to 26 inches deep through rock in a
single pass. Its suspension can cut slopes up to 15 degrees to meet exacting
road construction and drainage requirements without backfilling. With a GPS
unit, Trencor says it can efficiently match the exact specifications of the
survey plan.
Click 41 on ROADFAX card
Wireless anti-theft system
DPL Group has introduced an anti-theft system for construction equipment
that immobilizes the machine at night and provides wireless signals for
remote monitoring of engine hours and location. “The unique focus of the
Titan system is to prevent theft from occurring in the first place, although
it has theft notification and recovery features as well,” says Ray Crowdis,
director of telemetry technologies at DPL.
Click 55 on ROADFAX card
More productive breaker
 Cat
has
launched a new generation of work tools for the construction, demolition,
and aggregates industries with the introduction of the H140D S hydraulic
hammer. It matches to the 63,000-pound Cat 325C excavator and comparably
sized competitive machines. It is also compatible with Cat 322C or
similar-sized machines. The hammer measures 103.9-inches long and weighs
5,182 pounds. It can be equipped with seven different tools, and has an
energy impact rating of 3,155 foot-pounds, a 2% increase over the previous
model. Impact frequency is 350-600 blows per minute, a 25 to 30% increase
over the previous design.
The new design also contains fewer parts, reducing the time needed for
machine setup, troubleshooting, and hammer service. A new safety feature is
an automatic shutoff that turns the hammer off when no material is present
beneath it; this prevents blank firing, reduces wear and maintenance costs,
and extends machine life.
Click 51 on ROADFAX card
Reprinted from the September 2003 issue of Better Roads Magazine |
