Month: October 2021

Construction Services

2021 Equipment Rentals Up 3%, But Hang On for Big Growth Next Year

David Oliver

Rental equipment revenue will grow a moderate 3% over 2020 through the remainder of 2021 – but hang on in 2022.

The American Rental Association says it now expects the combined construction/industrial and general tool rental revenue to grow by almost 10% next year, reaching a record $52.4 billion. That number even tops the rental industry’s 2019 height of $50.9 billion.

The news is even brighter for the construction equipment segment, which ARA forecasts will grow 12.3% in 2022, reaching $38.7 billion. ARA says it did not include the impact of the proposed infrastructure bill now making a tortuous path through Congress  in its calculations.


American Rental AssociationJohn McClelland, ARA vice president for government affairs and chief economist, says most of the benefits of increased infrastructure spending will not occur next year since it takes time for projects to be approved and funding obligated. IHS Markit, which produces the ARA forecast, will incorporate the infrastructure spending “once we have a clear indication of final passage” of the bill, McClelland says.

IHS is monitoring the market to see to what degree inflation which has not been an issue for more than a decade is inflected in rental-rate increases.

ARA also issues a five-year projection with each forecast. It now projects rental revenues to grow 5.5% in 2023, 2.5% in 2024, and 3.3% in 2025 to reach $58.6 billion.

ARA says rental companies slashed construction equipment and general tool capital expenditures by 44.4% in 2020, dropping equipment investment to $7.64 billion. Now on the rebound, ARA predicts equipment investment will grow by 36.2% this year to $10.4 billion, followed by another 36% increase to $14.2 billion in 2022. Additionally, this investment will grow by 10.9% in 2023, 2.3% in 2024 and 3.8% in 2025 to total more than $16.6 billion, according to ARA.

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Construction Services

Cat 578 Forest Machine Boosts Operator Comfort, Productivity

David Oliver

Caterpillar upgraded its 568 Forest Machine with new features to boost productivity, comfort and safety and reduce maintenance time and cost.

With a 347-horsepower Cat 9.3B diesel engine, the 568’s electrohydraulic control system puts out 10% more swing torque and 14% more drawbar pull, which makes grabbing and moving heavy logs faster. Smart mode controls match engine output and hydraulic power to the load resulting in 5% lower fuel consumption.

The reinforced certified forestry cab structure and 1.25-inch-thick polycarbonate windshield protects you from logs and limbs that may break loose while loading. The interior of the heated and cooled cab has been increased 25%, which allows most operators to stand up without hitting their head. Cat also narrowed the cab pillars and added larger panoramic windows and a flat hood to give you 50% more visibility. For cab access, you have the option of side or rear entry. A rearview camera comes standard, and three cab riser heights are available: 22, 48 and 72 inches. For easy transport, the cab tilts with hydraulic assist.

The new electrohydraulic control system eliminates the need for a pilot filter and pilot oil. Fuel-filter change intervals have been pushed out to 1,000 hours, double the life of the previous model. And the hydraulic-oil return filter offers a 3,000-hour service life, 50% longer than the previous forest machine. The on-demand cooling fan works only when needed, and the fan reversal can be programmed to come on at different intervals to clean out debris.

If you’ve grown to like push-button start on your truck, you’ll appreciate the same option on the revamped 568. Starting can also be accomplished with Bluetooth key fob or a unique operator ID function. With the operator ID, you can program the machine to remember individual settings and attachment preferences using the 10-inch-high resolution touchscreen.

If you’ve had trouble locating attachments in the past, Cat’s PL161 Attachment Locator can help you find where you last put your work tool, even if it’s overgrown with debris or vegetation.

Given that many forestry operations are in extreme cold or hot weather, the Cat 568 boasts a cold-start capability down to minus-32 degrees Fahrenheit and in hot weather up to 126 degrees. And should your contract call for cutting trees high up in the mountains, the 568 will operate without derating at altitudes up to 9,842 feet above sea level.

Cat 568 Quick Specs>

Engine: 347 hp>Operating weight, forestry:  104,280 lbs.>Operating weight, log loader:  105,380 lbs.Max reach, forestry: 38 ft. 4-in.Max reach, log loader: 2 ft. 5 in.Drawbar pull: 84,978 lb.-ft.Swing torque: 120,222 lb.-ft.

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Construction Blogs

Apply Now: 2022 Contractor of the Year Contest Accepting Nominations

David Oliver

Equipment World is now accepting nominations for its 2022 Contractor of the Year program.

Twelve finalists chosen by Equipment World editors will receive a four-day expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to participate in the Contractor of the Year event next spring. During the event, finalists will participate in roundtable discussions and an awards banquet, where each finalist will be honored and the 2022 Contractor of the Year will be named.

To access the COY application, click here

Designed to honor contractors who have excelled in their local markets, the contest recognizes contractors who display the highest standards of business acumen, equipment management expertise, attention to safety and community involvement.

The contest is open to construction firm owners who:

Have been in business 10 years or more.Have between $3 million and $15 million in annual revenues.Have an excellent safety record.Represent the construction industry in a positive way.

The Contractor of the Year program has been sponsored by Caterpillar since its inception in 2000. The winner and each finalist will be featured on the Equipment World website.

The deadline for applying for the 2022 contest is November 19. Applicants can either be self-nominated or nominated by others. Applicants have the choice of filling out an online form, or downloading a form to fill out at their leisure.

To get a taste of the Contractor of the Year event, check out this articlethat celebrates the naming of our 2021 Contractor of the Year, Matt Pruss of Pruss Excavation, Dodge, Nebraska.

The first 50 contractors to send a completed application will receive a Cat hat, courtesy of Caterpillar. To apply, click here

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Construction Blogs

Snyder Wins AEMP Technician of the Year: “He’s motivated by big jobs and challenges.”

David Oliver

Chase Snyder of Manatee County, Florida, has been named the 2021 Technician of the Year by the Association of Equipment Management Professionals Education Foundation.

Coworkers and supervisors at Manatee County government described Snyder as always willing to tackle the big mechanical problems, having a strong work ethic and constantly looking for ways to save taxpayers’ money.

Snyder is a senior fleet technician for Manatee County’s landfill shop, where he has worked for three years.

“The bigger the job, the better. The bigger the equipment, the better,” said Tracy Brooks, maintenance operations chief for the Manatee County Fleet Department, in describing Snyder’s attitude. “Given the choice of a light-duty repair or going to a call-out on a hill for a broken down compactor, he will choose standing ankle-deep in trash sludge every single time.”

Speaking during the awards ceremony Wednesday at the AEMP EquipmentShift Conference in Savannah, Georgia, Brooks added:

“It’s in his blood and he just enjoys it. Because he enjoys his job so much, it makes him better at what he does.”


Chase Snyder, AEMP tech of the year, enjoys working on heavy equipment, like this large mower attachment.Manatee CountyThe county’s landfill shop tracks and keeps running more than 170 pieces of equipment, everything from golf carts to heavy-duty construction equipment. Snyder can fix and maintain it all, but his favorite is the yellow iron: excavators, landfill compactors, dozers and motor graders.

He’s always been fascinated by the heavy construction equipment, but the local trade school, Manatee Technical College, offered a degree in general automotive maintenance, not heavy diesel equipment. So he got his start on the automotive side in college and worked full time during the day on transit buses for a nearby municipality. After college, he landed at Manatee County.

His supervisor, David Alligood, remembers the job interview with Snyder at Manatee County. “We knew then that we had someone special,” he says.

Alligood should know. He was the 2020 AEMP Technician of the Year.

“He has a very strong work ethic,” Alligood adds. “He’s motivated by big jobs and challenges. His focus on the county’s budget and smart spending makes him an asset to our team. He is constantly self-educating.”

Coworker Christopher Brooks described Snyder as easy to get along with, smart and a talented technician. “He’s a go-getter – never says no to anything. If you ever need a hand, he’s willing to help you. He knows the equipment very well.”

Another colleague, who also worked with Snyder at the transit bus shop, says Snyder is always available to lend a guiding hand. “If I have a question, he always takes a few minutes to explain…how something works. He also keeps a great attitude, not only helping me but everyone in the shop.”

The Technician of the Year Award by the AEMP Education Foundation has been presented each year since 1989 to “the individual who exemplifies the heavy equipment profession’s best technician.” The award seeks candidates who constantly update their education, demonstrate a strong safety record, improve fleet operations and are always professional.

As this year’s winner, Snyder will receive a custom-built John Deere toolbox and merchandise and complimentary one-year membership to AEMP. He will also be the subject of an in-depth cover story on equipmentworld.com.

Deere has sponsored the award for 32 years.

 

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Construction Management

Loftness debuts Battle Ax H Series mulcher for skid steers, CTLs, tractors

David Oliver

Today’s skid steers and compact track loaders crank out lots of hydraulic horsepower, and Loftness is taking advantage of that with its new Battle Ax H Series mulching attachments.

Designed for machines with 33 to 62.9 gallons per minute and 50 to 150 hydraulic horsepower, these heavy-duty models chew up the brush with an 88-inch cutting width. The H series has a V-drive variable displacement piston motor that automatically shifts the rotor rpm from high to low for increased torque as needed. The result is less stalling and a shorter recovery time, which allows you to concentrate on the work instead of the power settings and repositioning the head.

A two-stage cutting chamber processes material thoroughly, and the primary shear bar is adjustable for controlling particle size. Other standard features include a synchronous belt drive, bearing anti-wrap protection, adjustable skid shoes and an on-board pressure gauge. Options include hydraulic or manual adjusting push bars, custom mounts and universal skid steer mounts, a hydraulic or manually adjustable tree pusher bar, and a trap door to help prevent the attachment from throwing material underneath the tractor.

The Battle Ax models feature a rotor with built-in depth gauges that function like the raker on a chain saw, preventing the cutting teeth from engaging too much material at one time. The mulchers can be used with reversible planer knives, hard-surfaced planer knives or double-edged carbide teeth. Single-bolt mounting allows the blades to be reversed or replaced on the jobsite with a hex socket and wrench.

And if you don’t have a skid steer or CTL, Loftness also introduced a new Battle Ax attachment for compact tractors. Designed for tractors with a 540 rpm PTO and 36 to 70 PTO horsepower, the PTO Battle Ax has a 61-inch cutting width and comes with a Category I hitch, but is adaptable to Category II, free-link or quick hitch.     


Loftness Battle Ax attachment for tractors with PTOs.Loftness   

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Construction Services

Will Construction Workers Walk? Implications of the Vaccine Mandate

David Oliver

Contractors with more than 100 employees are sitting in limbo as the Occupational Health and Safety Administration finalizes its guidance on vaccine mandates. OSHA sent its recommendations to the White House for review last week, and the final approval may be granted as soon as this week.

Once the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) completes its review and publishes the rule in the Federal Register, the rule will go into effect.

President Biden announced the executive order mandating COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing for employers with more than 100 employees in early September. Employees of contractors who do business with the federal government must get the vaccine; there is no option for routine testing in place of immunization.

Failure to comply will result in penalties costing $14,000 per violation. Large companies will also need to provide employees paid time off for vaccination as part of the rule. The policies will affect 100 million American workers.

Lagging Vaccination Rate

Vaccine mandates could have dire consequences for the construction industry, which is already plagued by worker shortages. Currently, 53% of the construction labor force is vaccinated, according to data from the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), a nonprofit founded by building trade unions. Forty-one percent of the construction labor force says it’s hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine, CPWR says, with the top barrier being distrust of the government.

Because of the hesitancy to receive the vaccine, contractors with more than 100 employees may face the real threat of workers walking. Those reluctant to get the jab may opt to move to a smaller business that falls outside of the mandate.

Industry Groups Respond

Construction workers were among the first groups eligible to receive the vaccine, and industry associations have encouraged voluntary COVID-19 vaccination for their members and employees from the start. The Associated General Contractors of America and Associated Builders and Contractors say a mandate could put a strain on the industry, as well as the country’s infrastructure needs.

“Many of the challenges affecting contractors are being driven by the pandemic and policy responses to it, instead of typical market conditions,” said Stephen Sandherr, AGC chief executive officer,. “This federal contractor vaccination mandate could further exacerbate the industry’s workforce and significantly increases federal project costs and delays to the detriment of meeting vast federal government infrastructure needs.”

Ben Brubeck, ABC vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs, echoed that sentiment, stating, “This guidance will result in additional compliance burdens, exacerbate the construction industry’s skilled- workforce shortage and increase costs for federal contractors and taxpayers. ABC is philosophically opposed to federal mandates that undermine the desired policy outcome.”

Conflicting requirements at the state level add to the confusion, with several governors announcing they will ban the vaccine mandate. 

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Construction Services

PCL Civil Constructors Cited After N.C. Bridge Worker’s Death

David Oliver

The investigation into a worker’s death on a bridge demolition project at the Outer Banks of North Carolina has resulted in a proposed penalty of $23,210 for the contractor.

PCL Civil Constructors, based in Tampa, Florida, overloaded bridge sections, exposed workers to struck-by hazards and failed to use engineering surveys or calculations to prevent collapse, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  

Jose Armando Maqueda Mejia, 42, of Manns Harbor, North Carolina, died April 14 after he fell more than 50 feet into the Oregon Inlet when a remaining section of the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge bridge collapsed. The bridge was built in 1963 and was being demolished piecemeal after the new Marc Basnight Bridge opened in 2019 as its replacement.

Mejia, a welder, was cutting crossbeams on top of a bridge section where concrete had been discarded, OSHA says. The weight of the concrete caused the section’s collapse and Mejia’s fall, the agency reports.

According to the OSHA citation, PCL used “different demolition sequences, and developed its own plan, without performing any engineering surveys and calculations to determine the adequacy of the structure and the potential for unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure during demolition.” It added that workers “were exposed to struck-by hazards.”

The citation also said the structural members of the bridge’s last two spans “were overloaded beyond their load-carrying capacities.”

The two violations are deemed “serious” by OSHA, which means a hazard exists that could cause an accident that would most likely result in death or serious harm.

“PCL Civil Constructors violated federal safety standards and a worker needlessly died as a result,” said OSHA Area Director Kimberley Morton in Raleigh. “If they had followed well-known standards, this tragic loss of life could have been prevented.”

PCL won the $252 million contract to build the 2.8-mile Marc Basnight Bridge to and from Hatteras Island and to demolish the Bonner Bridge.

A PCL spokesperson said the citation is under review, and its policy is not to comment while it is still pending.

The company can request an informal conference with OSHA within 15 working days to contest the proposed penalty.

 

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Construction Services

Nimble & Productive: Bobcat’s New L65 and L85 Compact Wheel Loaders

David Oliver

Compact wheel loaders continue to grow in popularity as contractors discover their many attributes: how they can dump higher, travel faster and turn tighter than skid steers and compact track loaders. And did we mention they do all this with a smaller engine and great fuel economy?

Bobcat’s latest entries into the compact wheel loader field include the L65 and L85 with standard bucket capacities of up to 1 cubic yard and a Z-bar front linkage. In addition to buckets and pallet forks, the new loaders hook up to a wide range of Bobcat tools and attachments using the powered Bob-Tach system.

The new loaders run on a redesigned Tier 4 Final Bobcat engine with improved cold-weather starting capability and components simplified for routine maintenance. The 2.4-liter turbocharged diesel engines put out 55 and 68 horsepower on the L65 and L85, respectively. The attachment control mode enables you to vary the engine and travel speeds separately to optimize auxiliary hydraulic performance.


Bobcat L85 compact wheel loaderDoosan BobcatA large fuel filter protects the engine from contamination and results in a longer filter life and increased holding capacity. The lift pump and self-priming fuel system offers continuous forced air outflow and eliminates the need for a primer bulb. And a pre-filter protects the lift pump from debris and particles that increase wear and degrade performance.

Articulated steering on the new L65 and L85 loaders delivers high maneuverability and a tight turning radius. The electronic hydrostatic transmission (E-HST) makes quick forward-reverse direction changes efficiently, increasing acceleration and delivering seamless speed control. The combination of the E-HST transmission and horsepower management automatically adjusts the loaders’ drive system to maximize pushing and loading power while minimizing the chance of stalling. Unlike other anti-stall systems, operators can maximize engine and drive torque on the L65 and L85 to match the demands of heavy lifting and digging.

Standard features include two-speed travel, differential lock, inching pedal, LED work lights, bucket level indicator and a 5-inch display with jog shuttle. Upgrade options include an attachment control device (seven pin connector), automatic ride control, enclosed cab with HVAC, rearview camera and a cloth suspension seat.

Quick Specs

Bobcat L65>

• Rated Operating Capacity with Bucket (Straight) 3,133 lb.

• Rated Operating Capacity with Bucket (Articulated) 2,618 lb.

• Rated Operating Capacity with Forks (Straight) 3,759 lb.

• Rated Operating Capacity with Forks (Articulated) 3,172 lb.

• Operating Weight 9,944 lb.

• Auxiliary Std Flow 19.8 gpm

Bobcat L85 >

• Rated Operating Capacity with Bucket (Straight) 3,974 lb.

• Rated Operating Capacity with Bucket (Articulated) 3,257 lb.

• Rated Operating Capacity with Forks (Straight) 4,786 lb.

• Rated Operating Capacity with Forks (Articulated) 3,977 lb.

• Operating Weight 11,164 lb.

• Auxiliary High Flow 27.34 gpm

Construction Blogs

Brokk expands beyond demolition with new attachments for its robots

David Oliver

Aside from being the original robotic machine, Brokk’s remote-controlled loaders/toolcarriers have provided demolition contractors a safe way to work in dangerous places where you wouldn’t want a worker to venture. The company is also now offering a range of attachments for shaft and tunneling in underground and confined-space work.

The attachments include Brokk’s BHB hydraulic breaker series, as well as drum cutters, buckets, TEI Rock Drills and C20 Rock Splitters. With them, contractors can do things like open a tunnel face, installing rock bolts and other applications necessary for the tunnel development process.

The BHB series includes eight breaker models starting with the 110-pound BHB 55 breaker up to the 3,307-pound BHB 1500 for the new Brokk 900, which is suited for heavy-duty tunnel and demolition applications.

For excavation applications such as contouring and trenching, Brokk’s drum cutters include the BDC 40 with a 15.2-inch cutting width and the  RT 15-40 model with a cutting width of just 4.7 inches. The BDC 50 pairs with the Brokk 110120DII and 170 robots to provide a cutting depth of up to 1.2 inches at a width of 18.9 inches. At 24-inches wide and a cutting depth of up to 2.6 inches, the BDC 100 works with larger Brokk models — the 200300500520D and 900R.

The TEI Rock Drill series is a collaboration between Brokk and TEI Rock Drills. The offerings include six drills with diameters from 1.3-1.7 inches up to 1.7-3 inches. Drill controls are integrated into Brokk’s ergonomic remote one button operation. At just under 26 inches long, the TE160-100 is the smallest drill attachment and delivers 35 to 60 foot-pounds of impact energy at 5,000 to 6,500 blows per minute. The drill also produces 100 pound-feet of torque and reaches rotation speeds of up to 250 rpm.

The C20 Rock Splitter series provides contractors with safe and quiet alternatives to explosives and hydraulic breakers. The series works with Brokk 300 and larger models to break up big boulders and solid rock in mining and shaft sinking applications as well as cross passage work in tunneling. For vertical applications, contractors can choose between the C20 C and C20 V. The C20 H can be used in horizontal applications, while the C20 J works in both horizontal and vertical applications.

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Construction Management

Industry Roundup: Yanmar, ASV Add Four Dealers

David Oliver

Yanmar Compact Equipment and its company ASV Holdings have added four new dealers and a total of 15 new locations to its network. 

Incoming dealers include Mid Country Machinery, Syracuse, New York; Woodco Machinery, Woburn, Massachusetts; Alta Equipment, Livonia, Michigan; and Quality Equipment and Parts, based in Lake City, Florida.

Woodco will cover the two product lines in three Massachusetts locations as well as one branch in Rhode Island. Alta adds the lines in three Michigan and three Florida locations. In addition, existing dealer Romco Equipment has has added three new locations in Texas.

The dealers will carry Yanmar’s compact excavators, tracked carriers and wheel loaders, and ASV’s compact track loaders and skid steers.

MANUFACTURERS, SUPPLIERS

Randall-Reilly names Manthey CTO


MantheyRandall-Reilly has named Keith Manthey as its CTO, charged with helping the technology and analytics company continue its growth and innovation trajectory. Matheny comes to Randall-Reilly most recently from Dell Technologies, where he served as a global CTO and as one of their artificial intelligence and analytics leaders, and Equifax, where he led their Data Platforms Group building their data factory systems. 

“In our search for the right candidate to fill this role, we focused on finding a ‘growth CTO,’ someone who would help us continue to infuse leading edge analytics and value-added features into our product platforms,” says Randall-Reilly CEO Matt Reilly. “In addition, we were looking for someone with deep experience collaborating across divisions and with clients  and who has experiences as a leader in companies in growth mode. Keith delivers on all fronts.”

Manthey will work with the Randall-Reilly team to build consumer-grade user interfaces and leverage analytics to provide new insights into trends, pricing, or useful industry patterns. 

CNH temporarily closes several European plants

Production has temporarily been suspended at several of CNH Industrial’s European agricultural, commercial vehicle and powertrain manufacturing facilities.

The owner of Case and New Holland Construction Equipment says it’s facing ongoing disruptions to the procurement environment and shortages of core components, especially semiconductors.

CNH plans to resume production within eight working days.

Vacuworx names Cunningham VP of sales

Vacuworx has promoted Charlie Cunningham to vice president of sales. He formerly served as senior director of sales for the North America region.  

Cunningham will be responsible for managing U.S. dealer sales and development. He will report to Bill Soloman, president of Vacuworx.  Cunningham joined Vacuworx in January 2020 and has more than two decades of industry experience in sales management, product training and business development.

Vacuworx’s products include vacuum lifting and material handling equipment for the oil and gas pipeline and construction segments. 

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