Construction Services

Industry Roundup: Yanmar Sales Up 16% and more

MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS    

Yanmar Sales Up 16% for First Half of 2021 Fiscal Year

Yanmar announced a 16% increase in net sales for the first half of its 2021 fiscal year compared with the same six-month period last year. (Yanmar’s fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31.)

The manufacturer says sales and profits increased due to sales growth mainly outside Japan and the promotion of company-wide cost structure reforms. Increased orders in the industrial engine business for North America, Europe and China, as well as in the construction machinery and marine businesses for Europe, contributed to the strong performance.

Yanmar plans to overcome supply chain shortages and inflation through ongoing implementation of cost structure reforms, improving operational efficiency through digital tools and expanding the business in overseas markets.

 Sany Announces Dealer Finance Partner, Tandem Finance

Sany America is partnering with Tandem Finance to provide financing services to its dealer network. The collaboration will provide dealers with the ability to offer payment options for Sany’s lines of compact, medium and heavy equipment. A dedicated vendor service team has been added at Tandem to support Sany’s needs with underwriting, funding and administering credit transactions. 


The founding family’s trust was unable to buy out the minority shares of South African manufacturer Bell Equipment.Bell EquipmentBell Equipment Buyout Fails

A buyout of Bell Equipment by IA Bell, the founding family’s holding company and largest shareholder of Bell Equipment, has failed.

The Bell family trust attempted to purchase all of the minority shares of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed articulated dump truck and tracked carrier manufacturer and then delist the company.

The company and the board did not consider the offer “fair and reasonable.” Corporate leaders and minority shareholders have lauded the announcement as a victory. 

DEALERS AND DISTRIBUTORS

Kelly Tractor Becomes Magni Dealer

Magni, a manufacturer of rotating and heavy lift telehandlers, has added Kelly Tractor as a dealer. Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, Kelly Tractor will retail and rent Magni’s product line up, as well as provide parts and service.

Kelly has seven locations throughout southern and central Florida. 

Hills Machinery Co. Adds Two Locations in North Carolina

Hills Machinery Co. is adding locations in Mills River and Leland, North Carolina.

With current facilities in Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Greenville and Asheville, North Carolina, Hills has a goal of establishing each of its locations within approximately 90 miles of the next closest dealership.

The company carries Case Construction Equipment, Mauldin and Rokbak, and recently added Astec paving equipment.

lta Equipment Adding Compact Equipment-Specific Facility in Florida

Alta Equipment is adding a separate store in the Tampa, Florida area to support the needs of its growing compact equipment division.

Located across the street from Alta’s Florida Division main operations, the center will handle all sales, service and parts functions for compact machines. This location will be the model for other compact locations to come, says Alta.

Lines include Volvo, Takeuchi, Toro, Avant and Leguan Lifts.

Greg Downing Named Operations Director for Monroe Tractor

Monroe Tractor has named Greg Downing operations director for its New York and New England locations. The territory includes 15 locations across New York State, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont, offering Case Construction Equipment, Wirtgen, Screen Machine, Hamm, and Vogele. Downing most recently served as operations director for a New York equipment dealership.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.3555pacific.com/?p=717

towing
Construction Services

Fuel Delivery Towing

Fuel delivery services are a great convenience for people who run out of gas. Not only do these services provide a quick solution to a car problem, but they also eliminate the risks of leaving your vehicle stranded. With these services, you can have fuel delivered to your car without the hassle of running to the store. They also provide the necessary training and experience to work under the worst conditions. You won’t have to worry about leaving your vehicle unattended with this service.

towing

With fuel delivery towing services, you’ll never have to worry about walking back to your car or letting the tow truck do its work. Your tow truck will arrive at your location, pick up your car and deliver it to the nearest fuel station. This service is completely free. You’ll only be charged for the cost of the fuel, so there’s no extra cost to you. You’ll save money by not worrying about the cost of gas.

If you’re in an emergency situation, you can rely on a local towing service for help. The drivers are well-trained and are trained to provide quality service. They can also tow your car to a mechanic if necessary. The driver will be able to quickly reach you and get you back on the road. The fuel delivery towing service will ensure your safety and that of your passengers. You’ll never worry about walking back to your car again.

When it comes to fuel delivery towing services, these services will save you time and money. They’ll bring fuel to your vehicle without having to worry about walking back to your car. Plus, these services have trained drivers and are fast, so you won’t even have to pay the bill. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There’s no need to feel stranded if you have fuel delivery towing.

In addition to fueling, towing services can also provide help in other ways. Whether you need a tire change, lockout assistance, or a jump start, these services can be of great help. They can also do a tire replacement and provide lockout assistance if necessary. This is a great benefit to drivers when they are experiencing a car emergency. It’s important to keep in mind that you’ll be driving for a long time, so the towing service you call can keep up with your needs.

With fuel delivery towing, you don’t have to worry about walking back and forth to the gas station. You’ll be able to focus on the road ahead, and not worry about having to find a parking spot. Once you’ve contacted a fuel delivery company, you’ll be on your way in no time. You’ll be glad you didn’t have to worry about getting back to your car, as all of the drivers that work for these companies are friendly and efficient.

The towing service should be able to deliver fuel to your car. You’ll no longer have to worry about walking back and forth to the gas station to get the necessary fuel. It should also take care of the towing and other services involved in your car. There’s no need to worry about driving back and forth to your vehicle if you’ve already hired a towing service. It’s also easy to hire one because of its professional drivers.

There are several benefits to using a fuel delivery service. You’ll be able to avoid the stress of walking back and forth to your car. And you’ll never have to worry about a car that has run out of fuel. Instead, you can rely on fuel delivery towing service providers that can provide you with the necessary supplies. They can even tow your vehicle for you if you need it. If you’re not able to walk back and forth to your car, they’ll be glad to help you out and provide you with a jump start.

Fuel delivery towing services can provide fast and affordable service. They can come to your car and deliver fuel as well. In some cases, a towing service will even provide towing services. A towing service will also provide assistance with tire changes and jump-starts. With their 24-hour service, you’ll never have to worry about your car again. A towing service will ensure your safety and comfort. The drivers will also be able to take your vehicle to a mechanic if you’re stranded.

Construction Blogs

Aftermarket Grade Control Now Available for Cat Mini Excavators

Contractors can now equip their 6 – to 10-ton Cat mini excavators with Cat Grade with Advanced 2D or Cat Grade with 3D. The aftermarket option available through Cat and Sitech dealers is quick to install and integrates into the Cat next generation electronics infrastructure.

“Now we’ve got all the benefits of Cat grade control and autos, making our machines easier, simpler and more efficient to use,” says Greg Worley, Cat product expert. “Move it once. Move it right.”

The system automates machine functions to help operators of all experience levels improve grade accuracy and consistency. Automatics allow for simple, single-joystick control over the stick and bucket to maintain grade and avoid overcutting and undercutting.

“Just be aware that boom swing is not supported,” says Worley. “As far as everything else, like on a fixed and large excavator, it is supported.”

System options:

Cat Grade with Advanced 2D uses on-board processors and fast-response sensors to deliver real-time bucket tip and elevation guidance on the touchscreen monitor. This technology gives operators the ability to create and work to basic site designs, while grade design edits can be made from the operator’s seat. Field installation of the technology includes the hardware, sensors and dedicated monitor for grade plan creation, editing and viewing.Cat Grade with 3D uses GPS and GLONASS systems to pinpoint the excavator’s exact location, allowing multiple machines to grade to complex jobsite designs. The monitor shows bucket position throughout the full range of the digging motion, while height and depth audio alerts indicate when desired grade has been reached to protect from overcutting or undercutting.

Both systems require a separate, 10-inch high-resolution touchscreen monitor.  The monitor allows operators to view, create and work site designs inside the cab.

Beyond the hardware and sensors, including monitor, required for Grade with Advanced 2D, installation of Grade with 3D also requires GNSS receivers and antennas. 

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.3555pacific.com/?p=714

Construction Services

Is Construction Ready for Electric Heavy Trucks?

When discussing new technology for heavy trucks – Classes 6, 7 and 8 – we have to start with electrification.

It’s been the biggest buzz in recent years.

Several OEMs have demo’ed electric models, providing a proof of concept. But it’s clear not every application is suited to electric trucks, especially when it comes to construction.

Three criteria are used to determine whether an electric truck is the right choice for the task:

One, the loss of payload capacity due to battery mass is not a deal breaker.

Two, the trucks are not in motion for the entire workday, requiring additional charging.

Three, they come home at night. This is based partly on the need to charge, and until charging stations become as common as gas stations, most electric trucks will need to return home for that process.

But even charging stations on every corner won’t answer the second part of the home-at-night requirement, which is that charging massive vehicle batteries takes time. It’s not something that can be completed while the driver is inside Pilot Flying J having lunch.

The application most often cited as a perfect match for electric vehicles is pickup and delivery (P&D).

In construction, good matches could include service, fuel and water trucks, and trucks shuttling equipment between sites, whether on a flatbed or a trailer. But dump trucks, mixers and a number of other mainstay applications would not be a great place to go electric.

Here’s a look at the latest heavy trucks on the market, advancements in truck electrification and a lot of other technology that can help drivers and contractors:

Who’s gone electric?

Kenworth’s T680E has a range of up to 150 miles, depending on the application, and can be fully charged in 3 hours.

This Class 8 truck (pictured at the top of this story) uses Meritor’s Blue Horizon 14Xe tandem electric powertrain that provides 536 horsepower of continuous power and up to 670 horsepower peak power and 1,623 pound-feet of torque. Top speed is 70 mph. Two gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) are offered: 54,000 and 82,000 pounds.

Kenworth says the T680E is targeted at the P&D, regional haul and drayage markets. It also offers two electric low-cab-forward models, the Class 6 K270E and Class 7 K370E.

Electric motors are the HV2600 and HV3500, rated at 355 and 469 horsepower, respectively. With the HV3500, the truck can maintain 40 mph on a 6% uphill grade. Range is up to 200 miles and top speed is 65 mph.

Equivalent models from Kenworth’s sister company, Paccar, are the Peterbilt 579E and the 220EV.

Mack offers the LR Electric, its first – and so far, only – fully electric truck. But it’s only offered as a refuse truck. Tim Wrinkle, Mack Trucks construction product manager, explains why:

“Refuse made the most sense. It is a closed-loop application where the vehicle returns to its home base each day, allowing it to be charged.”

Is construction ready for electric trucks?

Despite all the electric hype and buzz, construction customers seeking electric vocational trucks are left with few, if any, options.

“Construction will be one of the last markets to go electric,” says David Hillman, senior director of vocational marketing, Navistar. Navistar produces International brand commercial trucks. “It will get there eventually, but not soon.”


Engine options for the International HX620 are the International A26 with up to 500 horsepower and 1,750 pound-feet of torque, or the Cummins X15 with up to 605 horsepower and 2,050 pound-feet of torque. Transmission options include an Allison automatic, Eaton manual or Eaton automated manual. The HX620 has traction control, electronic stability control and Bendix Wingman Fusion. Single and dual fuel tanks are available up to 240 total gallons.Navistar InternationalHe says construction tends to be local, and a large number of construction trucks come home each night, which meets two of the necessary criteria for making electric work.

Beyond that, Hillman says, construction would benefit from characteristics of electric vehicles, especially immediate torque and low noise.

As with electric passenger vehicles, initial costs tend to be higher than for traditional internal-combustion vehicles, but operating costs can be competitive. Oil and filter changes are eliminated. Foundation brake wear can be significantly reduced, especially for trucks equipped with regenerative braking.

Battery weight remains a consideration, “but since we introduced our eStar truck in 2010, battery technology has advanced significantly, and part of that advance is a dramatic reduction in battery weight,” Hillman says.

His advice to customers considering electric trucks is to work with the dealer as a consultant. Understand that vocational applications are wildly diverse, and the dealer can help identify which of your applications would be best suited for electric.

But mostly, “manage your fleet as you always have. Understand your operation and the impact of fleet management decisions. Hold the OEM and the dealer accountable to make sure they keep your best interests in mind.”

Regulations driving change

California is the major mover in bringing electric vehicles into use, and Brian Tabel, executive director of marketing of Isuzu Commercial Trucks of America, says the company probably will not roll out electric models until late 2023 or early 2024.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) mandate has not been finalized but will almost certainly require that a certain percentage of vehicles be “zero emissions.” He says other states may follow suit. Pennsylvania seems likely to do so. States will have the option of following EPA or CARB requirements.

“Electrification is here, and we’re fully aware of that,” Tabel says. “We’re engaged in development and testing right now but are still a year or a year-and-a-half away from providing details.”

Isuzu FTR Class 6 truck
The Class 6 Isuzu FTR has a GVWR of 25,950 pounds and a GCWR of 30,000 pounds. Power comes from a Cummins B6.7L diesel engine rated at 260 horsepower and 660 pound-feet of torque. That output is run through an Allison 2500 RDS six-speed automatic transmission. The FTR will accept bodies up to 30 feet long. Full air dual-circuit brakes with ABS and 16.5-inch S-cam drums front and rear provide stopping power. Fuel tank choices are 50 or 100 gallons.IsuzuTabel says one market where it seems electric vehicles would be shoo-ins is landscaping. “Landscapers meet the general requirements for using electric trucks efficiently, but that market has also been adopting electrification strongly, from string trimmers to mowers to chain saws. Some landscapers even have solar panels on the roofs of their trucks to provide equipment recharging between jobs.”

Landscapers are also acquiring bigger trucks to do bigger jobs. Many still rely on one-ton duallies but more are moving into low-cab-forward models such as the Class 6 Isuzu FTR and Class 7 FVR. The nimble handling of these trucks with their short bumper-to-back-of-cab distances and tight turning radiuses, plus the fact they can be upfitted with everything from cargo boxes to stakesides and flatbeds, make them very appealing.

Technology improving safety

Hillman says that among the many other technological advances in trucking, collision mitigation is often at the front. Cameras are also important, including those that capture in-cab video. Hillman says there’s a cultural bias to assume the truck driver is at fault in a multi-vehicle collision, “and in-cab video can demonstrate that the driver was operating the truck in a safe and responsible manner.”

Some drivers see in-cab video as an unwelcome intrusion of Big Brother, “but that typically only lasts 60 days or until the first time their safe operation of the truck is called into question.”

Hillman points to the suite of safety tools provided by Navistar’s International Diamond Logic package. Many features can be programmed by the customer.

For example, vehicle speed can be limited when moving with the body out of stow position. In reverse, the radio can be muted to reduce distraction. Camera point-of-view can be integrated with turn-signal activation to provide better visibility when turning or changing lanes.

Hillman says one technology that does not receive enough attention is the ability of the truck to be connected to the dealer, to the customer and to other vehicles and equipment on the jobsite.

Tabel says Isuzu’s optional advanced driver assist system (ADAS) will debut on its 2022 interim N-Series diesel models before being deployed on the 2023 N-Series gas and F-Series models. Features include lane-departure alerts and automatic braking for collision avoidance. All F-Series trucks now have the Cummins B6.7L engine.

Mack granite truck Bendix Wingman Fusion
Mack Granite trucks are available with the next generation of Bendix Wingman Fusion, a camera- and radar-based driving assistance solution.Mack TrucksMack’s optional ADAS is the latest generation of Bendix Wingman Fusion. Mack Command Steer for the Granite axle-back model uses an electric motor to complement the steering’s hydraulics. Steering effort is reduced by up to 85% and helps the driver maintain a consistent course in strong winds, on rough roads and in other challenging conditions.

Keeping electronic systems current requires updates, and Mack Over the Air (OTA) remote programming allows drivers to perform updates through the truck’s instrument cluster at whatever time is most convenient.

Standard on Anthem and Pinnacle tractors and Granite construction models, “driver-activated OTA updates can be done in minutes without a visit to the dealer to receive software updates and set vehicle parameters,” says Wrinkle.

Assist technologies available on the Kenworth T680 Next Gen include lane-departure warning and Lane Keeping Assist. Lane departure uses an audible alert while Lane Keeping Assist provides a tactile alert through the steering wheel.

The T689 is also available with adaptive cruise control that monitors traffic conditions and modulates throttle and brake positions to maintain a pre-set following distance to the vehicle ahead.

Kenworth’s Side Object Detection continuously monitors the passenger side of the truck and provides audible and visual alerts when an object or vehicle has entered certain zones.

Covid lingers

Covid is still playing a major role in the trucking world.

“Economic strength has continued despite ongoing Covid disruptions,” says Jonathan Randall, Mack Truck senior vice president of sales and commercial operations. Consumer spending and residential construction have contributed to robust customer demand, increasing lead times and order backlogs.

However, there’s a bottleneck of goods at ports, and although freight pricing is expected to remain high, carriers are having trouble recruiting drivers to expand their fleets.

Hillman says everyone needs to be prepared for ongoing delays of parts and products. Microchip availability is one example. Navistar, like everyone else, is having hiring challenges. His advice: “Try to adapt as best you can in an ambiguous environment.”

Tabel says lead times have gone from two months in pre-Covid days to nine to 12 months now. Chassis lead times are long. Body lead times are also long, and costs vary frequently, sometimes day-by-day.

“Everything is in demand, and everything is in short supply,” he says. “It’s just the way things are for the time being.” 

Volvo VNR 400 truck
The Volvo VNR 400 has a 42-inch flat-roof sleeper to maintain hours of service on short hauls. Engine options are a Volvo D11 with up to 425 horsepower and 1,550 pound-feet of torque, or a Volvo D13 with up to 500 horsepower and 1,850 pound-feet. Transmission options are Eaton Fuller manuals of 10-, 13- or 18-speed; or Volvo I-Shift 12-speed, I-Shift 12-speed severe duty or I-Shift 13- or 14-speed with crawler.Volvo