Construction Services

Largest Gold Mining Co. Invests $100M in Caterpillar Autonomous, Electric Haul Fleet

The world’s largest gold mining company, Newmont Corporation, has announced a strategic alliance agreement with Caterpillar to create an automated, zero-emissions mining system. The agreement will enable Newmont to reach its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30% by 2030, with the ultimate goal of being net-zero carbon by 2050.

Caterpillar’s role will be the rapid deployment of an all-electric autonomous haulage fleet with an initial investment from Newmont of $100 million. This includes the development of its first battery electric zero-emissions underground truck to be deployed at the Tanami mine in Northern Territory, Australia, by 2026. The deployment will include a fleet of up to 10 electric underground haul trucks, supported by Caterpillar’s advanced electrification and infrastructure system. Cat’s system will include first-of-a-kind battery electric haulage technology for underground mining in 2024, the introduction of battery autonomous technology in 2025, with full deployment in 2026.

In addition to the Tanami mine, Newmont’s preliminary investment will be directed toward its mining infrastructure and haulage fleets at the company’s Cripple Creek and Victor (CC&V) mine in Colorado. The goals include the introduction of an automated haulage fleet of up to 16 vehicles at CC&V through 2023, with a transition to haulage fleet electrification and implementation of Caterpillar’s advanced electrification and infrastructure system with delivery of a test fleet in 2026. The programs will enable both companies to validate Cat’s battery technology in the years prior to full production of autonomous electric haulage equipment.

Newmont will also support Caterpillar’s validation of evolving features and functionality within the MineStar suite to be deployed across Newmont’s surface and underground assets globally. This deployment facilitates centralized production and asset management.

Together, Newmont and Caterpillar plan to test and develop equipment, infrastructure, technologies and processes to transform both surface and underground mining, focusing on safety, automation, decarbonization, optimization, data and asset management across Newmont’s global operations. Leveraging Newmont’s scale and operational capabilities, the company says the alliance sets the stage for the rapid development and deployment of the technologies, to improve safety, productivity and energy efficiency across the mining industry.

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Construction Blogs

Doosan Launches New Lineup of Compact Excavators for U.S.

Doosan Infracore North America is breaking the final ties with former sister company Doosan Bobcat with a new line of compact excavators for the U.S. in 2022.

Four models, ranging from 2.7 to 5.5 tons, will arrive in the first quarter after being produced in South Korea, where Doosan is based. The models will replace Bobcat-made compact excavators, as well as break new ground in the U.S. for Doosan Infracore. (Videos of the new compact models in action are posted at the end of this story.)

More sizes are planned, including a 4-ton model next fall and 1.7- and 1.9-ton models in 2023. The company’s 6- and 8-ton excavators will be upgraded next year as well. And an electric compact excavator shown last year as a prototype at ConExpo will be hitting the market in mid-2023, according to Aaron Kleingartner, Doosan product and dealer market manager.

Within two years, the entire Doosan-built excavator lineup in the U.S. will extend from 1.7 to 100 tons, Kleingartner said.

Compact excavators unveiled

Doosan rolled out three of its new -7 compact excavators – the DX27Z-7, DX35Z-7 and DX50Z-7 – at a recent media event at the company’s testing grounds in Tucson, Arizona.

The displayed machines were all zero tail swing. A DX55R-7 model is also due out next year that will be reduced tail swing. Conventional tail swing versions will be available as well, the company says.

Features include full glass door and metal frame on the cab exterior for operator visibility, a powerful heating and air system, and Bluetooth radio, Kleingartner said. The excavators are also available with an open, instead of enclosed, cab.

For the first time, DoosanConnect telematics will come standard on the machines. Steve Americano, product manager for mini excavators, said the system includes geofencing that will send an alert if the machine moves outside of the geofence’s radius, which can be set by the owner.

The compact excavators have a new operator platform that insulates the cab from engine heat, Americano said. An auto-shift function automatically shifts engine speed depending on the terrain. All engines are Doosan.

The standard arm for the excavators is 43 inches. An optional 51-inch arm is available.

Hydraulic flow can be adjusted from the cab to handle various attachments. The machines come equipped with connectors needed for a hydraulic quick coupler.

Options include a rearview camera, LED lights and additional counterweight for handling heavier attachments.

These machines come with a one-year, 1,500-hour warranty. There is also a three-year, 5,000-hour powertrain warranty that “covers pumps, motors, all the high dollar components,” Americano said.

Phasing in Doosan-built excavators

Doosan Infracore was sold by parent company Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction to fellow South Korean company Hyundai Construction Equipment earlier this year. Doosan Infracore and Doosan Bobcat have supplied excavators to each other through a dual-brand agreement.

Bobcat provided 3-, 4- and 5-ton excavators that were branded Doosan, and Doosan provided Bobcat with 14- and 17-ton excavators that were branded Bobcat, according to Doosan CEO Edward Song.

Bobcat was not part of the Hyundai purchase and remains under the Doosan Heavy umbrella. Doosan Infracore is now part of the newly created Hyundai Genuine subsidiary along with Hyundai Construction Equipment.

After the new Doosan compact excavators come out, only a 4-ton model will be a Bobcat machine. Song said that the 4-ton model will also be replaced in the third quarter of 2022 with a Doosan-built excavator. Song noted that Doosan has the capability and experience with excavators under 5 tons in Korea and in European markets.

The move toward Doosan-branded compact excavators for the U.S. began in 2018 when Doosan Infracore North America and Doosan Bobcat separated their businesses, Song said. Doosan Infracore plans to capture some of the growing compact excavator market, as well as give its dealers a broader range of equipment.

“We will be bringing those machines in from our design teams in our factories in Korea next year,” said Kleingartner. “They are completely Doosan designed and manufactured.”

closer look

Here are some highlights and specs of each of the three models shown recently at Doosan Infracore North America’s testing grounds and expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2022:

DX27Z-7


Doosan DX27Z-7 compact excavatorDoosan Infracore North AmericaHighlights: At 6,000 pounds, it represents a new size class for Doosan’s North American lineup. A new rearview camera provides a 360-degree view. Other features include a 3-foot 7-inch standard thumb-ready arm and an 11.8-inch rubber track undercarriage. The excavator is 60 inches wide. Standard attachments include a bucket, quick coupler and thumb. Second auxiliary hydraulics are an option.

Horsepower: 24.7Operating weight: 6,168 lbs. Maximum digging depth: 8 ft. 8 in. Maximum digging reach (ground): 14 ft. 10 in. Maximum loading height: 10 ft. 1 in.

DX35Z-7

Doosan unveils DX35Z-7 compact excavator
Doosan DX35Z-7 compact excavatorDoosan Infracore North AmericaHighlights: Zero tail swing design with a rounded shape for tight jobsites. Also includes auxiliary hydraulic flow, wider cabin, LED lamp, enclosed cab with HVAC and 5.7-inch color LCD monitor. Options: rearview camera, cast counterweight, second auxiliary hydraulics and longer arm.

Horsepower: 24.7Operating weight: 8,807 lbs. Maximum digging depth: 11 ft. 4 in. Maximum digging reach (ground): 17 ft. 9 in. Maximum loading height: 12 ft. 2 in.

DX50Z-7

Doosan demonstrates DX50Z-7 compact excavator
Doosan DX50Z-7 compact excavatorDoosan Infracore North AmericaHighlights: Zero tail swing, standard enclosed cab with HVAC and standard attachments of bucket, quick coupler and thumb. Options include heated, adjustable seat and steel tracks.

Horsepower: 48.8 Operating weight: 12,121 lbs. Maximum digging depth: 11 ft. 5 in. Maximum digging reach (ground): 19 ft. Maximum loading height: 12 ft. 6 in.

Excavators in action

The following two videos are of Doosan’s new DX35Z-7 compact excavators shot during a media event at the company’s testing grounds near Tucson, Arizona. The excavator in the background is the enclosed-cab version.

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Construction Services

1st Day of Construction Gifts: A Cool Watch Made of Bourbon Barrels

You can’t go wrong with a watch. It’s a classic accessory that will never go out of style. But this particular timepiece is quite the conversation starter as well.

The Original Grain Barrel 42mm watch is crafted out of reclaimed American oak bourbon barrels and stainless steel.  

The company, which first made a name for itself on Kickstarter in 2013, has received more than 20,000 5-star reviews since. And I can attest to that – my husband has owned an Original Grain watch since 2018. Not only has it held up well, but he also continues to get compliments and questions about it every time he wears it.

At $299, it’s an affordable, yet stylish watch for both collectors and those new to the wristwear scene.

Other popular models feature reclaimed craft beer barrels, Taylor guitars, military supplies and ocean plastics. Each timepiece is one of a kind, and the company offers designs for both men and women.

Original Grain offers free shipping and returns, as well as a two-year warranty. The company plants one tree for each watch sold. Purchases can be made through Original Grain’s online store. 

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Construction Services

Two States Race to Build First Wireless-Charging Road for Electric Vehicles

Michigan and Indiana are leading the charge to build a road that would wirelessly power electric vehicles, with each claiming they will be the first to do it.

That means no stopping to plug in to a power source. The pavement would be electrified to do the charging automatically.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced in July it was partnering with Purdue University to develop what it says would be “the world’s first contactless wireless-charging concrete pavement highway segment.”

The project involves “magnetizable concrete” that would charge electric vehicles as they travel across it. The technology is being developed by German startup company Magment.

The project will span three phases. The first two will focus on pavement testing, analysis and research at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus. For the third phase, INDOT will build a quarter-mile test bed of the magnetizable concrete to gauge its ability to charge heavy trucks at high power.

If all goes well, INDOT says, it will deploy the innovating pavement to a section of interstate somewhere in the state.

Just a few months after INDOT’s announcement, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said her state would be the first to build a wireless EV charging road.

The Michigan DOT sent out a request for proposals September 28 for the pilot program on a one-mile road, the location of which is to be determined but would be somewhere on a state-maintained segment in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb counties.  

The goal is to “deploy an electrified roadway system that allows electric buses, shuttles and vehicles to charge while driving, enabling electric vehicles to operate continuously without stopping to charge,” according to the governor’s office. 

The entity whose proposal is accepted will work with MDOT, the state’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, and other state agencies. MDOT set an October 25 deadline for the proposals.

It’s not clear yet what technology Michigan’s project will rely on, but INDOT has settled on Magment’s magnetizable concrete, which is a mixture of cement and recycled magnetic particles called ferrite, which can come from electronic-waste recyclers, according to the company. It says its “proprietary blend of concrete and magnetic particles is easy to integrate into existing concrete processes.”

Ferrite is a ceramic material made by mixing iron-oxide with metals, such as nickel, zinc, manganese, barium and/or strontium. It is used in electronic inductors, transformers and electromagnets.

A coil assembly is also integrated into the concrete to transfer electric power to moving vehicles above. The company says the coil assemblies can withstand heavy loads.

The magnetizable concrete is still undergoing research “to improve magnetics performance and to facilitate mass production,” the company says.

 

 

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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.

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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. 

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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

Construction Management

Industry Roundup: Hilti Acquires Construction Technology Company Fieldwire

The power tool and fastening manufacturer Hilti Group has acquired Fieldwire, a construction technology company, for approximately $300 million.

Fieldwire’s jobsite management software is used on more than a million construction sites worldwide. The company’s products enable general contractors and subcontractors to run efficient field operations on their jobsites, saving on average one hour per day for each individual user. 

Founded in 2013, Fieldwire is known for its device-agnostic, field-first approach to productivity. The software gives contractors and tradespeople access to plan viewing, as-built drawings, task management, scheduling, punch lists, inspections, reports and forms.

SMS Parts joins Open-S Alliance for tiltrotators and quick couplers

SMP Parts, a manufacturer of tiltrotators and quick couplers, has joined the Open-S Alliance as a full member. The Open-S Alliance sets standards for the physical attachment points and hydraulic interface used on tiltrotators and quick couplers for excavators. Companies that participate in this industry-wide standard enable their customers to use their couplers and tiltrotators with any participating OEM regardless of brand.

“Standardization is an important part of improving both the user experience and the enhanced safety of our customers,” says Patrik Lindqvist, CEO and president of SMP Parts.

“By becoming members of the Open-S Alliance we take our responsibility in creating one global standard, whereby the safety of products must never be compromised.”

Open-S offers OEMs memberships in three levels – full member, associate member or supporting member – depending on whether Open-S products are developed, produced in-house or sourced.

Trimble Q3 financial results up 14%

Whatever trouble the economy might be having this year, it hasn’t hurt Trimble. The company’s third-quarter results posted November 3 showed revenue of $901.4 million, up 14% year-over-year for the quarter. Revenue (annualized recurring) was $1.36 billion, up 8 percent year-over-year.

For 2021, Trimble now expects to report GAAP revenue of about $3.6 billion. Compared to last year, net income is up 42 percent. The stock was trading at about $61 a share this time last year and is up to $87 currently. Net profit margin is 13.76 percent, up almost 29 percent from last year.

Since ConExpo-Con/Agg, Trimble has been busy on developing technology for contractors. Here are some of its recent innovations:

Spot the Robot Dog Fetches Your Data and Brings Back As-BuiltsNo Base Station? No Problem. Trimble SPS986 and CenterPoint RTX corrections give you a go-anywhere GPS roverAutomatically Set Screed Slope and Depth With Trimble’s New Roadworks 3D Paving ControlTrimble debuts mast-free motor grader system, new Earthworks platform and more at CONEXPO-CON/AGG

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Construction Management

Massive I-80 Project Prepares to Take Off for Largest U.S. Inland Port

Advance construction on a $1.2 billion interstate project to improve access to North America’s largest inland port is underway.

The rebuild of 16 miles of Interstate 80 in Will County is expected to take six years. The 50-year-old section is part of one of only three coast-to-coast interstates in the U.S. and sees 80,000 vehicles a day, with trucks making up one-fourth of that traffic, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

“With demand for freight projected to double in northeastern Illinois the next 20 years, Will County’s role as a transportation hub and the country’s largest inland port is critical,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman.

Advance work on I-80 began in June with a $47 million project to replace several bridges in Joliet, Rockdale and New Lenox and widen a section of the interstate. This project will reconstruct the U.S. 30 interchange, adding a third I-80 lane in each direction west from Interstate 355. Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, a third lane on Interstate 80 was opened in both directions in New Lenox as part of this project.

To speed up the I-80 rebuild, IDOT plans for construction, land acquisition and final engineering on sections to occur simultaneously. A section from Ridge Road to the DuPage River will be under construction starting next year, while land acquisition progresses and final engineering is completed on replacing the Des Plaines River bridges, IDOT says. In 2023, work will shift to the section between Ridge Road and U.S. 30. Construction of the Des Plaines River bridges and Center Street and U.S. 52/Illinois 53 (Chicago Street) interchanges will take place in 2026 and 2027. 


The planned construction phases for the $1.2 billion, six-year I-80 rebuild project in Illinois.Illinois DOT

When it wraps up in 2027, the overall I-80 project will have:

Redesigned and rebuilt 16 miles.Added or extended auxiliary lanes to improve safety and reduce congestion.Rebuilt or improved Interchanges at Interstate 55, Illinois 7, Center Street, Chicago Street, Richards Street and Briggs Street.Built a new flyover ramp linking southbound I-55 to westbound I-80 to improve traffic flow and safety. Rehabilitated or replaced more than 30 bridges.Built 8 miles of sound walls to protect nearby neighborhoods from traffic noise.Built bike and pedestrian paths.

“These overdue improvements will not only make it safer for commercial drivers, but for the thousands of families who rely on I-80 to commute to work, drive their kids to school and move safely through their daily lives,” said Governor JB Pritzker. 

The I-80 project is being funded by Rebuild Illinois, the largest capital program in the state’s history. The $33.2 billion program was enacted in 2019, and the state’s gas tax was doubled to pay for it. The program focuses not only on roads and bridges but transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and biking and walking traffic, according to IDOT. 

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Construction Management

A Dozer from Doosan?: Here’s the Sneak Peek (Video)

Known primarily in the U.S. for its excavators and wheel loaders, Doosan is entering new territory in construction equipment with its first ever dozers.

Also unusual for the South Korean company is that the new dozers will make their world market debut in the U.S.

Doosan unveiled a “pre-prototype” of the DD100 dozer recently at the company’s testing grounds near Tucson, Arizona. (A video of the dozer in action can be seen at the end of this story.)

The dozers are being developed and built in South Korea and will be shipped to the United States. A 10-ton model is expected to arrive in the third quarter next year. A 13-ton model is slated for mid-2023.

“It’s something dealers have asked for, to help expand their business and help with their rental fleets,” said Aaron Kleingartner, Doosan product and dealer marketing manager, during a media event in Arizona. “We’re excited to see what this particular product category can do for us.”

Preliminary specs on the DD100 dozer are likely to change, but so far it runs on a 122-horsepower Doosan diesel engine that does not use a diesel particulate filter.

The company hopes to capture a portion of the $2.1 billion U.S. dozer market, 45% of which is made up of machines under 140 horsepower, Kleingartner says. The dozer additions will also give Doosan dealers and their customers a “one-stop shop” for their construction equipment needs, he said.


Doosan’s DD100 prototype dozer has a 122-horsepower engine with no diesel particulate filter.DoosanKleingartner summed up the company’s goals for the new dozers:

“We want to make sure we have low maintenance costs, superior power and traction, excellent visibility, and safe and easy operation. Those things are all going to be the requirements for us to be able to provide the opportunity for our customers to make the switch into this new product category.”

The cab, with lots of glass for better visibility, will be similiar to the company’s new line of excavators and wheel loaders. Controls will also be similar. Visibility is further increased by a narrow front engine box, and Doosan hid the air-intake pre-cleaner under the hood so it won’t block the operator’s view.  

Other standard features include an 8-inch touchscreen display, rearview camera, front and rear LED lights, and rear side wiper blades. It will have keyless entry and push start.

Doosan DD100 dozer unveiled
Doosan sought to improve operator visibility with lots of glass and by moving the air-intake pre-cleaner under the hood.Equipment WorldThe dozer blade will be six-angle, variable pitch. The standard blade will have a capacity of 2.9 cubic yards, and for the LGP model, 3.4 cubic yards.  

The company says it has an agreement with Trimble to install mastless 3D machine control as an option. The controls will be standard electro-hydraulic, and the operator will be able to adjust control speed.

Mooyoung Park, Doosan engineering manager, said Doosan was mindful of the U.S. labor shortage and is designing the dozers to be easy and comfortable to operate. Safety features include a seat with an automatic cut-off sensor, so when the operator stands up, the machine will stop.

Doosan DD100 dozer debuted in U.S.
Doosan hopes to capture a share of the under-140-horsepower dozer market with new models for 2022 and 2023.DoosanThe DD100 model, which the company rolled out at its Arizona testing grounds, is expected to undergo changes in the development process before mass production. 

The concept model was a low ground pressure version weighing 25,000 pounds. The standard model will weigh about 22,000.

“So our machine is a little bit heavier than the competition, and being a heavier machine,” Park said, “you’ll have more tractive effort to accommodate the power.”

Other preliminary specs on the DD100 prototype:

Blade height: 3 ft. 7 in. Blade width: 8 ft. 10 in. Blade angle: 22.5 degreesDrawbar pull: 33,721 pound-feetTrack length: 7 ft. 7 in.Travel speed, max: 5.7 mph 

Check out the video below to watch the prototype DD100 in action:

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